Top Safety Pick

2020 Hyundai Elantra

small car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Not tested
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system	Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2017-20 models built after March 2016

Tested vehicle: 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2017 model year and the Elantra GT was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Beginning with 2017 Elantra models built after March 2016 and applicable to all Elantra GT models, the structure was reinforced at the junction between the door sill and hinge pillar and the driver frontal airbag was modified 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.)

Evaluation criteria	Rating

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.

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 very 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 lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1619
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Footrest (cm)	3
Left toepan (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Upper dash (cm)	3
Lower instrument panel (cm)	3

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1619
Head
HIC-15	538
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm)	10
Maximum Nij	0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm)	25
Femur (kN)
Left	1.9
Right	0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.55
Right	0.61
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	5.3
Right	2.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	89
Right	94

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-20 models built after September 2018

Tested vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2017 model year. Beginning with 2018 models built after December 2017, the passenger-side front door hinge pillar and door sill were reinforced to improve occupant protection in passenger-side small overlap frontal crashes. Further structural improvements in the same area were added beginning with 2019 models built after September 2018. (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.)

Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based a test conducted by Hyundai on a 2019 Elantra with all modifications.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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 slid 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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1830
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	15
Footrest (cm)	6
Right toepan (cm)	5
Center toepan (cm)	3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	6
Upper dash (cm)	8
Right lower dash (cm)	7

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1830
Head
HIC-15	300
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm)	12
Maximum Nij	0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm)	25
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.57
Right	0.59
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	3.6
Right	3.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	100
Right	89

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1830
Head
HIC-15	219
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm)	34
Maximum Nij	0.39
Chest maximum compression (mm)	31
Femur (kN)
Left	0.2
Right	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.29
Right	0.24
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.2
Right	1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	49
Right	56

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2017-20 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2017 model year and the Elantra GT was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on two tests of the Elantra conducted by Hyundai.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1608	VTF1607
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	1	1
Left (cm)	5	4
Center (cm)	2	1
Right (cm)	1	1
Brake pedal (cm)	3	2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0	0
Right (cm)	1	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-3	-2
Rearward (cm)	-5	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1608	VTF1607
Head
HIC-15	214	209
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2	1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm)	10	20
Maximum Nij	0.25	0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm)	32	29
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.5	0.3
Femur force - right (kN)	1.0	0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm)	0	0
Knee displacement - right (mm)	2	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.39	0.30
Maximum tibia index - right	0.42	0.50
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.4	1.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.1	1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	67	45
Right	53	51

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2017-20 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2017 model year and the Elantra GT was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS1607
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-16.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1607
Head HIC-15	331
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	37
Lateral force (kN)	1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	42
Average deflection (mm)	34
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	5.80
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.86
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	2.8
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.6
Combined force (kN)	4.4
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.9
L-M moment (Nm)	137
A-P moment (Nm)	86

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1607
Head HIC-15	203
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.2
Compression (kN)	0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	30
Lateral force (kN)	1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	45
Average deflection (mm)	38
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.50
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.80
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.0
Acetabulum force (kN)	0.7
Combined force (kN)	0.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	1.3
L-M moment (Nm)	235
A-P moment (Nm)	63

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2017-20 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

Rating applies to both the Elantra 4-door sedan (tested) and the structurally similar 2018 and later Elantra GT 4-door hatchback.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	2,826 lbs
Peak force	15,369 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.44

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	32
Distance below top of head (mm)	6
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	12.4
Head contact time (ms)	63
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	8
Max neck tension (N)	519

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

Limited trim
Sport trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
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 gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Limited trim Sport trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2019-20 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	85.4 m	None
Straightaway left edge	72.4 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	76.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	65.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	62.4 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	53.8 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	136.4 m
Straightaway left edge	123.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	84.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	70.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	65.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	56.0 m

Trim level(s)

SE trim
SEL trim
Value Edition trim
Eco trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
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 good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	SE trim SEL trim Value Edition trim Eco trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2019-20 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	109.8 m	None
Straightaway left edge	52.2 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	48.3 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	43.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	38.3 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	36.6 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	135.3 m
Straightaway left edge	95.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	48.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	49.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	37.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	39.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

Optional Forward Collision-Assist with Pedestrian Detection

Package name

Optional Ultimate Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-20 models

Superior

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

System details

Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020 models

This system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
Autobrake not tested.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

optional Forward Collision-Assist with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2019-20 models of the following trim lines: Limited trim equipped with Ultimate package

Advanced

with optional equipment

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 8 mph.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 29 mph. A warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2017-20 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	SE
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
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
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
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
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
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
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	23
Clearance angle (degrees)	69
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	32
Clearance angle (degrees)	76
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	23
Clearance angle (degrees)	75
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	31
Clearance angle (degrees)	81
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation