#USA #Irvine #Kia Sorento #IIHS #Safety Award

2026 Kia Sorento Achieves Prestigious IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award

The 2026 Kia Sorento has recently been honored with the prestigious Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This accolade highlights Kia's dedication to producing vehicles that prioritize safety, and it underscores the Sorento's exceptional performance in various rigorous testing protocols.

On December 17, 2025, Kia America announced that the Sorento is among five Kia models awarded the TSP+ honor, reflecting the brand's commitment to safety and innovative technology. The award notably applies to models built after September 2025. The other Kia models that have received this distinguished recognition include the 2026 Sportage, 2025 K4, 2025 EV9, and 2025 Telluride. This extensive recognition demonstrates Kia's consistent achievement in safety standards across various model lines.

SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, emphasized that Kia is exceeding customer expectations by delivering vehicles that seamlessly integrate performance, technology, and safety. He stated, “With stricter safety standards in place, five Kia models have achieved the highest safety ratings awarded by the IIHS. These results reflect our steadfast commitment to meeting safety criteria and offering advanced safety features that our customers appreciate.”

To qualify for the TSP+ award in 2025, vehicles must excel in multiple critical areas, including:

• - Demonstrating good ratings in front small overlap, moderate overlap front crash tests, and updated side crash tests.
• - Achieving acceptable or good ratings in front collision prevention with pedestrians.
• - Featuring standard headlights that meet acceptable or good ratings across all equipment levels.

The 2026 Kia Sorento received a 'Good' rating for its front collision avoidance system, showcasing effective technology designed to identify pedestrians and cyclists in front of the vehicle and can assist in preventing possible collisions. The vehicle comes with standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), which is designed to help mitigate accidents under various circumstances, greatly enhancing driver and passenger safety.

This year’s Sorento lineup consists of bold design options, including traditional gasoline engines, hybrid variants, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The cabin is crafted with luxury in mind, combining comfort and advanced technology, and the Sorento is available in various trim levels that offer different features. Notably, the X-Pro variants boast a more rugged appeal for adventurous drivers.

The new 2026 models also introduce the Terrain Mode AWD system as standard on equipped variants, improving their capability in challenging driving conditions.

As a leader in automotive quality, Kia maintains its commitment to safety and innovation while evolving as a notable player in the automotive sector. The company has been recognized as one of TIME's Most Sustainable Companies in the World for 2024, underlining its commitment to environmental friendliness and durability.

Kia America operates out of Irvine, California, and offers a comprehensive range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles, available through a network of over 800 dealerships in the United States. Some models, including the fully electric EV6 and EV9, along with the Sportage and Telluride (excluding their HEV and PHEV variants), are proudly assembled in the United States using both domestic and global parts.

For media inquiries or additional information, please visit Kia Media. This award signifies not just a high safety rating but also Kia's ongoing dedication to excellence in all facets of vehicle design and production.