2026 Hyundai Elantra Safety Rating
Small cars Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-09-16
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 94.1/100, ranking #1 of 16 current small cars and #37 of 136 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the 2026 award cycle.
Every primary IIHS test is rated Good. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Good; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
- Rating applies to 2025-26 models built after October 2024
Headlights: baseline Good
- Good β Trim level(s): All trims
Pedestrian crash prevention: baseline Good
- Good β standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. Rating applies to all 2024-26 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (51 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2021-26 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2021-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2025-26 models built after October 2024
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Headlights
Β· Trim level(s): All trims
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to all 2024-26 models Β· standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2021-26 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
See our full scoring methodology and rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4DR N/A FWD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2025 Hyundai Elantra SEL Sport 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models built after October 2024
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 54 per million registered vehicle-years | Small cars as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
| Hyundai Elantra (2020) driver death rate | 103 (95% CI 48β157) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 60.5. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
| Theft claim frequency (Hyundai Elantra hybrid 4dr) | 13 (100 = average) | HLDI whole-vehicle theft, 2022β24 model years: 13% of average. See the theft ranking. |
Compared with other small cars
Closest-scoring current small cars with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small car ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra (this page) | #1 of 16 | TSP | $22,625 | 94.1 | |
| 2026 Nissan Sentra | #2 of 16 | TSP+ | $22,600 | 92.2 | |
| 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) | #3 of 16 | TSP+ | $22,290 | 92.1 | |
| 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid | #4 of 16 | TSP+ | $33,995 | 91.0 | |
| 2026 Mazda 3 (Hatchback) | #5 of 16 | TSP+ | $25,650 | 89.6 |
Our analysis
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra belongs to the Small cars class. This class has an above-average driver death rate compared with the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years, which usually reflects lighter weight and smaller size in multi-vehicle crashes. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Hyundai Elantra earned Top Safety Pick in the 2026 award cycle. The difference from Top Safety Pick+ is usually the updated moderate-overlap result or a headlight or pedestrian-braking threshold; the linked IIHS report shows which.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Hyundai Elantra earned 4 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Hyundai or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra
We do not have a verified NHTSA recall lookup for this model and year. An unmatched or unavailable lookup is not evidence of a clean recall record.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
Use this score on your own site
Writing about the 2026 Hyundai Elantra? Paste this badge into a post or forum reply. It updates on its own whenever IIHS publishes new results for this model.
Free to use with the link left intact. The badge is a plain image and an ordinary link, with no tracking script.
Questions about the 2026 Hyundai Elantra
Is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra a safe car?
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 94.1/100 in our published formula and ranks #1 of 16 current small cars with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
What is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Good; side: updated test = Good; headlights = Good; seat belt reminders = Acceptable; latch ease of use = Acceptable.
Is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
Yes. The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is a IIHS Top Safety Pick for the 2026 award cycle.
What is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra NHTSA rating?
NHTSA gives the 2026 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4DR N/A FWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 4, side 5, rollover 5). NHTSA stars are shown for reference and are not part of our score.
How does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra compare with other small cars?
The class leader is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra at 94.1/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current small cars with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.