The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is here, and it’s a huge improvement over the 2021 Tucson. Some of the upgrades to the 2022 have even resulted in it being safer. While the 2021 Hyundai Tucson has a Top Safety Pick, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson has a Top Safety Pick+ award.

Is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award really that great?

To be awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must get a good score in all of the IIHS crashworthy ratings. Ratings can range from poor to good, with marginal and acceptable in between, so good is pretty – well, good.

These tests include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. In addition to these front crash tests, the vehicle must get a good rating in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. 

On top of that, the vehicle must have an advanced or superior in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Headlights, which are often overlooked but shouldn’t be, must be good or acceptable on all trim levels. Oftentimes one trim level has good headlight ratings while another trim level does not. 

The crash test ratings were good in the 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson got a good score in all of the crashworthiness categories, including small overlap front: driver-side. Within this category are subcategories, including structure and safety cage, driver injury measures, and driver restraints and dummy kinematics. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson scored a good in each of these. 

Similarly, the small overlap front: passenger-side category and subcategories were all good, as were the moderate overlap front test results. Side crash tests were all good, with the exception of one. Under driver injury measures, the torso got only an acceptable rating. 

The roof strength, head restraints, and seats got good ratings. In addition to getting a good rating, the roof strength on the 2022 Hyundai Tucson has a curb weight of 3,474 pounds, and a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.05. Its peak force is 17,527 pounds. Head restraints ratings were all good for the Tucson.

Crash prevention in the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is superior

The IIHS tested two different safety systems, and found them both to be superior. This rating applies only to the 2022 models. It found front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian to be superior.

Headlights range depending on the trim you purchase. The rating on the Limited trim is good. The rating on the SE, SEL, and N-Line trims are only acceptable. If you decide to purchase a 2022 Hyundai Tucson, pay attention to the headlights that come with the trim you select. 

Although it’s not part of the Top Safety Pick+ criteria, the IIHS does test child seat anchors. It found those in the 2022 Hyundai Tucson to be only acceptable. If you’re planning on putting car seats in the Tucson, you might want to learn more about these before buying.

Overall, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is an award-winning subcompact SUV with a lot going for it. Its excellent safety ratings make the Tucson a great pick for anyone looking for a small SUV.