Three Hyundai Models Earn Top Safety Pick Awards

For a second year in a row, three Hyundai models earned the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) ‘Top Safety Pick’ award. The Hyundai Veracruz and Santa Fe received awards in the midsize SUV segment and the Hyundai Entourage in the minivan segment. All winning vehicles are recognised for their ability to protect passengers in front, side and rear crashes.

This marks the second year in a row for the Veracruz and Santa Fe. All three vehicles also earned five-star crash test ratings, the highest U.S. government rating under NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, for both frontal and side impact.

‘Top Safety Pick’ awards recognise vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side and rear crashes based on ratings in the Institute’s tests. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation is based on a variety of measures including injuries to dummies, vehicle’s structural performance, restraint performance, etc. Winners are also required to be equipped with the latest crash prevention technology, ESP Stability Control – which is standard on all three Hyundai Top Safety Pick vehicles. In Australia, all 2009 Santa Fe models are fitted with ESP Stability Control and six airbags, including curtain airbags that extend through to the third row of seat in seven seat 2009 Santa Fe models.

According to the IIHS, “Consumers are the biggest winners. No matter what kind of vehicle buyers may be considering, now they can walk into just about any dealership and find one that affords the best overall protection in serious crashes.”