While he probably won’t be the last to take home an award, he’s the first this year. The 2023 Kia Telluride earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award after making a few changes last year. What improvements has Kia made to take home the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s highest award?
The 2023 Kia Telluride earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
Though it recently updated its tests to make vehicles safer, the 2023 Kia Telluride earned the highest Top Safety Pick Plus award for the first time. Kia’s midsize SUV scored high in all safety tests. impact resistance, including upgraded side test and roof strength. The 2023 Telluride also earned top marks for its headlights and front crash avoidance systems.
the prize is the headlights. This year, all trim levels of the 2023 Kia Telluride use LED low-beam and high-beam headlamps. These are curve adaptive and also have high beam assist.
Kia’s frontal collision avoidance systems performed well in vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. This standard system scored tops in all tests, including collision avoidance techniques at various speeds. It scored the same in night tests.
How did the 2023 Kia Telluride fare under the updated IIHS Top Safety Pick criteria?
Made structural reinforcements on the SUV and added more side airbags in the front and rear. This improved side crash protection and helped pass the updated side test, which has been a weakness for some midsize SUVs since it was introduced. These updates help to better protect the driver and passengers during a collision.
Seatbelt reminders have been another recent addition, ensuring the alarms are long enough and loud enough. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found the Kia Telluride’s alarm went off on time and lasted at least 30 seconds.
Steven Center, COO & EVP of America, said he was happy to see the 2023 Kia Telluride recognized for its updated design. “Our highly decorated Telluride has been praised for its design, performance, technology and safety features which is further emphasized by the Top Safety Pick Plus award which reflects Kia’s commitment to making safety a priority.”
The new TSP and TSP+ requirements aim for safer vehicles
For 2023, the IIHS has updated its criteria for vehicles to earn the awards and Top Safety Pick Plus. The press release says the group is calling for better side impact and pedestrian protection systems in all vehicles. It also hopes to eliminate headlights that received low ratings in testing, making night driving more dangerous for drivers and pedestrians.
Due to the changes, only 48 vehicles qualified for an award this year. Only 28 cars, trucks and SUVs earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award and only 20 earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick award. After announcing the changes for 2022, 101 vehicles qualified and 65 of those earned the Top Safety Pick Plus award.
Testing is underway for more 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick Plus awards, but for now the 2023 Kia Telluride is the automaker’s sole winner.
