Small overlap front: driver-side
Rating applies to 2016-19 models built after October 2015
Tested vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Sonata Eco 4-door
The Hyundai Sonata was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Beginning with 2016 models, the driver's seat belt was modified, and front suspension changes were made to alter wheel movement during small overlap frontal crashes. Later, beginning with 2016 models built after October 2015, the structure was reinforced at the junction between the door sill and hinge pillar to improve occupant protection in small overlap crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)
The Kia Optima was redesigned for the 2016 model year and since then has been built on the same platform as the Hyundai Sonata. All 2016 and later Optimas include equivalent modifications made on the driver side of Sonatas built after October 2015.
Overall evaluation | |
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Structure and safety cage | |
Driver injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Chest | |
Hip/thigh | |
Lower leg/foot | |
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata built after October 2015.
The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.
The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.
Forces during the crash contributed to a moderate risk of injury to the dummy's left foot.
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Rating applies to 2016-19 models
Tested vehicle: 2017 Hyundai Sonata SE 4-door
The Hyundai Sonata was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Beginning with 2016 models, the driver's seat belt was modified, and front suspension changes were made to alter left and right wheel movement during small overlap frontal crashes to improve occupant protection.
The Kia Optima was redesigned for the 2016 model year and since then has been built on the same platform as the Hyundai Sonata, with the exception that the Optima's passenger side structure was lacking some of the strengthening needed for optimal performance in passenger-side small overlap crashes.
Beginning with 2018 Optima models built after January 2018, the passenger-side door sill, lower door hinge pillar, and toepan were reinforced to improve occupant protection in such crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Structure and safety cage | |
Passenger injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Chest | |
Hip/thigh | |
Lower leg/foot | |
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but moved off toward the right side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed. | |
Driver injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Chest | |
Hip/thigh | |
Lower leg/foot | |
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.
The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger’s survival space was maintained well.
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but moved toward the right side, allowing the head to slip into the gap in coverage between the frontal and side curtain airbags.
The passenger's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2015-19 models
Tested vehicle: 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T 4-door
The Hyundai Sonata was redesigned for the 2015 model year and the Kia Optima was redesigned for the 2016 model year (since then the two cars have been built on the same platform). Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2015 Sonata conducted by Hyundai.
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Structure and safety cage | |
Driver injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Chest | |
Leg/foot, left | |
Leg/foot, right | |
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
Side: original test
Rating applies to 2015-19 models
Tested vehicle: 2015 Hyundai Sonata SE 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
The Hyundai Sonata was redesigned for the 2015 model year and the Kia Optima was redesigned for the 2016 model year (since then the two cars have been built on the same platform). Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2015 Sonata conducted by Hyundai.
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Structure and safety cage | |
Driver injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Torso | |
Pelvis/leg | |
Driver head protection | |
Rear passenger injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Torso | |
Pelvis/leg | |
Rear passenger head protection |
Roof strength
Rating applies to 2015-19 models
Tested vehicle: 2015 Hyundai Sonata SE 4-door
Rating applies to both the 2015-19 models of the Hyundai Sonata (tested) and the structurally similar 2016-20 models of the Kia Optima.
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Curb weight | 3,285 lbs |
Peak force | 17,046 lbs |
Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.19 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Power cloth seat
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Dynamic rating | |
Seat/head restraint geometry |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.
Headlights
Ratings are given for 5 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.
Trim level(s)
- Limited trim; built after September 2017
Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
---|---|
High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
High-beam assist? | No |
Overall rating | |
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.
The low beams created some glare.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.
Trim level(s)
- Limited trim equipped with Ultimate package; built after September 2017
- Limited 2.0T trim; built after September 2017
Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
---|---|
High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
High-beam assist? | Yes |
Overall rating | |
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.
The low beams created some glare.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.
Trim level(s)
- SE trim
- Eco trim
- SEL trim
- Sport trim
- Sport 2.0T trim
Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
---|---|
High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
Curve-adaptive? | No |
High-beam assist? | No |
Overall rating | |
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.
The low beams created some glare.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.
Trim level(s)
- Limited trim equipped with Ultimate package; built before October 2017
- Limited 2.0T trim; built before October 2017
Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
---|---|
High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
High-beam assist? | Yes |
Overall rating | |
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.
The low beams never exceeded glare limits.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.
High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway.
Trim level(s)
- Limited trim; built before October 2017
Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
---|---|
High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
High-beam assist? | No |
Overall rating | |
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.
The low beams never exceeded glare limits.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2018 models
Overall evaluation | |
Vehicle trim | SE |
Seat type | cloth |
This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.
It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.
Overall evaluation | |
Vehicle trim | SE |
Seat type | cloth |
G | Good |
A | Acceptable |
M | Marginal |
P | Poor |
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated. | |
thether anchor symbol | Tether anchor |
lower anchor symbol | Lower anchors |
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s) | |
No hardware available |
Details by seating position
1 | |
---|---|
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
too deep in seat | |
not too much force needed to attach | |
difficult to maneuver around anchors | |
2 | |
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
none available | |
3 | |
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
too deep in seat | |
not too much force needed to attach | |
difficult to maneuver around anchors |