2024 Kia Sportage: A Top Safety Pick+ According to the IIHS

The 2024 Kia Sportage has recently earned the prestigious Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, proof of its outstanding safety features and design. This accolade is particularly significant as it signifies the highest level of safety a vehicle can attain in the IIHS assessments.

The Kia Sportage, previously recognized as a 2022 TOP SAFETY PICK with certain headlight configurations, has now achieved the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award. This upgrade aligns with the IIHS' revised, more stringent criteria for its 2023 safety awards. These enhanced standards focus on improved side crash protection, more effective pedestrian crash prevention systems, and higher requirements for headlight performance.

In the various crashworthiness tests, the Sportage demonstrated exceptional performance, scoring a 'Good' rating, the highest possible, across all categories. This includes both the driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front tests, the moderate overlap front test, and the side impact test. These results underscore Kia's dedication to passenger safety through robust vehicle design and build quality.

Furthermore, the Sportage excelled in crash avoidance and mitigation, a critical area of modern automotive safety. The vehicle's headlights received an 'Acceptable' rating, contributing to better visibility and safety during nighttime driving. The Sportage's advanced safety systems, such as the front crash prevention features, played a significant role in its high rating. These systems were found to be highly effective in preventing or mitigating front-to-pedestrian collisions, both during the day and at night.

The 2024 Sportage offers a variety of trims, including X-Line and X-Line Limited, designed for outdoor adventures with features like all-terrain tires. All versions are powered by a 2.5L 4-cylinder GDI engine with 187 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft. of torque. Additionally, the Sportage is available in Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid models. The Plug-In Hybrid, the line-up's most powerful, incorporates a 1.6L turbo engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, and a 13.8kWh battery, yielding 261 horsepower, 258 lb.-ft of torque, up to 55 km of electric range, and impressive fuel efficiency.

The 2024 Sportage's achievement reflects Kia's efforts at integrating state-of-the-art safety technologies and highlights its role as a leader in automotive safety innovation. For potential buyers, this award offers an added layer of assurance in the vehicle's ability to protect its occupants.