Hyundai Leads the Way in 2025 IIHS Safety Awards: What Fayetteville Drivers Need to Know

At Crain Hyundai of Fayetteville, we know that safety matters—especially when you’re driving around Northwest Arkansas with your family, friends, or pets in tow. That’s why we’re proud to announce that Hyundai has earned five 2025 Top Safety Pick+ awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These honors reflect Hyundai’s commitment to protecting all passengers—not just those in the front seat, but also those in the back. As winners of these prestigious awards, Hyundai vehicles have excelled in various safety evaluations, making them some of the best choices for safety within their size categories.

Whether you’re navigating traffic on College Avenue, heading out to the trails around Lake Fayetteville, or taking a weekend road trip to Devil’s Den, you can drive with confidence knowing Hyundai is building vehicles with your safety in mind.

What’s New for 2025? IIHS Raises the Bar

Each year, IIHS updates its testing standards to make vehicles safer than ever. For 2025, the biggest change involves a more rigorous evaluation for second-row passenger safety. This updated moderate overlap front crash test now includes a second dummy seated behind the driver—representing a smaller adult or child—to evaluate how well back-seat passengers are protected during a crash.

Here’s what it now takes to qualify:

• Top Safety Pick: Requires at least an acceptable rating in the new rear-seat crash test.
• Top Safety Pick+: Requires a good rating in that same test.

These tests highlight a key concern. Many modern vehicles do a great job protecting front-seat occupants but lag behind when it comes to second-row safety. IIHS is pushing automakers to close that gap—and Hyundai is leading the charge.

Additional 2025 IIHS requirements include:

• Good ratings in the updated side crash test and small overlap front crash test
• Acceptable or good performance in pedestrian crash prevention (day and night)
• Good rated headlights on all available trims

Hyundai’s 2025 Safety Superstars

Even with the tougher standards, five Hyundai models earned the top-tier Top Safety Pick+ rating:

• 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 (Electric)
• 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Electric)
• 2025 Hyundai Kona (Gas model only)
• 2025 Hyundai Tucson and Tucson Hybrid
• 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid*(built after November 2024)*

These awards aren’t handed out lightly. Each vehicle was put through a battery of crash tests and real-world safety evaluations conducted under the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)—and came out on top. Extensive research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) plays a crucial role in these evaluations, ensuring that safety standards are rigorously maintained.

Hyundai Motor Group: Leading the Industry

It’s not just Hyundai that’s racking up safety awards. Hyundai’s sister brands—Kia and Genesis—also performed exceptionally well. Together, Hyundai Motor Group claimed a total of 12 Top Safety Pick or Pick+ awards, making it the #1 safety leader in the industry for 2025.

Organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit scientific entity, play a crucial role in evaluating and promoting vehicle safety standards.

This isn’t a one-time win—Hyundai Motor Group has a proven track record of building safer vehicles year after year. They consistently earn high marks across multiple safety categories. Safety professionals at IIHS emphasize the importance of reducing deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes. Hyundai Motor Group’s commitment to safety aligns with this mission.

Built with Your Safety in Mind

Hyundai doesn’t just meet the safety standards—they exceed them by designing with real families in mind. That’s why so many of their award-winning vehicles include Hyundai SmartSense, a collection of advanced safety features that work together to protect you from every angle by integrating advanced technology.

These features include:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist – Helps prevent accidents with vehicles or pedestrians
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning – Alerts you when vehicles are in your blind spot
• Lane Keeping Assist – Helps you stay centered in your lane
• Rear Occupant Alert – Reminds you to check the back seat before exiting
• Side airbags for rear passengers – Adds extra protection during a crash

Hyundai vehicles are also rigorously tested for crashworthiness, ensuring they meet and exceed federal safety standards.

“We want every passenger—front or back—to be safe,” Cole Stutz, Hyundai’s Chief Safety Officer, said. “That’s why we’ve added better seat belts, advanced airbags, and rear occupant alert systems to many of our models.”

Why This Matters for Fayetteville Families

Fayetteville is a fast-growing, family-friendly community, and we know your vehicle has to keep up. Whether you’re:

• Commuting to the University of Arkansas
• Driving the kids to school and soccer practice
• Heading out for a weekend at Beaver Lake

You want a car that’s ready for anything. Safety isn’t just about surviving a crash—it’s about preventing one altogether and minimizing injuries if one occurs. And that’s where Hyundai excels.

As IIHS President David Harkey put it, “Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row.” 

This focus on safety is crucial in reducing deaths and injuries. That means families, solo drivers, and first-time car buyers can all trust Hyundai to deliver peace of mind behind the wheel.

Explore Hyundai’s Safest Vehicles at Crain Hyundai of Fayetteville

Ready to take a closer look at Hyundai’s award-winning safety features? Visit us at Crain Hyundai of Fayetteville and explore our selection of Top Safety Pick+ models, including:

• The electric Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6
• The family-friendly Tucson and Santa Fe
• The fun and efficient Kona

We’re here to help you find the right vehicle that fits your lifestyle—and protects the people who matter most. Whether you choose to lease or make a purchase, our dealership offers various incentives and options to suit your needs.

Stop by today or schedule a test drive online and experience why Hyundai is leading the way in automotive safety for 2025 and beyond. Hyundai’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program provides vital information to consumers, helping them make informed decisions about vehicle crash protection and rollover safety.

Tags: 2025 models, Awards, Back seat, Crash test, Fayetteville, Hyundai, IIHS, Safety, SmartSense, Top Safety Pick+
Posted in Crain Hyundai of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Hyundai Dealer, Hyundai Fuel Efficient SUVs, Hyundai Hybrid, Hyundai Safety Features, Hyundai SUV | No Comments »