The all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade built after November 2025 received the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s TOP SAFETY PICK+ award.
2026 Palisades produced after November 2025 earned high marks in all evaluation areas, including moderate front overlap, small front overlap, side impact, and pedestrian front crash prevention tests, as well as the updated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test introduced last year.
Eight Hyundai vehicles earned IIHS Top Safety awards. Other Hyundai vehicles awarded 2026 TSP+ include the 2026 IONIQ 5, IONIQ 9, Sonata, Kona, Tucson, and Santa Fe, while the 2026 Elantra received a 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK award. The 2026 TSP+ awards are given to vehicles meeting rigorous IIHS criteria, including advanced crashworthiness and occupant protection requirements.
Company Statement on Safety Engineering
Cole Stutz, chief safety officer at Hyundai Motor North America, stated Hyundai remains committed to crashworthiness and occupant protection by rigorously assessing all aspects of crash scenarios and performance.
The TSP+ designation awarded to six Hyundai SUVs and a sedan reflects significant achievement for the company’s engineering and product development teams, underscoring Hyundai’s ongoing dedication to upholding the highest safety standards within the automotive industry.
All 2026 Hyundai vehicles include six standard SmartSense safety features: Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Occupant Alert (door logic), and High Beam Assist.
The SmartSense suite of optional safety and convenience technologies help drivers look ahead, anticipate driving situations, and provide alerts to help keep drivers and passengers safe.
IIHS Recognition of Second-Row Protection Improvements
IIHS President David Harkey stated Hyundai should be commended for improving protection for second-row passengers in the 2026 Palisade. With changes made to vehicles built after November 2025, the 2026 Palisade is a TOP SAFETY PICK+ winner with good ratings across the board.
Updated 2026 Award Criteria
To earn TSP+ for 2026, IIHS now requires improved crash avoidance systems that prevent pedestrian and high-speed vehicle crashes, as well as enhanced rear seat passenger protection.
Vehicles must receive a “good” rating in the moderate front overlap test, a higher standard than last year’s “acceptable” requirement for the TSP award.
Additionally, vehicles must earn good ratings in small overlap front, side, and pedestrian front crash prevention tests, an acceptable or good rating for headlights, and an acceptable or good rating in the updated vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 front crash prevention evaluation introduced last year. Qualifying front crash prevention systems must be standard for either award in 2026.
For 2026 TSP, vehicles must earn good ratings in moderate overlap front, small overlap front, and side tests, while earning acceptable or good ratings for pedestrian front crash prevention and headlights.