The 2022 Hyundai Sonata stands out as a popular midsize sedan, and for those prioritizing safety, understanding its safety ratings is crucial. This article delves into the comprehensive safety evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2022 Hyundai Sonata. We will break down the performance of the Sonata in various crash tests and safety feature assessments, providing a detailed overview for potential buyers and automotive enthusiasts.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side
The Hyundai Sonata 2022 achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test. This test assesses the vehicle’s structural performance and occupant protection in a collision involving the front corner of the car.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Technical measurements from the test reveal minimal occupant compartment intrusion, with maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar and footrest at just 2 and 4 cm respectively. Driver injury measures were also minimal, with “Good” ratings across all body regions, indicating a low risk of injury in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side
Mirroring its driver-side performance, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata also earned a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. This evaluation is critical as it examines the protection offered to the front passenger in a similar frontal collision scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger-side assessment showed limited occupant compartment intrusion and “Good” ratings for passenger injury measures. Notably, driver injury measures are also assessed in this test and also received “Good” ratings, highlighting the robust safety cage of the Hyundai Sonata 2022.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, which simulates a more common type of frontal collision, the Hyundai Sonata 2022 again demonstrated excellent safety performance with a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, left | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion were minimal, and driver injury measures were rated “Good” across all categories. The steering column movement was well-controlled, moving rearward by only 4 cm, contributing to the low injury risk.
Side: Original Test
The original side impact test evaluates the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a side collision. The 2022 Hyundai Sonata received a “Good” rating in this assessment, indicating strong side crashworthiness.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The test measurements showed minimal B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment. Both driver and rear passenger injury measures were rated “Good”, underscoring the effectiveness of the Sonata’s side impact protection systems.
Side: Updated Test
The IIHS updated its side impact test to be more demanding, reflecting higher-speed collisions with a heavier barrier. In this more rigorous test, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata still performed admirably, earning an “Acceptable” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | A |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | A |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | M |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
While the overall rating is “Acceptable,” driver head/neck protection remained “Good.” Torso and pelvis protection for the driver were rated “Acceptable,” and rear passenger pelvis protection was “Marginal.” Despite the downgrade in overall rating compared to the original side test, the Sonata still offers considerable side impact protection, even in more severe scenarios.
Roof Strength
In the roof strength test, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata achieved a “Good” rating. This test measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash, a critical factor for occupant protection.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Curb weight | 3,125 lbs |
| Peak force | 16,761 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.36 |
The Sonata’s roof demonstrated a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.36, well above the minimum requirement for a “Good” rating, indicating a strong roof structure capable of providing significant protection in rollover events.
Head Restraints & Seats
The head restraints and seats of the 2022 Hyundai Sonata were also evaluated, receiving a “Good” overall rating. This assessment examines the effectiveness of the seat and head restraint system in preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Both the dynamic performance and geometric design of the head restraints and seats were rated “Good,” signifying effective whiplash protection for occupants.
Headlights
Headlight performance is a critical safety aspect, especially for nighttime driving. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2022 Hyundai Sonata has two different headlight variations depending on the trim level.
LED Projector Headlights (Limited and Hybrid Limited trims)
The LED projector headlights available on the Limited and Hybrid Limited trims of the Hyundai Sonata 2022 earned a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | G |
Both low beams and high beams provided good visibility on straightaways and curves. While low beams created some glare, the overall performance was strong, earning the “Good” rating.
LED Reflector Headlights (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Hybrid Blue, Hybrid SEL trims)
The LED reflector headlights found on other Sonata trims received a “Marginal” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | M |
While visibility on straightaways was good, curve visibility was only fair for low beams and ranged from fair to inadequate for high beams. These headlights also produced excessive glare, leading to the “Marginal” rating. This highlights a significant difference in headlight performance depending on the chosen trim level of the Hyundai Sonata 2022.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The 2022 Hyundai Sonata comes standard with a Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system with Pedestrian Detection. In vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention testing, this system earned a “Superior” rating.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Superior |
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meets the criteria for forward collision warning, demonstrating excellent performance in preventing vehicle-to-vehicle front crashes.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
The pedestrian detection capabilities of the Hyundai Sonata 2022’s front crash prevention system were also rated “Superior” in daytime conditions.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Superior |
The system avoided collisions with a crossing child and a crossing adult in 12 mph tests. In 25 mph tests, it avoided collisions with a crossing adult and significantly reduced impact speed in the crossing child scenario. It also avoided collisions with a parallel adult at both 25 mph and 37 mph, showcasing robust pedestrian front crash prevention in daylight.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Night)
In nighttime pedestrian front crash prevention testing, the Hyundai Sonata 2022 received an “Advanced” rating, including credit for high-beam assist.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Advanced |
The system demonstrated collision avoidance or significant speed reduction in various nighttime pedestrian scenarios using both low and high beams. While not “Superior,” the “Advanced” rating indicates a commendable level of nighttime pedestrian protection.
Seat Belt Reminders
The seat belt reminders in the 2022 Hyundai Sonata were rated “Acceptable.”
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
The front row seat belt reminder system met the criteria for audible and visual alerts with sufficient duration and volume. However, the second row lacks a startup status alert, contributing to the “Acceptable” overall rating.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For child seat installation, the LATCH system in the 2022 Hyundai Sonata received an “Acceptable” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
The Sonata has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with only a tether anchor. While the tether anchors are easy to locate, the lower anchors in some positions are deep in the seat, slightly impacting ease of use.
Conclusion
The 2022 Hyundai Sonata demonstrates strong safety performance in most IIHS crash tests and safety feature evaluations. It achieved “Good” ratings in small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraints & seats tests. While the updated side test resulted in an “Acceptable” rating and headlight ratings vary by trim, the Sonata’s front crash prevention systems are “Superior” and pedestrian detection is “Advanced”. Overall, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata is a safe choice in the midsize sedan segment, offering robust protection in various crash scenarios and equipped with advanced safety technologies. For optimal headlight performance, considering the Limited or Hybrid Limited trims with LED projector headlights is advisable.
