Hyundai Motor Group has solidified its reputation for automotive safety excellence, with 22 models from Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, and Genesis earning the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) 2024 TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) and TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) awards. This achievement marks Hyundai as the automaker with the most accolades in this annual safety assessment, representing 21% of the total awards for 2024.
Among individual brands, Hyundai ranked second, while Genesis secured third place, tied with Honda and Mazda. This dominance underscores Hyundai Motor Group’s unwavering dedication to advancing vehicle safety standards. “The Group’s exceptional performance in the IIHS 2024 Top Safety awards is a testament to our unwavering focus on safety and continuous efforts to provide the highest level of protection for vehicle occupants and other road users,” said Brian Latouf, President and Global Chief Safety and Quality Officer at Hyundai Motor Group. “The results also reflect our strategy to maintain safety leadership for 2025 and years to come.”
Breaking down the awards, Hyundai Motor secured nine titles, including four TSP+ and five TSP honors. Genesis earned eight titles, consisting of seven TSP+ and one TSP accolade, while Kia rounded out the Group’s achievements with five awards: one TSP+ and four TSP titles. This recognition affirms the exceptional safety embedded across Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles, most of which are 2024 model year editions.
Hyundai Motor Winners
Among Hyundai’s TSP+ winners were the IONIQ 5, KONA, and TUCSON (models built after March 2024) small SUVs, as well as the IONIQ 6 midsize electric car. The TSP honorees included the ELANTRA small car, SONATA midsize car, PALISADE and SANTA FE midsize SUVs, and the SANTA CRUZ small pickup truck.
Genesis Winners
Genesis claimed top recognition with seven TSP+ winners: the G80 (models built after October 2023), Electrified G80, and G90 (models built after October 2023) large luxury cars; the GV60 small SUV; the GV70 (2025 model year, built after April 2024); the Electrified GV70 (built after April 2024); and the GV80 (models built after August 2023) midsize luxury SUVs. Additionally, the GV70 midsize luxury SUV (models built after November 2023) earned a TSP award.
Kia Winners
Kia’s TSP+ winner was the TELLURIDE midsize SUV. The TSP recipients included the K4 small car, SPORTAGE small SUV, and two midsize SUVs: the EV9 (models built after January 2024) and the SORENTO (2024-25 model years).
Rigorous Award Criteria
The IIHS has elevated its safety benchmarks for 2024, emphasizing enhanced protection for rear-seat passengers and advanced pedestrian crash avoidance systems. To qualify for a TSP award, vehicles must achieve a “Good” rating in the small overlap front, original moderate overlap front, and updated side tests. For the more prestigious TSP+ designation, vehicles must earn “Good” ratings in the small overlap front and updated side tests, along with at least an “Acceptable” rating in the updated moderate front crash test.
Both awards also require vehicles to score “Acceptable” or “Good” ratings for pedestrian front crash prevention and headlights equipped on all trim levels. These stringent criteria are designed to push automakers toward enhanced safety technologies and more robust occupant protection systems.
Advancing Safety Standards
One notable change for 2024 is the IIHS’ updated moderate front overlap test, which now includes a second dummy seated behind the driver to evaluate rear-seat safety. This revised test highlights the growing importance of rear-passenger protection, an area of increasing focus for the industry.
The Group’s performance in these tests reflects its comprehensive approach to safety innovation, ensuring that every vehicle meets or exceeds the latest industry standards. As automakers continue to advance safety technologies, Hyundai Motor Group’s achievements position it as a leader in protecting drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike.
For more detailed information about the award criteria and the latest safety ratings, visit IIHS.org.
