The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe marks a significant redesign for this popular SUV, and safety remains a key consideration for families and drivers alike. This in-depth review analyzes the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test results for the 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, providing a detailed look at its performance in various safety evaluations. Understanding these ratings is crucial for making informed decisions when choosing a vehicle prioritizing occupant protection. Let’s delve into the specifics of each test and what they reveal about the new Santa Fe’s safety capabilities.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Detailed Analysis
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where just the front corner of the vehicle strikes another vehicle or a stationary object. This is a particularly challenging test, and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe underwent both driver-side and passenger-side evaluations.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test
The 2024-25 Hyundai Santa Fe achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. This is the highest possible rating and indicates excellent protection in this type of severe frontal crash.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Driver-Side Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | G |
The technical measurements from the driver-side test demonstrate minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment, reinforcing the “Good” rating for structure and safety cage.
Driver-Side Intrusion Measurements (cm)
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 4 |
| Footrest | 8 |
| Left Toepan | 5 |
| Brake Pedal | 3 |
| Parking Brake | 0 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 1 |
| Steering Column | 1 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 2 |
| Upper Dash | 2 |
| Lower Instrument Panel | 3 |
The injury measures for the driver were also all rated “Good,” indicating a low risk of significant injuries in a real-world crash of this type.
Driver Injury Measures
| Injury Measure | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 76 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Chest Compression (mm) | 26 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 0.6 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.40 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.39 |
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test
Similarly, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe also earned a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test, ensuring robust protection for front-seat passengers.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Passenger-Side Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Passenger Restraints & Kinematics | A |
While most passenger injury measures were “Good,” the passenger restraints and kinematics were rated “Acceptable.” This suggests room for improvement in optimizing passenger-side restraint systems, although overall protection remains high.
Passenger-Side Intrusion Measurements (cm)
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 5 |
| Footrest | 10 |
| Right Toepan | 8 |
| Center Toepan | 6 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 4 |
| Center Dash | 2 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 3 |
| Upper Dash | 2 |
| Right Lower Dash | 3 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Injury Measure | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 153 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.5 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Chest Compression (mm) | 28 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.50 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.59 |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original and Updated
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacting a deformable barrier. The IIHS conducts both an original moderate overlap test and an updated version with stricter criteria, particularly for rear passenger protection.
Original Moderate Overlap Front Test
The 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe received a “Good” rating in the original moderate overlap front test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/Foot, Left | G |
| Leg/Foot, Right | A |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | G |
Most driver injury measures were “Good,” but the right leg/foot protection was rated “Acceptable,” indicating a slightly higher risk of injury to that area.
Driver-Side Intrusion Measurements (cm)
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footrest | 6 |
| Left Footwell | 9 |
| Center Footwell | 8 |
| Right Footwell | 11 |
| Brake Pedal | 8 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward (Left) | 0 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward (Right) | 1 |
| Steering Column Upward | -2 |
| Steering Column Rearward | -4 |
| A-Pillar Rearward | 0 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Injury Measure | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 190 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 14 |
| Chest Compression (mm) | 31 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.6 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 2.1 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.28 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.54 |
Updated Moderate Overlap Front Test
For 2025 models built after November 2024, Hyundai modified the rear seatbelts to enhance rear occupant safety in moderate overlap frontal crashes. The updated test reflects these changes. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe achieved a “Good” rating in this more stringent updated test as well.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Thigh/Hip | G |
| Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | A |
| Chest | G |
| Thigh | G |
| Rear Passenger Restraints & Kinematics | A |
While driver protection remained “Good” across all measures, rear passenger head/neck and restraints/kinematics received “Acceptable” ratings. This suggests that while rear passenger safety is generally good, there is still room for optimization, particularly concerning head and neck protection and the effectiveness of the restraint system in the rear seats.
Driver-Side Intrusion Measurements (cm)
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footrest | 7 |
| Left Footwell | 11 |
| Center Footwell | 10 |
| Right Footwell | 13 |
| Brake Pedal | 11 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward (Left) | 1 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward (Right) | 2 |
| Steering Column Upward | 1 |
| Steering Column Rearward | -2 |
| A-Pillar Rearward | 0 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Injury Measure | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 250 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 15 |
| Chest Compression (mm) | 31 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 2.1 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.42 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.47 |
Rear Passenger Injury Measures
| Injury Measure | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Neck Tension (kN) | 2.2 |
| Chest Index | 26 |
| Left Femur Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Right Femur Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
Side Crash Test: Updated Side 2.0 Evaluation
The side crash test was updated to Side 2.0, which uses a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better represent severe side-impact crashes. The 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe achieved a “Good” rating in this updated, more demanding test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | A |
| Pelvis | M |
| Driver Head Protection | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | G |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G |
While the overall rating is “Good,” the driver torso protection is rated “Acceptable,” and driver pelvis protection is “Marginal.” Rear passenger protection in side impacts is excellent, with “Good” ratings across all measures. This indicates a slight vulnerability for the driver in severe side crashes, particularly concerning torso and pelvis injuries.
Driver-Side Intrusion Measurement (cm)
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -25.0 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Injury Measure | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 89 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Torso Max Deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 5.5 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Injury Measure | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 64 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.5 |
| Torso Max Deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 2.6 |
Headlight Performance: Rating and Visibility Analysis
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime safety. The 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, in all trim levels, comes with LED projector headlights and high-beam assist. The IIHS rated these headlights as “Acceptable.”
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A |
| Low-Beam Headlight Type | LED projector |
| High-Beam Headlight Type | LED projector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | No |
| High-Beam Assist? | Yes |
The headlights provide good visibility on straightaways and gradual curves with low beams. High beams offer fair visibility on straightaways and most curves but are inadequate on sharp left curves. The high-beam assist feature compensates for some limitations.
Low Beam Visibility (meters)
| Condition | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| Straightaway Right Edge | 87.9 |
| Straightaway Left Edge | 57.7 |
| 250m Radius Right Curve, Right Edge | 69.4 |
| 250m Radius Left Curve, Left Edge | 55.6 |
| 150m Radius Right Curve, Right Edge | 54.8 |
| 150m Radius Left Curve, Left Edge | 46.3 |
High Beam Visibility (meters)
| Condition | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| Straightaway Right Edge | 163.7 |
| Straightaway Left Edge | 141.3 |
| 250m Radius Right Curve, Right Edge | 73.2 |
| 250m Radius Left Curve, Left Edge | 66.6 |
| 150m Radius Right Curve, Right Edge | 58.2 |
| 150m Radius Left Curve, Left Edge | 51.9 |
Front Crash Prevention Systems: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
The 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe comes standard with Forward Collision Avoidance Assistance, and it demonstrated “Good” performance in both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian front crash prevention tests.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention 2.0
The system avoided collisions in all tested scenarios, including various speeds (31, 37, and 43 mph) and target offsets (centered and off-center) with both passenger car and motorcycle targets.
| Test Scenario | Speed Reduction | Timely Warning? |
|---|---|---|
| 31 mph/Target Centered | Collision Avoided | Yes |
| 31 mph/Target Off-Center | Collision Avoided | Yes |
| 37 mph/Target Centered | Collision Avoided | Yes |
| 37 mph/Target Off-Center | Collision Avoided | Yes |
| 43 mph/Target Centered | Collision Avoided | Yes |
| 43 mph/Target Off-Center | Collision Avoided | Yes |
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention
The Santa Fe’s system also earned a “Good” rating in pedestrian front crash prevention. It avoided collisions in daytime child and nighttime adult crossing scenarios at both 12 mph and 25 mph. In the nighttime parallel adult scenario at 25 mph and 37 mph, collisions were avoided with high beams, and warnings were issued effectively even with low beams.
| Test Scenario | High Beams | Low Beams |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Child — Day (12 mph) | Collision Avoided | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing Child — Day (25 mph) | Collision Avoided | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing Adult — Night (12 mph) | Collision Avoided | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing Adult — Night (25 mph) | 21 mph Reduction | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel Adult — Night (25 mph) | Collision Avoided | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel Adult — Night (37 mph) | Collision Avoided (Warning) | Collision Avoided (Warning) |
Seat Belt Reminders and Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Seat Belt Reminders
The seat belt reminder system in the 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe received a “Good” rating. It provides audible and visual alerts for unbelted front occupants and visual alerts for the second row. The alerts are sufficiently loud and long-lasting.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Front Row Unbelted Alert | Good |
| Second Row Startup Alert | Visual |
| Second Row Disengaged Alert | Audible & Visual |
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The LATCH system for child seat anchors in the 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is rated “Acceptable.” It has 4 rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and one additional position with a tether anchor. Ease of use is generally good, though some anchors are located deep in the seat.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | A |
| Vehicle Trim | SE |
| Seat Type | Leatherette |
LATCH Ease of Use Details (Selected Positions)
| Position | Tether Anchor | Lower Anchors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Easy to find, no confusion | Too deep in seat |
| 3 | Easy to find, no confusion | Too deep in seat |
| 4 | Easy to find, no confusion | Not too deep |
| 6 | Easy to find, no confusion | Not too deep |
Conclusion
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe demonstrates strong safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests and evaluations. It earns “Good” ratings in critical areas like small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side crash tests. While there are a few “Acceptable” and “Marginal” ratings in specific driver protection measures (side impact) and passenger restraints, the overall safety profile of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is robust. Its “Acceptable” headlight rating and “Good” front crash prevention systems further contribute to its safety credentials. For families and individuals seeking a safe and reliable SUV, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is a compelling option, backed by comprehensive safety testing and advanced prevention technologies.
