The Hyundai SUV Ranks Among Safest Crossover SUVs for 2022

In the 2022 “Top Safety Picks+”, awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Hyundai SUV crossovers received numerous victories, being ranked among the top 22 safest crossover SUVs. 

The Appeal of a Crossover SUV

While domestic full-size pickup trucks sell in greater numbers per model, crossover SUVs have been gaining enormous traction in the United States. Recently, crossover SUVs have become an extremely popular form of transportation among all walks of life: singles, families, and empty nesters. Perhaps it is the extra room offered for passengers, the taller ride height, or even the easy handling of these vehicles; whatever the reason, crossover SUVs have found their way into the heart of America. 

Growing families account for a large portion of the crossover SUV’s popularity in America– especially seven-passenger models. Families require something roomy, easy to drive, and safe. It’s extremely important to choose an SUV that keeps its passenger protected in a collision with minimal chance of serious injuries, and comes equipped with high-tech safety gear that can prevent collisions from occurring in the first place. That is why Hyundai set out to make the safest crossover SUV on the market, to protect families.

According to the IIHS, this year’s crossover SUV market is among the best in regards to safety. 2022 produced 34 small, midsize, and luxury crossovers earning the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+, and another 20 crossovers earning the Top Safety Pick (without the plus) award. 

About the Awards

The IIHS is an “independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers and safety professionals.”

In 2006, the nonprofit began ranking vehicles by safety with the Top Safety Pick awards, and in 2013 inaugurated the Top Safety Pick+ awards, holding vehicles at an even higher standard. 

To achieve the ranking of Top Safety Pick, a given model must receive good scores in all of IIHS’ crashworthiness tests, including front and side-impact tests, and both driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal crash tests that replicate hitting a tree or light pole. Each model then can earn a “superior” or “advanced” designation for its standard or optional forward emergency automatic braking system. Superior-rated systems have the ability to automatically apply the brakes if necessary to avoid a crash or reduce speeds by at least 5mph in two tests conducted at 12 and 25 mph. A model with “advanced” rating must be able to avoid a collision in one of the two tests. 

To achieve the illusive “Plus” status, a vehicle must further offer good or acceptable-rated headlights as standard equipment (non-plus models have to, at the very least, offer them as optional equipment somewhere within the model line.) Being able to light up the road ahead is too often overlooked, but is still a critical element of vehicle safety, as about half of traffic deaths occur in the dark, and a quarter of them on unlit roads. Many of the models rated poorly in this designation don’t provide enough illumination to enable a driver going 55 mph on a straight road to stop in time after seeing an obstacle in the vehicle’s path. 

Keep in mind that frontal crash-test results can only be accurately compared among same-size vehicles, due to the laws of physics. So, a top-rated compact car does not necessarily provide the same level of occupant protection as a larger sedan or SUV in a given collision. Side-impact tests, conversely, can be readily compared across the vehicle size and weight classifications due to the manner in which they are conducted. 

Hyundai Awarded Top Safety Pick+ Status

Now, with an understanding of what the awards are, and the criteria for these awards, let’s take a look at what Hyundai crossover SUVs have risen to Top Safety Pick+ status and have been crowned the safest crossover SUV!

Small SUVs

• Hyundai Tucson

Midsize SUVs

• Hyundai Palisade
• Hyundai Santa Fe 

Midsize Luxury SUVs

• Hyundai Nexo

Choose Safety, Choose Edmond Hyundai

Edmond Hyundai is proud to sell Hyundai vehicles to our consumers. With multiple Hyundai models being ranked among the top 22 crossover SUVs, we are confident that you will find a vehicle you will be confident in at Edmond Hyundai. If you have questions or want to know about Hyundai or our dealership, don’t hesitate to contact us. You are our priority and we want to make sure you feel satisfied with every interaction you have at Edmond Hyundai. 

You can contact us at 405-696-4932, or stop by our location at 14137 N. Broadway Ext. Oklahoma City, OK 73013. 

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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