Santa Fe Scoops Top Safety Honours

11 years, 9 months ago - 25 January 2013, Wheels News
Santa Fe Scoops Top Safety Honours
In line with Hyundai’s “Modern Premium” brand direction, the 2013 Santa Fe exudes a sense of quality and luxury that may give rivals pause for concern. The new SUV's practicality and stowage space makes it the ideal family vehicle.

Now customers have an added incentive to purchase a new Santa Fe - it has been named "safest vehicle in class" by the Euro Ncap 2012.

The independent vehicle assessment organisation names its as the best vehicle in the "Large Off-Road 4x4" segment – ahead of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Range Rover.

Active bonnet

In the "adult occupant" category, the model scored 96% with maximum points in the side barrier test.  In the "child occupant" category, the SUV scored 89% and 86% in the "safety assist" category.

The new Santa Fe is the automaker's first vehicle to be equipped with an active bonnet: if a pedestrian is struck the system reduces impact and the risk of serious injury. The active bonnet earned the model 71% in the "pedestrian safety" category with its closest rival scoring 63%.

Allan Rushforth, senior vice-president of Hyundai Europe, commented: “Having the new Santa Fe recommended by Euro Ncap as the safest in its class demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to the safety of its customers and other road-users. The car’s inherent, combined with low CO2 emmissions, high levels of equipment and emotional design make it the complete package.”

The 2013 Santa Fe is the latest of a long line of Hyundai models to achieve maximum five-star rating in Euro Ncap’s rigorous assessment programme,; the other are the i20, ix20, ix35, i40, Veloster and the i30.