2021 Hyundai Tucson Gets Zero Star Safety Rating

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson has scored a dismal zero star safety rating in the crash tests conducted by the Latin NCAP. Made in South Korea and equipped with dual front airbags as standard, it was tested in frontal impact, side impact, whiplash and pedestrian protection. The SUV achieved 51.21 percent in Adult Occupant box, 4.37 percent in Child Occupant box, 49.85 percent in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users box and 6.98 percent in Safety Assist box. The 2021 Hyundai Tucson doesn't get Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard.

Last month, Euro NCAP awarded the 2021 Tucson a 5-star safety rating and it clearly tells that how well equipped the Euro-spec version of the SUV is as compared to one sold in Latin American markets. The Latin America-spec model showed good performance in the frontal impact and side impact for the adult protection, however, the lack of standard side head protection airbags limited the car to get better scoring. Whiplash protection was good. The bodyshell and footwell area were rated as stable. Child occupant protection performance was poor because the Tucson surprisingly has lap belt in the rear centre seating position as standard and also because Hyundai declined to select the Child Restraint Systems (CRS) for the tests.

Pedestrian protection was over all average with poor protection to upper leg protection and low score in the head as this SUV does not offer Autonomous Emergency Braking for Venerable Road Users as an attempt to compensate the pedestrian protection described before in order to avoid or mitigate the impact. Safety assist showed only SBR points. Optional safety equipment would certainly offer better protection and Latin América offered Hyundai to test the new version of the Tucson but the manufacturer declined the offer. Latin NCAP purchased the unit tested in February 2021 as Hyundai’s official representatives in 3 relevant countries confirmed that the new Tucson for Latin America was at least 2 years away.

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The lack of 3 point belts in all seating positions also led to zero points in vehicle based assessment. Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said: “Latin NCAP is again disappointed by Hyundai’s attitude to Latin American consumers’ health and safety. It is unbelievable that an SUV like the Tucson does not offer side impact protection and ESC as standard. The long delay in replacement parts delivery is also concerning. We make an urgent call to Hyundai for a dramatic change in basic safety strategy in LAC and level it to its policy in Europe, Australia and US, among others. Latin NCAP believes that consumer information known as labelling can dramatically and quickly improve the safety level of cars as a result of a voluntary action.”