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SUV 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 2026 Santa Cruz Awarded Top Safety Honors by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
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SUV 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 2026 Santa Cruz Awarded Top Safety Honors by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
SUV 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 2026 Santa Cruz Awarded Top Safety Honors by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
SUV 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 2026 Santa Cruz Awarded Top Safety Honors by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 2026 Santa Cruz Awarded Top Safety Honors by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
FOUNTAIN VALLY, October 31, 2025 – The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recognized two additional Hyundai models for outstanding safety performance. The all-new 2026 IONIQ 9 earned the 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) award, while the 2026 Santa Cruz secured a 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) designation. With these latest honors, Hyundai now boasts eight 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK+ ratings and one 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK. Hyundai leads the industry with nine 2025 IIHS TSP/TSP+ awarded vehicles. IIHS awards highlight the safest vehicles in each category, helping consumers make informed choices.
The 2025 IIHS test criteria now has more stringent requirements for second-row occupant safety. Vehicles must earn an acceptable rating in the updated test to qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, and a good rating is required for the TOP SAFETY PICK+.
“We are immensely proud that IONIQ 9 and Santa Cruz have earned top recognition in the world’s most prestigious automobile safety evaluations,” said Cole Stutz, chief safety officer, Hyundai Motor North America. “These achievements reaffirm our commitment to delivering vehicles that set the standard for world-class safety, quality and innovation.”
To earn a 2025 TSP/TSP+ award, vehicles must earn good ratings in the small overlap front and updated side tests as well as an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation, which gauges performance in both daytime and nighttime conditions. All trims must be equipped with acceptable- or good-rated headlights. An acceptable rating in the updated moderate overlap front test is enough to qualify for TSP, but a good rating is required for TSP+. For more information on the award criteria, visit IIHS.org.
| Ratings | TSP+ (8 models) | TSP (1 models) |
| Models (9 models) |
| SANTA CRUZ *newly added |
Sunnah Baek
sunnah.baek@hyundai.com
Global PR Contents · Hyundai Motor Company
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Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.
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