Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2021 Kia Sportage

small SUV / 4-door SUV

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

2021 Kia Sportage 4-door SUV
2020 Kia Sportage shown

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

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 2017-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Tucson was redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the Kia Sportage was redesigned for the 2017 model year (the two vehicles are now built on the same platform).

Overall evaluation
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 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.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1522
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Parking brake (cm) 15
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1522
Head
HIC-15 399
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 27
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 2.4
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 9
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.52
Right 0.68
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 55
Right 83

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2017-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Tucson was redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the Kia Sportage was redesigned for the 2017 model year (the two vehicles are now built on the same platform).

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

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 reasonably well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the passenger dummy’s head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Despite lateral intrusion of the door sill, the risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CN15005
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 19
Footrest (cm) 15
Right toepan (cm) 11
Center toepan (cm) 9
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 12
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 6
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Upper dash (cm) 10
Right lower dash (cm) 8

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CN15005
Head
HIC-15 321
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 28
Maximum Nij 0.38
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Femur (kN)
Left 0.0
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.34
Right 0.80
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 69
Right 52

Driver injury measures

Test ID CN15005
Head
HIC-15 61
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.27
Right 0.24
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 47
Right 38

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2017-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Tucson was redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the Kia Sportage was redesigned for the 2017 model year (the two vehicles are now built on the same platform). Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2016 Tucson 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
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1505
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 7
Left (cm) 12
Center (cm) 10
Right (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 10
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1505
Head
HIC-15 194
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 26
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.1
Femur force - right (kN) 1.0
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.55
Maximum tibia index - right 0.54
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 56
Right 106

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2017-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Tucson Limited 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Tucson was redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the Kia Sportage was redesigned for the 2017 model year (the two vehicles are now built on the same platform). Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2016 Tucson 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
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1505
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -13.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1505
Head HIC-15 332
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 1.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 21
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 28
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.98
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.52
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.2
Combined force (kN) 4.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 107
A-P moment (Nm) 33

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1505
Head HIC-15 136
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 31
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 28
Average deflection (mm) 20
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.57
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.37
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.4
Combined force (kN) 1.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.6
L-M moment (Nm) 148
A-P moment (Nm) 61

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2017-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Hyundai Tucson SE 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Tucson was redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the Kia Sportage was redesigned for the 2017 model year (the two vehicles are now built on the same platform).

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

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2004
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -12.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2004
Head
HIC-15 209
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 19
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 34
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.76
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.65
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 8.4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2004
Head
HIC-15 302
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 56
Lateral force (kN) 1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 54
Average deflection (mm) 42
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 6.35
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 1.35
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.0

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2017-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE 4-door 4wd

Rating applies to the Hyundai Tucson (tested) and the structurally similar Kia Sportage and Hyundai Nexo (beginning with 2017 Sportage models and 2019 Nexo models).

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,449 lbs
Peak force18,531 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.37

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) 15
Distance below top of head (mm) -7
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.0
Head contact time (ms) 57
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 438

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)

  • SX Turbo trim
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 Some glare

Low 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 left and sharp right curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left and gradual right curves and inadequate on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SX Turbo trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 123.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 66.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.9 m 1.8%
250m radius left curve, left edge 70.4 m 26.0%
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.3 m 13.3%
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.6 m 59.9%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 135.7 m
Straightaway left edge 133.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 74.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 47.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 53.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • LX trim
  • S trim
  • EX trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen 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 Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate 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 both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • LX trim
  • S trim
  • EX trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 104.6 m 144.3%
Straightaway left edge 68.3 m 144.3%
250m radius right curve, right edge 47.5 m 87.8%
250m radius left curve, left edge 48.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 37.0 m 125.1%
150m radius left curve, left edge 38.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 117.4 m
Straightaway left edge 88.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 38.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 40.5 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-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection

Package name

  • Optional S Trim with Premium Package
  • EX Trim with Technology Package
  • standard on SX Turbo trim

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-21 models

Superior
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, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-22 models

Superior
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, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • optional Autonomous Emergency Braking

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2019-22 models of the following trim lines: S trim equipped with Premium package, EX trim equipped with Technology package, SX Turbo trim

Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 14 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 15 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph. A warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2017-22 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLX
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 trimLX
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) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 9
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

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) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 72
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 19
Clearance angle (degrees) 73
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

Rating applies to 2017-22 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimEX
Seat type leather

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 trimEX
Seat type leather
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) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 66
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
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) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 66
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 59
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