The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport stands as a reliable choice for families and individuals alike, and safety is a paramount concern for any vehicle owner. This analysis delves into the side impact safety performance of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, drawing from data provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Understanding these safety ratings can help inform potential buyers and current owners about the vehicle’s crashworthiness.
The IIHS conducted side impact tests on the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, and the ratings apply to models from 2013 through 2018. It’s important to note that while the specific vehicle tested was a 2013 2-wheel-drive Sport model, adjustments were made to simulate the weight of a 4-wheel-drive version. This ensures the ratings are representative across the range of models within these years, including the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. These ratings are also applicable to both the 2-row Sport and the 3-row Santa Fe models of this period.
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport achieved a “Good” overall evaluation in the side impact test. This is the highest rating awarded by the IIHS and signifies a strong level of protection for occupants in the event of a side collision. The evaluation encompasses several key aspects of crash safety, providing a detailed breakdown of the vehicle’s performance.
In terms of structural integrity, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport earned a “Good” rating for its structure and safety cage. This indicates that the vehicle’s fundamental structure effectively resisted intrusion during the side impact test, maintaining crucial space for occupant survival.
For driver injury measures, all categories—head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg—received a “Good” rating. Similarly, driver head protection was also rated as “Good”. These “Good” ratings extend to rear passenger injury measures as well, with head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg, and head protection all achieving the highest possible score. This consistent performance across both front and rear occupants underscores the comprehensive side impact protection offered by the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
To provide a more granular view, technical measurements were recorded during the side impact test. These measurements offer insights into the forces and deflections experienced by both the vehicle structure and crash test dummies representing occupants.
Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver’s side show a B-pillar displacement of -15.0 cm relative to the driver’s seat centerline. The negative value indicates that the structural crush stopped short of the seat centerline, reflecting effective resistance to intrusion into the occupant space.
Driver injury measures include Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck tension and compression forces, shoulder deflection and force, torso deflection, pelvis forces, and femur forces and moments. All these measurements are within acceptable limits, contributing to the “Good” ratings observed in the injury measures categories. For instance, the Head HIC-15 measurement for the driver was 165, and neck tension was 1.0 kN, both indicating low risk of significant injury.
Passenger injury measures mirror the driver measurements, encompassing Head HIC-15, neck forces, shoulder deflection and force, torso deflection, pelvis forces, and femur forces and moments. Similar to the driver side, the passenger side measurements are also within safe parameters. The Head HIC-15 for the passenger was recorded at 109, and neck tension at 0.2 kN, again demonstrating a low risk of injury for rear occupants.
In conclusion, the “Good” overall side impact rating for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, underpinned by detailed evaluations and technical measurements, affirms its commitment to occupant safety. This analysis provides valuable information for those considering the safety aspects of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, reinforcing its position as a safe and dependable vehicle in its class.
