The 2021 Hyundai Sonata marked a significant redesign for the popular sedan, bringing with it not only refreshed styling and technology but also a strong emphasis on safety. For prospective buyers and safety-conscious drivers, understanding how the Sonata performs in crash tests is crucial. This comprehensive guide delves into the safety ratings of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, drawing upon data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to provide a detailed analysis of its crashworthiness and safety features.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver and Passenger Sides
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 fixed object like a tree or pole. This is a particularly challenging test because it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the vehicle. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata underwent both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front tests.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
The Hyundai Sonata 2021 achieved a Good rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. This is the highest possible rating, indicating excellent performance.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good (G) |
Technical measurements from the driver-side test reveal minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. For instance, the maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar was only 2 cm, while the steering column and upper dash showed no intrusion (0 cm). Driver injury measures were also minimal, with a low HIC-15 (Head Injury Criterion) of 96 and minimal neck tension and chest compression. These results demonstrate robust structural integrity and effective occupant protection in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash scenario for the 2021 Sonata.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
Mirroring its driver-side performance, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata also earned a Good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good (G) |
| Passenger Injury Measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Passenger Injury Measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Passenger Injury Measures – Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Passenger Injury Measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good (G) |
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger-side test showed limited occupant compartment intrusion and low injury measures for the passenger dummy. Maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar was slightly higher at 3 cm, but overall intrusion remained minimal. The passenger injury measures, including a HIC-15 of 78 and low chest compression, further confirm the Sonata’s ability to protect passengers in a passenger-side small overlap frontal crash. The consistent “Good” ratings on both sides underline the 2021 Sonata’s commitment to comprehensive frontal crash protection.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end hitting a deformable barrier. While less severe than the small overlap test, it is still a critical evaluation of frontal crash protection. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata achieved a Good rating in the moderate overlap front test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Leg/Foot, Left | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Leg/Foot, Right | Good (G) |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good (G) |
Technical measurements indicate minimal footwell intrusion and steering column movement. Driver injury measures were also low, with a HIC-15 of 213 and minimal neck tension and chest compression. The “Good” rating in this test reinforces the 2021 Sonata’s strong frontal crash protection capabilities in a more common type of frontal collision.
Side Crash Tests: Original and Updated Evaluations
Side impacts are another significant source of injuries in vehicle crashes. The IIHS conducts side crash tests to evaluate a vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in such collisions. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata was subjected to both the original side test and the updated, more stringent side test.
Original Side Test
In the original side crash test, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata achieved a Good rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Driver Head Protection | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good (G) |
The measurements from the original side test indicate good structural performance and low injury risks for both driver and rear passenger dummies.
Updated Side Test
The IIHS introduced an updated side crash test that uses a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better represent real-world side-impact scenarios, particularly involving larger SUVs and trucks. In this more challenging updated side test, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata received an Acceptable rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Acceptable (A) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Torso | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver Injury Measures – Pelvis | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver Head Protection | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures – Pelvis | Marginal (M) |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good (G) |
Alt text: 2021 Hyundai Sonata side crash test aftermath, showing vehicle condition post-impact.
Alt text: Hyundai Sonata 2021 side impact damage with doors off, highlighting side airbag deployment and occupant cell integrity.
Alt text: Driver-side airbag head protection demonstration in 2021 Sonata side crash, greasepaint indicating dummy head contact area.
Alt text: Rear passenger head protection by side airbags in Sonata 2021 crash test, greasepaint showing airbag effectiveness.
While still a respectable rating, the “Acceptable” score indicates that while the Sonata provides good protection in many areas, there’s room for improvement, particularly in rear passenger pelvis protection which was rated “Marginal”. The driver injury measures for head/neck and head protection remained “Good”, indicating effective head protection even in the updated test.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial in rollover crashes. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata earned a Good rating in the roof strength test.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Curb Weight | 3,125 lbs |
| Peak Force | 16,761 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 5.36 |
The strength-to-weight ratio of 5.36 significantly exceeds the IIHS requirement, demonstrating the 2021 Sonata’s robust roof structure and good protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. The IIHS evaluates head restraints and seats to assess their effectiveness in preventing whiplash. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata received a Good rating for head restraints & seats.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Dynamic Rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good (G) |
Both dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry were rated “Good”, indicating effective design for whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata has two different headlight variations depending on trim level.
LED Projector Headlights (Limited and Hybrid Limited trims): Good
The LED projector headlights available on the Limited and Hybrid Limited trims earned a Good overall rating.
| Overall Rating | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | Good (G) |
These headlights provide good visibility on straightaways and curves with both low and high beams. High-beam assist further enhances visibility in curves.
LED Reflector Headlights (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Hybrid Blue, and Hybrid SEL trims): Marginal
The LED reflector headlights found on the SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Hybrid Blue, and Hybrid SEL trims received a Marginal overall rating.
| Overall Rating | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | Marginal (M) |
While low beams offer good visibility on straightaways, visibility on curves is only fair. High beams are better but still inadequate on sharp right curves. These headlights also produce a significant amount of glare. The difference in headlight ratings highlights the importance of trim level choice for optimal nighttime visibility in the 2021 Sonata.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Forward collision prevention systems are increasingly important in reducing accidents. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata comes standard with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention: Superior
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata’s vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system earned a Superior rating.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Superior |
The system avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, demonstrating excellent performance in preventing vehicle-to-vehicle front crashes.
Pedestrian (Day) Front Crash Prevention: Superior
The pedestrian (day) front crash prevention system also achieved a Superior rating.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Superior |
In pedestrian tests, the system avoided collisions with a crossing adult and child in 12 mph tests. In 25 mph tests, it avoided collision with a crossing adult and significantly reduced impact speed in the crossing child scenario. It also avoided collisions with a parallel adult at both 25 mph and 37 mph. These “Superior” ratings for both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian front crash prevention systems emphasize the 2021 Sonata’s advanced safety technology.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors (LATCH) ease the installation of child safety seats. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata received an Acceptable rating for its LATCH system.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Acceptable (A) |
While the Sonata has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, the lower anchors are rated as “too deep in seat” in some positions, impacting ease of use.
Conclusion: 2021 Hyundai Sonata – A Safe Sedan Choice
Overall, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata demonstrates a strong commitment to safety. It achieved “Good” ratings in most IIHS crash tests, including the challenging small overlap and moderate overlap front tests, as well as the original side test and roof strength test. While the “Acceptable” rating in the updated side test indicates an area for potential improvement, the Sonata’s “Superior” front crash prevention systems and “Good” headlight rating (for specific trims) highlight its advanced safety features. For families and individuals prioritizing safety, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata stands out as a well-rounded and safe sedan option in its class.
