A notable means to evaluate a model’s overall safety is through testing by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Models who pass a list of criteria for safety equipment and score well in crash test can earn the organization’s premier designation — a Top Safety Pick+ award. The IIHS’ ranking system is more stringent this year. Cars must now offer improved protection for rear passengers over previous years and provide enhanced pedestrian crash avoidance systems. Twenty-two models earned a Top Safety Pick+ for 2024, and among them are two EV cars. As such, car buyers “going electric” don’t have to sacrifice safety.

The two all-electric sedans earning a Top Safety Pick+ in 2024 are both from Hyundai Motor Group. Namely, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Genesis Electrified G80.

The Ioniq 6 debuted in 2023, a follow-up to Hyundai’s first all-electric SUV, the Ioniq 5. Its top safety designation applies to both 2023 and 2024 models.

The Ioniq 6 scored well in all crash test categories overall. It earned the IIHS’ top score, “good,” in all categories of two of the organization’s crash tests. It was rated good in all but one category, the passenger side crash test.

The only notable knock against the Ioniq 6 was in the updated moderate overall front crash test. The EV sedan earned a “moderate” score for dummy kinematics, which tests the injury potential for rear passengers. The rear passenger dummy, which is the size of a “small woman” or 12-year-old, remained a safe distance from the front seatback and showed a “low risk” of injury to the head or neck and chest. However, the lap belt “moved from the ideal position on the pelvis to the abdomen.” This increases the risk of abdominal injuries, the IIHS notes.

The Ioniq 6’s front crash prevention for pedestrians and seat belt reminders earned the top score. Its headlights and ease of use for its LATCH system are “acceptable.”

The Hyundai and Honda Accord were the only two models to earn a Top Safety Pick+ award in the midsize car category.

The Ioniq 6’s corporate cousin, the Genesis Electrified G80 luxury sedan, was the only Top Safety Pick+ winner in the large luxury car category, electric or otherwise. Its rating applies to 2023 and 2024 models.

The Electrified G80 earned the top score in all overall crash test categories. It scored “good” in 44 out of 47 individual criteria. It scored “acceptable,” the second-highest ranking, in the other three.

The Genesis’ headlights, seat belt reminders and pedestrian front crash prevention systems are rated acceptable.

The model’s child seat anchors earned a “marginal” score, one step above the lowest rating. The IIHS found the lower LATCH anchors were “too deep” in the seat and “too much” force is needed to attach a child seat to them.

Source: [IIHS]