Kia’s Cheapest Sedan and Flagship EV Both Just Won Top Safety Awards

The Future Is About Safety

We often talk about what the next step is for the automotive industry. What used to be a conservative industry has quickly become an adaptive one, making sure that all products on sale are up to par with modern times and needs. Safety is a huge selling point for all brands, ensuring fewer chances for drivers, passengers, and bystanders to be involved in accidents.

In fact, most developments and next-generation technologies are geared towards safety, with advancements in autonomous technology and driver aids as the focus. Kia is one brand eager to lead the charge, having just secured two more IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) awards.

Newly Annointed

Kia has just announced that the K4 and the EV9 SUV have been awarded the highly sought-after distinction from the IIHS. The Top Safety Pick+ is the highest award given by the IIHS in the United States. When it comes to safety, the IIHS doesn't play around; its testing and criteria are rigorous and often updated yearly. This means that winning the TSP+ is no cakewalk.

This was echoed by SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, who said that safety isn't a single feature for the brand; it's something they are putting across the whole model range. He went on to say that expanding the IIHS across more models shows Kia's commitment to safety standards that evolve quickly.

Part of the IIHS's reworked 2026 criteria is a new focus on rear-seat passenger protection and crash-avoidance protection. New protocols were adopted for testing rear passenger safety in moderate overlap front crashes. Also, improved testing was used for pedestrian crash prevention and high-speed vehicle-vehicle crash prevention.

A Stable of Safe Choices

The K4 and the EV9 join the brands' already awarded TSP+ models, which include the 2026 Sorento (built after September 2025) and the 2026 Sportage (built after May 2025). Having four models with the TSP+ award is also a feat in itself for Kia; there are only 36 of these models across multiple brands. In fact, it's widely recognized that the Hyundai/Kia group is a top performer in the safety category.

Looking at the K4 and the EV9 exclusively already gives us an idea of Kia's wide-ranging approach to safety. The K4 is considered a budget-friendly option, while the EV9 is considered a flagship EV model, yet both have the same safety commendation.

View the full article