Brand hub · IIHS data updated 2026-09-16

Hyundai Safety Ratings (2026)

Every current Hyundai model in IIHS records, scored with the same formula as our main ranking, plus real-world death rates for used Hyundai models where the data exists.

See every Hyundai ranked

The safest current Hyundai is the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9, scoring 96.8/100 with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, #8 of 136 in our overall ranking. Hyundai has 11 current models in IIHS records, 9 with complete crash-test results; 7 earned a 2026 Top Safety Pick+ and 1 earned a Top Safety Pick.

Hyundai safety weighted by sales

Hyundai’s sales-weighted current-model score is 93.0/100, covering 96.3% of its 450,568 reported U.S. sales in January–June 2026. Its TSP+ sales-mix proxy is 76.3%. Ranges reflect unpublished variant splits, not statistical confidence intervals.

Sales basis: manufacturer release. Hyundai January–June 2026 U.S. sales. Checked 2026-09-16.

See sales weights, matched models and exclusions
Sales bucketUnits / shareCurrent scoreTSP+ mappingMatched records / limitations
Tucson117,612
26.1%		91.7All mapped variants2026 Hyundai Tucson
Elantra79,839
17.7%		94.1No current TSP+2026 Hyundai Elantra
Santa Fe64,003
14.2%		92.3All mapped variants2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
Palisade63,453
14.1%		96.8All mapped variants2026 Hyundai Palisade (Award applies only to vehicles built after November 2025)
Sonata37,057
8.2%		91.9All mapped variants2026 Hyundai Sonata
Kona36,169
8.0%		91.7All mapped variants2026 Hyundai Kona
Ioniq 520,730
4.6%		93.0All mapped variants2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5
Venue15,625
3.5%		Not availableNo current TSP+2026 Hyundai Venue

At least one mapped variant lacks complete scoring evidence; this sales bucket is excluded from the mean.

Santa Cruz9,981
2.2%		86.2No current TSP+2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Ioniq 94,858
1.1%		96.8All mapped variants2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9
Ioniq 61,241
0.3%		Not availableNo current TSP+2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6

At least one mapped variant lacks complete scoring evidence; this sales bucket is excluded from the mean.

How sales weighting and variant ranges work

Current ratings, weighted by January–June 2026 U.S. sales. The mean is the sum of each current score × its model’s sales, divided by sales with complete, compatible scores. High-volume models therefore count more. This changes brand aggregation only; individual vehicle scores and ranks are unchanged.

A range shows the possible mix of separately rated variants when their sales split is unpublished. We count a combined sales total once. Unmatched models, unresolved body styles and incomplete scores are excluded from the mean and reduce its sales coverage. Do not compare a brand covering a small slice of sales with one covering nearly its whole lineup as though the evidence were equal.

The TSP+ sales-mix proxy divides sales mapped to current TSP+ records by all reported brand sales. A range reflects award differences within mapped variants. Unmatched sales add nothing to this proxy; they are not rated failures. Current model years, build dates and required equipment still apply: this is a sales-mix comparison of current designs, not the percentage of vehicles delivered in the first half that actually qualified for an award. It is not a death-risk estimate.

Compare the same sales-weighted figures across brands.

Every current Hyundai ranked by safety

Where two vehicles score the same, the injury measures behind that score break the tie; vehicles matching on both share a rank. The score is 55% primary IIHS tests, 25% selected occupant-protection details, 10% pedestrian front crash prevention, and 10% class context. Missing evidence never counts as passing. Class rank compares each model with every vehicle in its IIHS class, not just other Hyundai models.

RankVehicleClassClass rankIIHS awardStarts atScore
1 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Midsize SUVs 1 of 32 TSP+ ~$58,955 96.8
1 2026 Hyundai PalisadeAward applies only to vehicles built after November 2025 Midsize SUVs 1 of 32 TSP+ ~$38,935 96.8
3 2026 Hyundai Elantra Small cars 1 of 16 TSP ~$22,625 94.1
4 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Small SUVs 6 of 28 TSP+ ~$35,000 93.0
5 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Midsize SUVs 17 of 32 TSP+ ~$34,800 92.3
6 2026 Hyundai Sonata Midsize cars 1 of 4 TSP+ ~$27,450 91.9
7 2026 Hyundai Tucson Small SUVs 9 of 28 TSP+ ~$29,450 91.7
8 2026 Hyundai Kona Small SUVs 11 of 28 TSP+ ~$25,500 91.7
9 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Small pickups 1 of 7 No award ~$29,750 86.2

Prices are approximate base MSRPs excluding destination. TSP+ is IIHS Top Safety Pick+; TSP is Top Safety Pick. Full weights and rules are on the methodology page.

2 Hyundai models still waiting on complete IIHS results

These are listed so you can see what has been tested. A missing result is never treated as a pass or a fail, so they are not ranked.

VehicleClassPrimary tests reportedDetail results reportedIIHS award
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Midsize cars 3/4 4/4 No award
2026 Hyundai Venue Small SUVs 2/4 2/4 No award

Real-world death rates for used Hyundai models

Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years from the July 2026 IIHS driver death rate study (2021–2024 crashes), compared with the average for each model's class. Lower is better. These are older model years and are separate from the crash-test scores above.

VehicleModel yearsDriver death rateClass average95% confidence bounds
Hyundai Tucson hybrid 4WD 2022-23 7 38 0–22
Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD 2020-23 17 38 4–29
Hyundai Palisade 4WD 2020-23 18 24 4–32
Hyundai Tucson 4WD 2022-23 20 38 2–38
Hyundai Tucson 2WD 2022-23 21 38 0–45
Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD 2020-23 32 38 15–48
Hyundai Kona 4WD 2020-23 47 38 19–75
Hyundai Palisade 2WD 2020-23 61 24 25–96
Hyundai Elantra 2021-23 80 79 52–107
Hyundai Sonata 2020-23 83 67 58–108
Hyundai Kona 2WD 2020-23 95 38 53–137
Hyundai Venue 2WD 2020-23 113 38 57–168

Green means at or below the class average; red means above it. Every used model is on the safest used cars page.

Older Hyundai model years

Earlier model years with IIHS results on this site. They are not part of the current ranking.

Questions people ask about Hyundai safety

Is Hyundai a safe brand?

Hyundai has 11 current models in IIHS records, 9 with complete crash-test records. 7 earned a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and 1 earned a Top Safety Pick. The best current Hyundai is the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 at 96.8/100, #8 of 136 in our overall ranking. Safety varies more between models than between brands, so pick the model first.

What is the safest Hyundai?

The safest current Hyundai in our 2026 ranking is the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 (midsize suvs), scoring 96.8/100 with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. It ranks #1 of 32 in its class.

Which Hyundai models earned Top Safety Pick+ in 2026?

7 current Hyundai models earned a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+: Hyundai IONIQ 9, Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Kona. 1 more earned a Top Safety Pick: Hyundai Elantra.

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