Top Safety Pick +

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

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
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system	Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Standard blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention
Standard rear automatic braking

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 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Santa Fe was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Santa Fe has 2 rows of seats and replaces the model called the Santa Fe Sport, which was sold during the 2013-18 model years. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1808
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	8
Footrest (cm)	15
Left toepan (cm)	10
Brake pedal (cm)	4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	4
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Upper dash (cm)	4
Lower instrument panel (cm)	3

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1808
Head
HIC-15	262
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	8
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	28
Femur (kN)
Left	1.9
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.70
Right	0.38
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.3
Right	1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	65
Right	94

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Santa Fe was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Santa Fe has 2 rows of seats and replaces the model called the Santa Fe Sport, which was sold during the 2013-18 model years. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai.

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
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	VTP1819
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	14
Footrest (cm)	15
Right toepan (cm)	7
Center toepan (cm)	2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	3
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	4
Upper dash (cm)	6
Right lower dash (cm)	6

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1819
Head
HIC-15	563
Peak gs at hard contact	83
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm)	24
Maximum Nij	0.35
Chest maximum compression (mm)	24
Femur (kN)
Left	0.2
Right	1.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	2
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.45
Right	0.43
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.4
Right	1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	61
Right	58

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1819
Head
HIC-15	169
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	8
Maximum Nij	0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm)	29
Femur (kN)
Left	0.2
Right	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.31
Right	0.25
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.9
Right	0.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	33
Right	49

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Santa Fe was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Santa Fe has 2 rows of seats and replaces the model called the Santa Fe Sport, which was sold during the 2013-18 model years. Moderate overlap frontal 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
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1813
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	3
Left (cm)	8
Center (cm)	9
Right (cm)	6
Brake pedal (cm)	8
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	1
Right (cm)	1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	1
Rearward (cm)	-4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1813
Head
HIC-15	198
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)	11
Maximum Nij	0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm)	30
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.2
Femur force - right (kN)	0.2
Knee displacement - left (mm)	0
Knee displacement - right (mm)	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.36
Maximum tibia index - right	0.39
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	1.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	43
Right	53

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4-door 2wd

The Hyundai Santa Fe was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Santa Fe has 2 rows of seats and replaces the model called the Santa Fe Sport, which was sold during the 2013-18 model years. 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	VTS1813
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-13.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1813
Head HIC-15	121
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Compression (kN)	0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	33
Lateral force (kN)	1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	27
Average deflection (mm)	25
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.72
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.48
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.6
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.2
Combined force (kN)	2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.8
L-M moment (Nm)	70
A-P moment (Nm)	21

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1813
Head HIC-15	187
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.1
Compression (kN)	0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	40
Lateral force (kN)	2.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	37
Average deflection (mm)	30
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.34
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.56
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.7
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.3
Combined force (kN)	2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.5
L-M moment (Nm)	114
A-P moment (Nm)	19

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,715 lbs
Peak force	18,681 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.03

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)	34
Distance below top of head (mm)	-1
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	11.1
Head contact time (ms)	59
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	369

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
Calligraphy trim
Hybrid Limited 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 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 both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and gradual right curves and fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves.

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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Limited trim Calligraphy trim Hybrid Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021-23 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	94.1 m	None
Straightaway left edge	63.1 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	77.6 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	76.7 m	48.4%
150m radius right curve, right edge	55.9 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	55.6 m	7.1%

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	183.4 m
Straightaway left edge	156.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	85.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	83.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	59.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	59.5 m

Trim level(s)

SE trim
SEL trim
XRT trim
Hybrid Blue trim
Hybrid SEL Premium trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
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 inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves, and inadequate 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 fair on the gradual left and both right curves and inadequate on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	SE trim SEL trim XRT trim Hybrid Blue trim Hybrid SEL Premium trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2022-23 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	76.6 m	None
Straightaway left edge	45.0 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	68.5 m	None
250m radius left curve, right edge	42.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	54.7 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	48.8 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	136.7 m
Straightaway left edge	130.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	73.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	66.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	55.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	53.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021-23 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021-23 models

Superior

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 20 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
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, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-23 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)	0-2
Force (lbs)	13
Clearance angle (degrees)	87
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	15
Clearance angle (degrees)	69
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

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

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	15
Clearance angle (degrees)	71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	18
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