The 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport stands out as a reliable and stylish midsize sedan, but how does it fare in terms of safety? For prospective buyers and safety-conscious drivers, understanding a vehicle’s safety ratings is paramount. This in-depth analysis, based on rigorous testing, delves into the safety performance of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, with a particular focus on the Sport trim. We’ll explore crash test results, key safety features, and what these ratings mean for driver and passenger protection.
Decoding the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport Crashworthiness: Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test
The small overlap front crash test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or utility pole. For the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, results vary depending on the manufacturing date.
2016 Hyundai Sonata (Built After October 2015): Superior Driver Protection
For 2016 Hyundai Sonata models manufactured after October 2015, significant structural reinforcements were implemented to enhance small overlap crash performance. Let’s examine the results:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | A |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Rating Breakdown: The “Good” overall rating signifies robust protection in this challenging crash scenario. “Good” ratings for head/neck, chest, and hip/thigh injuries indicate a low risk of significant injuries in these areas. An “Acceptable” rating for lower leg/foot suggests a moderate injury risk to the left foot. The structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, while driver restraints and dummy kinematics were rated “Good,” indicating effective airbag and seatbelt performance.
Action shot during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of the post-October 2015 build 2016 Hyundai Sonata, highlighting structural integrity.
Post-crash dummy position in the 2016 Hyundai Sonata (post-October 2015 build) driver-side small overlap test, showing well-maintained survival space.
Effective frontal and side curtain airbag deployment in the 2016 Hyundai Sonata (post-October 2015 build) small overlap test, protecting the head.
Assessment of moderate left foot injury risk in the 2016 Hyundai Sonata (post-October 2015 build) driver-side small overlap crash.
Technical Insights: Measurements from the test reveal specific intrusion levels into the occupant compartment and injury measures recorded by the crash test dummy. These detailed measurements are crucial for engineers and safety experts to further refine vehicle design.
2016 Hyundai Sonata (Built Before November 2015): Areas for Improvement
For 2016 Hyundai Sonata models built before November 2015, the small overlap front crash test revealed a need for improvement:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | M |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | A |
Rating Breakdown: An “Acceptable” overall rating indicates that while protection is provided, it’s not as comprehensive as the later models. Similar to the post-October 2015 models, head/neck, chest, and hip/thigh protection are rated “Good.” However, lower leg/foot protection is “Marginal,” suggesting a higher risk of injury to the lower leg. Driver restraints and dummy kinematics are also rated “Acceptable,” indicating some areas where the airbags and seatbelts could perform better.
Action capture of the pre-November 2015 build 2016 Hyundai Sonata driver-side small overlap frontal crash, showing vehicle deformation.
Dummy positioning after the driver-side small overlap test in the pre-November 2015 2016 Hyundai Sonata, indicating survival space.
Seat belt performance issues leading to excessive dummy movement in the pre-November 2015 2016 Hyundai Sonata small overlap test.
Demonstrating the significant lower left leg injury risk observed in the pre-November 2015 2016 Hyundai Sonata small overlap crash.
Technical Concerns: Measurements reveal greater intrusion into the occupant compartment compared to the later models, particularly around the lower hinge pillar and instrument panel. Dummy kinematics indicated that the head was vulnerable to hitting forward structures due to steering column movement and seatbelt slack.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test: 2016-2019 Hyundai Sonata Shows “Good” Performance
The passenger-side small overlap test evaluates protection for the front passenger in a similar frontal collision scenario. The 2016-2019 Hyundai Sonata models demonstrated “Good” performance in this test:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | A |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Rating Highlights: The “Good” overall rating, along with “Good” ratings across all passenger injury measures, confirms excellent passenger protection. Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics earned an “Acceptable” rating, indicating a minor issue where the dummy’s head moved off the frontal airbag slightly, but the side curtain airbag still provided good head protection. Driver-side injury measures were also rated “Good” in this test, indicating consistent protection across the front seating positions.
Action image from the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2017 Hyundai Sonata, illustrating crash dynamics.
Passenger dummy position after the crash in the 2017 Hyundai Sonata passenger-side small overlap test, showing good space maintenance.
Observation of airbag coverage and head movement in the 2017 Hyundai Sonata passenger-side small overlap test.
Demonstrating the low risk of leg and foot injuries for the passenger in the 2017 Hyundai Sonata passenger-side small overlap test.
Technical Data: Measurements show minimal intrusion into the passenger compartment and low injury readings for the passenger dummy, reinforcing the “Good” rating.
Moderate Overlap Front Test: “Good” Rating for 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonata
In the moderate overlap front test, which simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight, the 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonata achieved a “Good” rating:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Rating Confidence: The “Good” rating across all categories confirms excellent protection in this common type of frontal collision. Injury measures for the head, neck, chest, and legs/feet were all minimal, and driver restraints and dummy kinematics performed optimally.
Side Impact Test: “Good” Rating for 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonata
The side impact test simulates a vehicle being struck by another vehicle in a typical intersection collision. The 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonata also earned a “Good” rating in this demanding test:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Rating Assurance: The “Good” rating across all driver and rear passenger injury measures and head protection categories demonstrates comprehensive side impact protection for occupants in both front and rear seats.
Roof Strength Test: “Good” Rating for 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonata
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonata achieved a “Good” rating, indicating strong roof structure:
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,285 lbs |
| Peak force | 17,046 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.19 |
Rating Significance: A “Good” rating in roof strength means the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport provides substantial protection in rollover scenarios, reducing the risk of roof crush and associated injuries.
Head Restraints & Seats: “Good” Rating for Whiplash Protection
Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. The 2016 Hyundai Sonata’s head restraints and seats were evaluated and received a “Good” rating for whiplash protection:
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Rating Benefit: A “Good” rating indicates that the seat and head restraint design effectively minimizes whiplash risk in rear impacts.
Headlight Performance: “Poor” Rating Across Trims
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. Unfortunately, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata received a “Poor” rating for all available headlight variations:
Halogen Projector Headlights (SE, Sport, Eco, Limited trims): Poor
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | P |
Rating Implication: “Poor” headlight ratings mean that these headlights provide inadequate illumination in critical driving situations, particularly on curves, and create excessive glare for oncoming drivers.
HID Projector Headlights (Limited w/ Ultimate Package, Limited 2.0T, Limited w/ Tech Package, Sport 2.0T trims): Poor
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | P |
Rating Implication: Even the upgraded HID projector headlights on higher trims received a “Poor” rating, indicating similar issues with inadequate illumination and excessive glare.
Front Crash Prevention: “Superior” Rating with Optional Automatic Emergency Braking
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or prevent frontal collisions. The 2016 Hyundai Sonata, when equipped with the optional Ultimate Package, achieved a “Superior” rating for front crash prevention:
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
System Effectiveness: With the optional Automatic Emergency Braking system, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests and meets forward collision warning requirements.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH): “Marginal” Rating
Child seat anchors (LATCH) should be easy to use and effective. The 2016 Hyundai Sonata received a “Marginal” rating for LATCH ease of use:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | M |
Rating Concern: A “Marginal” rating suggests that the LATCH system may not be as user-friendly as it could be. Lower anchors are positioned too deep in the seat and may be difficult to maneuver around, potentially complicating child seat installation.
Overall Safety Assessment of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport demonstrates strong crashworthiness, particularly in frontal, side, and rollover crashes. However, headlight performance is a significant area of weakness, and LATCH system usability is marginal.
Key Takeaways for 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport Buyers:
- Excellent Crash Protection: “Good” ratings in most crash tests indicate a high level of occupant protection.
- Superior Front Crash Prevention (Optional): Opting for the Ultimate Package with Automatic Emergency Braking significantly enhances safety.
- Poor Headlight Performance: Be aware of the “Poor” headlight ratings across all trims, which may impact nighttime visibility.
- Check Manufacturing Date: For driver-side small overlap protection, models built after October 2015 offer improved performance.
- LATCH System Considerations: Child seat installation may require extra effort due to LATCH anchor positioning.
While the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport offers commendable safety performance in many critical areas, considering the headlight and LATCH ratings alongside the strong crash test results will allow buyers to make a well-informed decision. Always prioritize safety and consider how these ratings align with your specific driving needs and family requirements.
