2017 Kia Sportage Named IIHS' Top Safety Pick Plus
CARS.COM — After receiving a poor crash-test rating the previous year, the redesigned Kia Sportage came back strong for 2017. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced that the compact SUV earned its highest crashworthiness rating, Top Safety Pick Plus.
Related: 2017 Kia Sportage: First Look
The 2017 Sportage earned the top good ratings in all five crash tests, and the top superior rating for its optional front crash prevention system with automatic emergency braking. The outgoing version earned good ratings in all crash tests except small overlap front, in which it received a rating of poor; front crash prevention was not available on the 2016 model.
Under IIHS’ new-for-2016 guidelines, to receive Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles must earn a rating of good in all five crashworthiness evaluations, which include small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength and head restraints. Vehicles also must earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention technology.
Improvements impacting the 2017 Sportage’s safety rating center on “extensive use” of high-strength steel. IIHS said more than half the vehicle’s underlying structure consists of high-strength steel, compared with just 18 percent for its predecessor. That improves rigidity by a reported 39 percent.
This new safety rating puts the Sportage in a much stronger position against competitors in the white-hot compact SUV market. The Sportage’s crashworthiness rating now matches competitors such as the 2016 versions of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, which earned a basic score in front crash prevention, is a Top Safety Pick, while the 2016 Ford Escape failed to receive an IIHS designation due to its poor performance in small overlap front testing.
