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2025 Hyundai Kona

small SUV / 4-door SUV

2025 Hyundai Kona 4-door SUV
2024 Hyundai Kona shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • Good
  • Acceptable
  • Marginal
  • Poor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

  • Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Kona SEL 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Kona was redesigned for the 2024 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2024 Kona conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall driver-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN2313
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 8
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN2313
Head
HIC-15 128
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 23
Maximum Nij 0.28
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.44
Right 0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.9
Right 0.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 51
Right 40

Passenger-side

  • Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Kona SEL 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Kona was redesigned for the 2024 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2024 Kona conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall passenger-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2322
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Footrest (cm) 7
Right toepan (cm) 4
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 8

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2322
Head
HIC-15 115
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 20
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 2.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 9
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.30
Right 0.92
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 38
Right 35

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2322
Head
HIC-15 74
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 6
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.30
Right 0.19
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 44
Right 42

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Kona N Line 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Kona was redesigned for the 2024 model year. Two tests of the Kona were conducted, the first by the Institute and the second by Hyundai. An engine bay fire occurred and while this shouldn't happen, it did not effect vehicle structure or dummy injuries in this test.

The engine bay fire led Hyundai to modify N-line Kona's with the 1.6 turbo engine to prevent this occurrence beginning with vehicles built after December 2023. Hyundai has implemented a recall to apply the same fix to cars built earlier. (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.)

In the second test conducted by Hyundai on a vehicle with the modification, no engine bay fire was observed. Ratings of the Kona are based on the Institute's test.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head remained a safe distance from the front seatback.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt moved too far upward toward the dummy’s neck, compromising the effectiveness of the rear restraint system.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2346
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 9
Left (cm) 16
Center (cm) 13
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 3
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2346
Head
HIC-15 199
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.51
Right 0.90
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 60
Right 81

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2346
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Compression (kN) 0.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 27
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 3.9
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.0
Right femur compression 0.0

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Kona 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Kona was redesigned for the 2024 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2024 Kona conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2343
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -20.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2343
Head
HIC-15 251
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) -0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 28
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 40
Average deflection (mm) 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.22
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.49
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.1

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2343
Head
HIC-15 282
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) -0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 53
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 41
Average deflection (mm) 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.67
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.59
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.4

About the side crash test

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

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

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2024-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 76.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 60.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 75.0 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 63.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 68.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 166.0 m
Straightaway left edge 104.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 87.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 75.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 71.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

System details

  • standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
  • of the following trim lines: SEL trim
Overall evaluation
Includes high-beam assist credit

Crossing child — day

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult — night

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult — night

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 2 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 33 mph and a warning was issued 1.2 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 51 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 61 dB
Difference between background and signal 10.0 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 56 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 62 dB
Difference between background and signal 6.9 dB
Dominant audio frequency 2220 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimN Line
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 trimN Line
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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

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
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
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 74
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 22

2

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

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 22
Clearance angle (degrees) 63
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 19
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation