2026 Hyundai Tucson Safety Rating
Small SUVs Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS data updated 2026-09-04
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson scores 93.1/100, ranking #3 of 29 current small SUVs and #42 of 137 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for 2026.
Every primary IIHS test is rated Good. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Acceptable; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (58 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test
Whiplash prevention
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Seat belt reminders
Child seat anchors
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
Full formula, weights, and missing-data rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV N/A AWD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 42 per million registered vehicle-years | Small SUVs as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
| Hyundai Tucson 4WD (2019-20) driver death rate | 40 (95% CI 7β73) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 42.6. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
| Hyundai Tucson 2WD (2019-20) driver death rate | 60 (95% CI 16β105) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 42.6. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
Compared with other small SUVs
Closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small SUVs ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mazda CX 5 | #1 of 29 | TSP+ | $29,990 | 95.6 | |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | #2 of 29 | TSP+ | $29,995 | 94.3 | |
| 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 | #3 of 29 | TSP+ | $35,000 | 93.1 | |
| 2026 Kia Sportage | #3 of 29 | TSP+ | $28,690 | 93.1 | |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson (this page) | #3 of 29 | TSP+ | $29,450 | 93.1 |
Other model years of the Hyundai Tucson
| Model year | Status | IIHS award | Primary tests reported | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | Archived | TSP+ | 4/4 | Not ranked |
Each model year keeps its own record. Ratings from one year are never copied to another unless IIHS states the test applies.
Our analysis
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson belongs to the Small SUVs class. This class has a driver death rate near the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Hyundai Tucson earned Top Safety Pick+ for 2026. That award requires Good results in the updated tests plus qualifying headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention on the relevant trims; the linked IIHS report shows the exact trims.
Across the 7 IIHS rating categories reported, the Hyundai Tucson earned 5 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Hyundai or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
International crash-test results
International results are supporting context only; market versions differ in structure and equipment, so they are not converted into the U.S. score.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson
No recalls on record. NHTSA lists this model year and currently shows no recall campaigns against it.
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Questions about the 2026 Hyundai Tucson
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Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.