2022 Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade Missed High Score on New IIHS Test
These two SUVs are known for being safe, popular, and budget-friendly. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has a new test that is tripping up some sport utility vehicles. The 2022 Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade midsize SUVs missed out on the Top Safety Pick Plus award due to a more rigorous new test.
The IIHS tested the 2022 Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade SUVs
The IIHS changed one of the critical crash safety tests toward the end of 2021. According to the company, the decision to change the side test was to address high-speed crashes that have been the cause of many fatalities. Only one small SUV earned a “good” rating when the test was first introduced for 2020-21 vehicles.
IIHS President David Harkey said, “We developed this new test because we suspected there was room for more progress, and these results confirm that.” In the original side test (referred to as side: original test), both the 2022 Kia Telluride and the 2022 Hyundai Palisade received a score of “good” for the overall evaluation.
Both sport utility vehicles received “good” scores on each part of the original side test. The tests apply to both vehicles since the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade are mechanically identical.
How did the 2022 Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade do on the updated side crash test?
For the new IIHS test (referred to as side: updated test), the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade received an overall score of “marginal.” From best to worst, the IIHS grading scale goes: good, acceptable, marginal, and poor. Similarly, the structure and safety cage scores for both midsize SUVs were also “marginal.”
| IIHS Test Name | Score |
| Overall evaluation | Marginal |
| Structure and safety cage | Marginal |
| Driver injury measures: Head/neck | Good |
| Driver injury measures: Torso | Good |
| Driver injury measures: Pelvis | Poor |
| Driver head protection | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures: Head/neck | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures: Torso | Acceptable |
| Rear passenger injury measures: Pelvis | Good |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good |
Most of the other tests performed for the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade SUV received scores of “good.” Similarly, other tests such as the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and roof strength received good scores. Both SUVs also qualified for the IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
This will only make the popular SUVs safer in the future
In short, the reason for changing the test in the first place was to make vehicles safer from more common types of accidents. Even though the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are relatively safe vehicles, this test will help make both SUVs safer.
However, the IIHS says that 10 out of the 18 tested midsize SUVs received a “good” score. For example, the Lincoln Aviator, Mazda CX-9, and Toyota Highlander SUVs received “good” scores. When the new test first came out, only one SUV managed to get a rating of “good.”
In conclusion, the 2022 Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade have room to improve for the important IIHS test. Both the Telluride and the Palisade still received the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, but perhaps next year both SUVs will earn the Top Safety Pick Plus award.
