The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has honored the new 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 electric vehicle with the TOP SAFETY PICK+ award for 2025. It’s the institute’s highest distinction among current-generation models, and it underscores how prominently safety figures into Hyundai’s latest EV.

Another fresh entry, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, received a TOP SAFETY PICK. While a step below the PLUS title, it remains a notable marker of the pickup’s safety credentials.

With these results, Hyundai now counts eight models carrying the TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation. In total, the brand has nine vehicles recognized by IIHS with its two headline awards for 2025, with Santa Cruz contributing a TOP SAFETY PICK.

To earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK in 2025, vehicles must meet IIHS’s strict benchmarks: strong outcomes in crash tests, effective automatic emergency braking systems, and headlights rated at least Acceptable. The bar is high, and it rewards balanced engineering.