The Korean automotive juggernaut has just collected more safety trophies than most brands manage in a decade. Hyundai Motor Group has secured 16 IIHS awards for 2026, with 15 earning the coveted Top Safety Pick+ and one receiving Top Safety Pick. That’s across Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia, and it’s rather a lot.
The results are particularly impressive given IIHS tightened its testing criteria for 2026, focusing on rear-seat passenger protection and improved crash avoidance systems. While some manufacturers are scrambling to meet the new standards, the Koreans appear to have been preparing for them all along.
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ABOVE: 2026 Hyundai Tucson, one of 16 Hyundai Motor Group vehicles to earn IIHS Top Safety awards for 2026
The Full List
Hyundai (7 awards):
- TOP SAFETY PICK+: Tucson, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 9, Kona, Santa Fe, Sonata
- TOP SAFETY PICK: Elantra
Genesis (5 awards, all TSP+):
- GV70, Electrified GV70, GV60, G80 (built after June 2025), GV80
Kia (4 awards, all TSP+):
- EV9, K4, Sorento (built after September 2025), Sportage (built after May 2025)
What Changed for 2026?
IIHS introduced tougher criteria this year. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, vehicles now need good ratings in small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side crash tests, plus acceptable or good headlights across all trim levels. Standard front crash prevention systems must earn acceptable or good ratings in pedestrian testing.
For the top TSP+ designation, vehicles must achieve good ratings in the pedestrian test and acceptable or good in the new vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 test.
Brian Latouf, President and Global Chief Safety and Quality Officer at Hyundai Motor Group, was predictably pleased: “This tremendous accomplishment reflects our continued focus on developing and producing safe vehicles.”
What It Means for Australian Buyers
While these awards apply specifically to US-spec vehicles, they signal strong safety DNA across the group’s global platforms. Australian-delivered Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia models typically share the same fundamental safety architecture, though local ANCAP ratings remain the definitive measure for our market.
The message is clear: if you’re cross-shopping the Korean brands against their Japanese and European rivals, safety is one area where you won’t be compromising.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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