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New 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Earns Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
Photo: Hyundai
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Derek Boshouwers
Rating matches that earned by Subaru’s Ascent this week

The redesigned new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, which marks the debut of the popular crossover’s fourth generation, has just been given the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)’s best rating, that of Top Safety Pick+.

The crossover earned the best possible score of Good in every crash test carried out by the IIHS, including the passenger small overlap frontal test, in which the older-generation 2017 edition managed only an Acceptable rating.

Don’t skimp on upgraded headlights!
In the tests carried out on headlight performance, the 2019 Santa Fe was given a Good rating. But like with the 2019 Subaru Ascent, also awarded the Top Safety Pick+ rating this week, this depends on the model being equipped with the upgraded optional LED headlights, included in its Limited and Ultimate versions.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
Photo: HyundaI

When running with the base halogen headlights, the 2019 Santa Fe earned only a Marginal rating, one above the worst. This was due mainly to the lights not providing sufficient lighting.

The Santa Fe’s front crash prevention system is rated Superior, and in the 2019 edition this is now standard equipment.

This award gives Hyundai five 2018 or 2019 models that have earned the Top Safety Pick+ designations: the 2018 Hyundai Elantra (though not the Elantra GT), the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, the 2018 Hyundai Kona, the current 2018 Santa Fe and the new 2019 Santa Fe.

2019 Hyundai Accent also rated
The IIHS also announced that the 2019 Hyundai Accent small car has earned a Top Safety Pick rating, one down from the new Santa Fe.

Derek Boshouwers
Derek Boshouwers
Automotive expert
  • Over 5 years' experience as an automotive journalist
  • More than 50 test drives in the past year
  • Participation in over 30 new vehicle launches in the presence of the brand's technical specialists