SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s top carmaker, Hyundai Motor Co., said Friday that the latest editions of its Tucson sport utility vehicle (SUV) and the Sonata midsize family sedan have been named two of the safest cars by a U.S. motor institute.
The two updated models won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 2015 Top Safety Pick+ recognition, the company said.
The IIHS conducts five tests to assess vehicle safety — moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.’
A car must earn a “good” or “acceptable” rating in the small overlap front test and receive good ratings for the remaining four categories to be named the Top Safety Pick+, according to the U.S. institute.
For the Tucson, which received the most coveted good rating in the small overlap front test, the latest results mark a leap from its previous model, for which the IIHS gave a “poor” rating in the same category.
The Sonata once again earned the second-best acceptable rating for the small overlap front test in winning the safety award. The sedan’s previous model had also been named as a top pick earlier last year.
The IIHS said it plans to impose more strict standards starting next year and requiring a good rating in the small overlap test in order to qualify for the Top Safety Pick+ award.’
(Yonhap)