One Unexpected Automaker Dominated 2025 IIHS Safety Rankings
Safety is important to most new car buyers, and one metric customers look at is the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) crash safety ratings. As an independent non-profit organization that tasks itself with evaluating vehicle safety, the group's ratings are generally considered more or less synonymous with how safe a vehicle might be in an accident. For 2025, the automaker that takes home the most victories may surprise you. But then, if you've been paying attention, maybe it won't.
It wasn't Volvo, it wasn't Subaru, and it wasn't any number of other brands you might have guessed. Hyundai Motor Group earned 15 IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ (TSP and TSP+) awards. But you shouldn't be so surprised, as it's the group's second consecutive year winning this award. The Genesis G90 took home a TSP award, and the list of TSP+ winners is considerably longer, including electric models like the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, mainstays of the brand like the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs, and sedans like the Elantra and Sonata. Earning a TSP or TSP+ rating isn't easy and hasn't gotten easier for 2025. In fact, the organization added stricter requirements for second-row occupants just this year, updating the moderate overlap front test.
How do the usual suspects compare? Currently, the IIHS lists three Subaru vehicles as award winners: the Forester, Solterra, and Ascent. Volvo's only winners are the XC90 and XC90 plug-in. While it isn't even close, there is a small asterisk next to Hyundai's accolade. Hyundai Motor Group comprises the Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis brands. Most automakers rely on a single nameplate, or at most two, which means there were simply fewer opportunities for awards. Another factor to consider is that some of these vehicles are, underneath, very similar or almost identical. For example, both the Elantra and K4 won TSP+ awards, but are mechanically almost twins. But hey, that doesn't make them any less safe.
Even with some fine print, the latest round of IIHS safety awards paints a vastly different picture of the Hyundai Motor Group than what you would see even ten years ago. In 2015, Hyundai and Kia each had four award-winning vehicles, and only the Tucson and Genesis took home TSP+ designations. The latter of which, remember, was a standalone model, rather than an entire brand as it is today. A growing portfolio has a lot to do with it. Hyundai had around a dozen models back then, but today, it has 19 to choose from.
Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis have taken giant steps forward over the last few years, and safety is just one area where the Koreans have exceeded expectations. Need proof? Look no further than offerings like the IONIQ 5 N, which seems to reinvent what it means to be an engaging-to-drive EV. Remarkable what a few years of progress can add up to, isn't it?
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Motor 1
an hour ago
- Motor 1
Could Pop-Up Headlights Make a Comeback?
They say everything is cyclical—fashion, music, pop culture. The same is true with car design. Hyundai popularized the retro-fantastic ' 8-bit ' styling on its modern EVs, while Honda is on a mission to revive the long-lost wedge . One thing we haven't seen return, though, are pop-up headlights. The once-ubiquitous design element quickly faded into the background as automakers moved to sleeker, simpler light fixtures focused more on aerodynamic efficiency. What a shame. With so many other retro elements returning to modern cars, though, why can't pop-up headlights also make a comeback? First, some history. The first pop-up headlights date back to 1935. Cord debuted the 810 prototype at the New York Auto Show, touting a technology never before seen. Hidden on either of the exterior fenders were headlight fixtures that "popped up" with a few vigorous twists of a dashboard-mounted crank. Alfa Romeo would introduce pop-up headlights on the production 8C 2900A Berlinetta just a year later in 1936, and the Buick Y-Job concept would follow in 1938. But it wasn't until 1962 that pop-up headlights made their way into the mainstream on the Lotus Elan, which ditched the manually operated crank for the first vacuum-operated pop-ups. The 1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Photo by: Buick Automakers would adopt the technology quickly thereafter, and pop-up headlights boomed in popularity in the US throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Sadly, the last production cars to have pop-up headlights in the US were the Lotus Esprit, ironically enough, and the Chevrolet C5 Corvette. Both of which ended production in 2005, taking pop-ups with them. As with anything good and fun, government regulations all but put a stop to pop-ups. But they weren't necessarily banned. Instead, regulators approved more aerodynamic headlight designs as opposed to the classic round, sealed beams, which meant automakers could save time and money by affixing sleeker, smaller fixtures to the front ends of their vehicles as opposed to fussy, often-complex pop-up units. Pedestrian protection laws globally also meant that anything protruding from the top of a vehicle's hood was a big no-no. Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 Photo by: Chevrolet But in the US, at least, pop-up headlights aren't explicitly banned. So why don't we see more of them? Especially if there's a burgeoning demand for the good ol' days of car design. Audi has been at the forefront of lighting technology for more than a decade. They pioneered the adaptive Matrix LED headlight for Europe in 2013 and continue to evolve the technology. Just recently, Audi debuted the new Q3 SUV with updated Digital Matrix LED headlights featuring micro-LEDs with semiconductors that are thinner than a hair. The man behind the implementation of that technology is Dr. Michael Kruppa, who's been the head of headlight development at Audi for a number of years. Even though Audi has never made a single production car with pop-up headlights (almost unbelievably), Kruppa knows as much as anyone about modern lighting technology. 2026 Audi Q3 Photo by: Audi "The most important point to understand is that everything we do is function-driven," Kruppa tells me. "[The headlights] always come from a very emotional perspective. They want to give the whole car a unique appearance, even if the light isn't illuminated." At Audi, engineers work hand-in-hand with designers to create light fixtures that are as functional as they are beautiful, he says. But with innovation comes roadblocks; getting some specific lighting elements to market is no easy task. It took years for regulators to approve Audi's use of adaptive matrix lighting technology in Europe and other markets. In the US, meanwhile, similar technology is only now hitting the road. Rivian is among the first automakers to get its adaptive lighting technology approved. "[We] had to prove that [matrix LEDs] were robust enough," Kruppa says of regulators. "It was very important to convince the regulators that there is no glare for upcoming traffic… We went for test drives with them to show how the systems worked on the road. Based on this feedback, we were also able to understand their fears, because regulation is quite old-fashioned." Photo by: Audi That's all to say: lighting technology is extremely complicated. Pop-up headlights would undoubtedly further complicate the matter. "If you really want to make [the headlights] disappear completely, it's quite difficult," Kruppa says. "Because in the end, you need them to have a free, open perspective for use at night. At the moment, the big problem is the mechanics and all the additional parts you would have to integrate. So you make the headlamps even bigger, you make them heavier, and our focus, really… is not really having additional mechanical movements." It makes sense. Adding a mechanical function to a feature that doesn't already require one would be a step backward. Not to mention the added costs associated with slapping a piece of sheet metal or carbon fiber to the front of a bumper, and the potential interference with the many safety systems required on modern cars. Plus, there isn't even much room for a pop-up function at all. "The space in front of the car is really limited," he says, "so you don't have a lot of empty space where you can move a lid or where you can put a mechanical part that completely disappears. So that's the reason why we are not focusing on that at the moment." 'If you really want to make [the headlights] disappear completely, it's quite difficult.' But that's not to say companies haven't tried hiding their headlights. We just haven't noticed. A big, modern trend is the split headlight—that is, a two-piece light fixture with an LED running light near the hood line and a larger headlight lower down on the bumper. The new Q3 has it, as do so many modern SUVs. As Kruppa notes, the split headlight was developed, in large part, as a way of 'hiding' the main headlight housing so that the focus is drawn to the upper LED. And you can see that on the latest Q3. "The main focus [with split headlights] really is aesthetics," he says. "Designers focus on the daytime conditions; You're only using the daytime running light… You still have to fulfill legal requirements, though, which means you need a low-beam and a high-beam." "The bezels and polymer pieces surrounding the lower headlights were created so that if they're not on, you don't see them, because you're attracted to the daytime running light." Mazda Iconic SP Concept Love them or hate them, split headlights are, largely, an evolution of the pop-up. But for the most part, the dream of a new car with pop-up headlights is largely dashed. There are some outliers, like the coachbuilt Ares Panther and the Mazda Iconic SP concept . Unfortunately, it's unlikely that we'll ever see another mass-produced modern vehicle with old-school light fixtures. For Audi specifically, the distinct lighting signature of its Matrix LEDs does offer shades of nostalgia. The shape and function harken back, in some ways, to the original R8 and TT. But for Kruppa, he's more focused on the future of lighting design, not necessarily the past. "I think the biggest contribution we will see in the future from lighting is taking over more responsibilities in terms of communication," he says, pointing specifically to things like autonomous driving and pedestrian safety. "Light will create some kind of touch point from the exterior… creating a sense of safety. This is what we strongly believe will happen in the future, whether we need 10 years, I don't know. But this is definitely the outlook." More Design Trends Chrysler Has Its Own Design Studio. That Could Be a Game-Changer America's Beautiful, Forgotten Hypercars Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Motor Trend
an hour ago
- Motor Trend
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT First Test: Gettin' It Done
Pros Small size SUV-like ride Underbed storage Cons Small size (bed is tiny) Interior styling doesn't match the exterior The Ford Maverick is better When it was released in 2021, The Hyundai Santa Cruz made a strong impression as a compact pickup truck that was practical for city life, with its maneuverability and respectable hauling capabilities. Then came the Ford Maverick to steal the spotlight. With its standard hybrid engine, slightly larger frame, and more functional truck bed, the Maverick outpaced its Korean competitor as a simply superior small pickup. Despite this competition, the 2025 Santa Cruz retains its unique appeal, offering a blend of style, convenience, and versatility that carves its own space in the market. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT is a compact, maneuverable truck with a stylish design and turbocharged engine offering 281 hp. It has a rugged look with practical features but isn't suited for extreme off-roading. Its compact size and smooth ride make it ideal for urban use. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next Spending several days behind the wheel of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT highlighted its exceptional maneuverability, refined powertrain, and broad appeal. Equipped with distinctive bumpers and a bold grille, the Santa Cruz XRT trim aims to exude a rugged persona. While it does offer increased capability compared to other Santa Cruz trims, it isn't built for tackling extreme off-road adventures. Instead, it's a stylish and versatile option for most drivers. What Does XRT Mean? Hyundai first introduced the XRT package in 2022, unveiling it in the Tucson and Palisade SUVs. While its purpose is to amplify off-road appeal, the trim leans more toward being an aesthetic upgrade. On the Tucson, for instance, the XRT trim is even available with front-wheel drive, focusing on the rugged styling that caters to buyers seeking a more adventurous look rather than true off-road capability. In the Santa Cruz, the XRT trim stands out by being available only with all-wheel drive. It features a bold dark grille, distinctive 18-inch wheels, red front tow hooks, and specially designed front and rear fascias. The XRT also comes equipped with Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tires, a notable upgrade from the all-season tires found on other models. While the Santa Cruz offers both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines, the XRT is powered solely by the high-output turbo engine. This performance boost enables the XRT to tow up to 5,000 pounds and haul slightly more than 1,400 pounds with ease. Beyond the added hardware, the XRT package doesn't differentiate itself significantly in terms of functionality. The all-terrain tires and distinct bumpers do provide the compact truck with slightly improved off-pavement performance, offering better grip and an enhanced approach angle. However, aside from these minor improvements, the XRT is like the rest of the Santa Cruz lineup when it comes to off-road capability. If the XRT catches your eye, it's undoubtedly due to its striking appearance—and who could blame you? This compact pickup truck radiates undeniable charisma, with Hyundai's subtle yet distinctive upgrades truly making the XRT shine. Its bold styling and unique details ensure it stands apart, drawing attention wherever it goes. Smooth Operator Under the hood of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT lies a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This power is distributed smoothly to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. During our time with it, we found this drivetrain to be a well-tuned piece, offering smooth and precise shifts at just the right rpm. At lower speeds, the power delivery feels fluid and gentle, while at higher speeds, such as freeway merges, the transmission will hold gears until it is the right time to shift. Driving the Santa Cruz around town is a breeze. Its compact size makes parking in tight spots or squeezing into street parking a simple task. The truck feels so nimble and unobtrusive that it's easy to forget you're driving a pickup. Despite its small stature, it offers impressive practicality with the ability to transport tall items that won't fit in a compact SUV like the Tucson. Given the similarities between the Tucson and the Santa Cruz, driving the latter almost feels like piloting an SUV. The cabin remains impressively quiet at freeway speeds, with minimal wind and tire noise—a rarity in trucks. Accelerating to freeway speeds feels effortless, with our test team recording a 0–60-mph time of 6.5 seconds. The Santa Cruz XRT also completed the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds at 96.9 mph. Much like other Hyundai-Kia models, the Santa Cruz XRT now has a sleek curved display featuring dual 12.3-inch screens, elevating the cabin's refinement. Both the infotainment and driver's displays offer excellent resolution, delivering a crisp visual experience. However, the driver's display would benefit from improved graphics. While there are various graphic options available, none is tailored specifically for the Santa Cruz; instead, they are shared across Hyundai's lineup. Introducing truck-themed graphics unique to the Santa Cruz represents a fantastic opportunity to enhance its character and align the interior more closely with its rugged exterior and practical abilities. Similarly, while the cabin's overall design is appealing, we'd prefer more robust features that match the truck's rugged exterior. Aside from the shifter, there's little in the interior that echoes the rest of the pickup's tough, adventurous vibe. The HVAC system's air vents and touch controls are borrowed from the Tucson, which isn't a drawback, but the lack of distinctive, truck-oriented elements leaves the interior feeling out of place. The interior does offer a comfortable experience in the front row, but the rear seating can be a bit challenging. We found the back seat to be slightly too upright, with no option to recline due to the bed layout. However, the rear seats do lift, creating a generous storage area beneath them. The Truck Stuff The truck bed is thoughtfully equipped with plenty of tie-down points, catering to most users' needs. Our XRT test model features the same practical rail system found in other models, enabling the tie-downs to be adjusted easily fore or aft for added versatility. The bed's hard plastic construction appears durable and scratch-resistant, though it doesn't quite match the resilience of a traditional bedliner. This design, however, allows for a spacious underbed storage compartment that's ideal for stashing camping gear or doubling as a cooler during tailgating events. Conveniently, the compartment also includes a drain plug for easy cleaning and water drainage. Accessing the underbed storage can be somewhat irritating, as the tailgate tends to obstruct easy entry. Despite the minor inconvenience, this additional storage feature enhances the Santa Cruz's overall usefulness, making it a handy inclusion for those who need versatile packing options. Is the Santa Cruz XRT a Good Buy? Our experience with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT was thoroughly enjoyable. Its smooth powertrain, comfortable ride quality, and compact size make it an excellent option for urban dwellers and those seeking versatility. We wish the interior had more rugged, truck-oriented features to appeal to traditional pickup truck buyers, but the SUV-like amenities offer a modern and refined touch. The bed isn't the largest, but it's good enough for camping trips and light-duty tasks like backyard projects, making the Santa Cruz XRT a well-rounded small pickup with plenty of charm and utility.
Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
The Dominance of Hyundai and Kia in Korea is Overwhelming, and This is What I Saw
As an automotive writer and an American-born Korean, I was chomping at the bit to experience my parents' homeland for the first time, as well as check out the automotive landscape in the Land of the Morning Calm. So many things surprised me (including the popularity of white cars, which I will get to later), but what stood out the most was the dominance of Korean car brands. Everywhere we looked, there were Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis automobiles. Many of them are not available in America, so I was pretty pumped to see some of them. Hyundai and Kia make up an astounding 90 percent of the automotive market share in South Korea. That's a tremendously huge figure that any two domestic car brands would kill for. Hyundai and Kia have secured their dominance in the South Korean automotive market thanks to the brands' excellent reputation for value, a wide swath of models to fit virtually every need, and advanced design and technology. They also share research and development resources, which allow them to provide vehicles at attainable prices. A distant third brand is KGM, formerly SsangYong. Occasionally, we would see the KGM Torres SUV, which looks like a South Korean Jeep Cherokee. It's not very original, but I liked the chunkiness of the front end and fenders, as well as the hood bulges. Note that this KGM Torres is surrounded by a Kia K5, a Hyundai Ioniq 5, and a Hyundai Santa Fe. In the U.S., there are models from foreign manufacturers that we don't get. This list feels endless, but we'll stick to a couple of Korean models that we'd love to see sold here in America. We saw a new Kia Tasman pickup truck parked on a residential street on the island of Jeju. The photo doesn't do the Tasman justice. The unique unpainted fender trim pieces have been polarizing in shots on the internet, but we have to say they set the truck apart from more common pickup trucks. Especially when paired with bold colors (rare to see red cars in Korea), the fender trim slabs pop nicely. One car that we couldn't get enough of was the Hyundai Grandeur, a name that might not seem familiar to you. The Grandeur was known as the Azera in America, a near-luxury family sedan that left our shores in 2017 due to poor sales. The current-generation Grandeur looks like the offspring of a Bentley Flying Spur and a Cadillac Celestiq, and the result is stunning. The huge upright grille, full-width DRL, flush door handles, and unique rear/side glass give it a look that's far more refined than its price tag of approximately $36,000 USD. The Korean landscape was littered with them, and we loved seeing it every time. It's too bad sedans are on the wane in America. This one is a looker. We also came to love something at the other end of the vehicular spectrum, the tiny Hyundai Casper. It comes in both gas and electric versions, and it looks more like a little SUV than a diminutive hatchback. The big grille, round headlights, chunky fenders, and upright greenhouse give it a rugged appearance unlike any subcompact we've seen. You can fold the front seats flat and, together with the folding rear bench seat, make a sleeping area. The Hyundai Staria minivan was also very popular wherever we went in Korea. This versatile MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) comes in minivan, minibus, van, and limo versions. There's also an ambulance variant that we saw numerous times. The Staria reminds us of a modernized Toyota Previa with its rounded front end and steep windscreen. The side glass panels are enormous, and the super-tall Parametric pixel taillights are a sight to behold. It's sad that Hyundai doesn't sell the Staria in America next to the Kia Carnival. It would be a wonderful addition to the rather narrow minivan segment. One of my favorite vehicles on the trip was spotted by my younger son, who is an avid car fanatic at the ripe age of eight. This G70 Shooting Brake was parked at a hotel where we ate lunch, and I kept coming back to it just to take a look, as it looks even better than the already fetching sedan. The steeply raked rear glass, unique taillight configuration, and the huge roof spoiler bring additional visual flair to the G70, and it's a version we wish would come to America. One thing was apparent almost immediately after landing at Incheon Airport. Most Korean automobiles are white. At first, I thought it was because the rental vehicles came in that color, but white cars permeated the streets in Jeju, Busan, and Seoul. Koreans view white as formal, pure, and clean, while also maximizing resale value in Korea. White is the most popular paint color, with black as a distant second. Whitish-grey and blue take third and fourth, according to statistics. On top of that, white cars tend to be cheaper and easier to keep clean. Koreans also don't view the color of their car as an extension of their personality, like many Americans do. They don't ascribe a lot of meaning to colors, and they tend to be unemotional about their car color. In the sea of white cars, some stood out to me. One of them was the new 2nd-generation Hyundai Palisade, which we haven't seen for sale yet in America. As good as it looks in photos, it's even better in person. It's a very handsome SUV that really does imbue the model with Land Rover-like looks. The huge grille, stacked DRLs, and the squared-off body contribute to a new level of sophistication for the model. I don't think white is the best color for the daring redesign, but it's still quite attractive. Although the pervasiveness of white cars can be a bit boring, we appreciate the practicality behind the choice. It's not only about practicality, of course, but it is strongly reflective of the Korean culture that does not tie car colors to emotions but to pragmatic transportation. Adventurous colors are more appropriate for their traditional Korean clothing (hanboks), their side dishes (banchan), and K-Pop stars' hair colors. For cars, not so much. Korea is a wonderful place culinarily, culturally, and automotively. I was impressed by the dominance of the Korean car brands in their home country, and I was fascinated by the sheer preponderance of white cars. It's quite impressive how far Korean cars have come since the Hyundai Pony in the 1970s, and not just for Korea but right here at home. Korean drivers are also very well-behaved and don't honk much (other than in Seoul, where honking still pales in comparison to American cities), which is another pleasant aspect of driving in Korea. I encourage everyone to visit South Korea when they get a chance, if only for the cars. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
