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When you're choosing a new car, safety is understandably one of the most important considerations. But what do Euro NCAP ratings actually mean, and how can they help you choose your next Hyundai?
At Read Hyundai, we know that safety matters whether you're choosing a small city car such as the Hyundai i20, a family SUV such as the KONA or SANTA FE, or an electric model from the IONIQ range.
In this guide, we'll explain what Euro NCAP is, what the star ratings mean and the latest Euro NCAP safety ratings for Hyundai models in our current range.
What is Euro NCAP?
Euro NCAP stands for the European New Car Assessment Programme. It is an independent organisation that assesses the safety performance of new vehicles through a programme of crash tests and safety assessments.
Euro NCAP was established in 1997 and has played an important role in encouraging improvements in vehicle safety, including the introduction and development of technologies designed to help prevent collisions and protect occupants.
Rather than simply looking at how a car performs in one crash test, Euro NCAP assesses a range of safety areas.
These include:
Euro NCAP's assessment also considers areas such as crash protection, crash avoidance and post-crash safety.
The result is an overall one-to-five-star rating, with five stars representing the highest overall rating available within the relevant testing programme.
Why do Euro NCAP ratings matter?
A new car can contain a huge amount of safety technology, but it isn't always easy to understand what all those systems actually mean.
Euro NCAP provides an independent assessment, giving motorists another source of information when comparing vehicles.
The tests look at both how well a vehicle protects people when a collision occurs and how well its safety systems can help to avoid or reduce the severity of some collisions.
Safety features assessed can include technologies such as:
The exact tests and criteria change over time as vehicle safety technology develops. That's why the year of a Euro NCAP rating is just as important as the number of stars.
Hyundai Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Hyundai has a broad range of vehicles, from compact hatchbacks and small SUVs to large family SUVs and electric cars.
Here are the Euro NCAP ratings for the Hyundai models in the range covered by this guide.
Hyundai model | Euro NCAP rating | Test year |
Hyundai KONA | **** 4 stars | 2023 |
Hyundai BAYON | **** 4 stars | 2021 |
Hyundai INSTER | **** 4 stars | 2025 |
Hyundai i20 | **** 4 stars | 2021 |
Hyundai i30 | ***** 5 stars* | 2017 |
Hyundai IONIQ 5 | ***** 5 stars | 2021 |
Hyundai IONIQ 6 | ***** 5 stars | 2022 |
Hyundai IONIQ 9 | ***** 5 stars | 2025 |
Hyundai SANTA FE | **** 4 stars standard / ***** 5 stars with Safety Pack | 2024 |
*The i30's 2017 rating is now expired, so it should not be presented as a current Euro NCAP rating. Euro NCAP explains that ratings can expire as its testing standards develop.
Let's take a closer look at each model…
Hyundai KONA – 4-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The current-generation Hyundai KONA was assessed by Euro NCAP in 2023, receiving an overall four-star rating with its standard safety equipment.
Its 2023 assessment recorded scores of 80% for Adult Occupant Protection, 83% for Child Occupant Protection, 64% for Vulnerable Road Users and 60% for Safety Assist.
The KONA is available in different powertrain versions, but Euro NCAP's assessment applies to the relevant KONA range identified in its test documentation.
Euro NCAP rating: **** – 2023
Hyundai BAYON – 4-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The Hyundai BAYON received a four-star Euro NCAP rating in 2021.
Euro NCAP's assessment examined areas including occupant protection, child protection, vulnerable road-user protection and safety-assistance technology. The BAYON's test also included assessment of systems such as autonomous emergency braking, lane support and driver monitoring. (Euro NCAP Newsroom)
The rating remains listed by Euro NCAP, with subsequent annual and facelift reviews recorded on its assessment page. (Euro NCAP)
Euro NCAP rating: **** – 2021Text here ...
Hyundai INSTER – 4-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The compact electric Hyundai INSTER was tested under Euro NCAP's 2025 assessment programme and received four stars.
Its scores included:
Euro NCAP also assessed features including autonomous emergency braking, lane support, speed assistance and driver monitoring. (Euro NCAP)
The INSTER is a particularly interesting example of why it's important to consider the test year as well as the number of stars. Its four-star result comes from a considerably newer assessment programme than some older five-star ratings. (Euro NCAP)
Euro NCAP rating: **** – 2025
Hyundai i20 – 4-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The Hyundai i20 has a four-star Euro NCAP rating from 2021.
Euro NCAP says the i20 is closely related to the BAYON and that the two models share the same safety equipment. Euro NCAP therefore used the BAYON's results alongside additional i20 testing when applying the rating to the i20. (Euro NCAP)
Euro NCAP rating: **** – 2021
Hyundai i30 – 5-Star Rating from 2017
The Hyundai i30 received five stars in Euro NCAP testing in 2017, with Euro NCAP reporting good performance across the assessment at the time. (Euro NCAP Newsroom)
However, there's an important qualification for anyone researching the i30 today: the 2017 rating is now marked as expired by Euro NCAP. (Euro NCAP)
This doesn't mean that the car suddenly became less safe. Rather, Euro NCAP explains that its testing criteria evolve over time, meaning older ratings eventually expire as the assessment programme becomes more demanding. (Euro NCAP)
Euro NCAP rating: ***** – 2017 (expired)
Hyundai IONIQ 5 – 5-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The fully electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2021.
Euro NCAP's 2021 results awarded the IONIQ 5 the maximum five-star rating under the testing requirements in place at the time. (Euro NCAP Newsroom)
The IONIQ 5 is part of Hyundai's dedicated electric IONIQ family and combines its electric powertrain with a range of active and passive safety technologies.
Euro NCAP rating: ***** – 2021
Hyundai IONIQ 6 – 5-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 also achieved the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, this time in 2022.
Euro NCAP subsequently named the IONIQ 6 its ‘Best in Class’ Large Family Car for 2022. (Euro NCAP Newsroom)
As with all Euro NCAP results, the 2022 rating should be considered in the context of the testing criteria used during that year rather than compared directly with vehicles tested under substantially different protocols. (Euro NCAP)
Euro NCAP rating: ***** – 2022
Hyundai IONIQ 9 – 5-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The newest member of the IONIQ family included in this guide, the Hyundai IONIQ 9, achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2025.
Euro NCAP's assessment recognised the IONIQ 9 with the maximum five-star rating under its 2025 testing programme. (Euro NCAP Newsroom)
For customers looking for a larger electric SUV, the IONIQ 9 therefore combines its all-electric powertrain with a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating from a relatively recent assessment year.
Euro NCAP rating: ***** – 2025
Hyundai SANTA FE – 4 Stars Standard / 5 Stars with Safety Pack
The Hyundai SANTA FE is an important example of why it's worth looking beyond the headline star rating.
In its 2024 Euro NCAP assessment, the SANTA FE achieved:
4 stars with its standard safety equipment
and
5 stars when equipped with the additional Safety Pack. (Euro NCAP)
Euro NCAP's 2024 assessment covers the SANTA FE's occupant protection, child protection, vulnerable road-user protection and safety-assistance systems. (Euro NCAP)
The distinction between the standard rating and Safety Pack rating is important when researching the vehicle, because the five-star result relates specifically to the equipment configuration assessed by Euro NCAP.
Euro NCAP rating: **** standard / ***** with Safety Pack – 2024
Does Five Stars Always Mean a Car Is Safer?
Not necessarily in a simple apples-to-apples comparison.
This is one of the most important things to understand about Euro NCAP.
A five-star car tested several years ago shouldn't automatically be assumed to have performed better than a four-star car tested recently.
Euro NCAP regularly changes and strengthens its testing procedures to reflect developments in vehicle safety. The organisation specifically advises that the latest rating is the most relevant and that ratings from different years should only be directly compared when the changes to the testing system are minor. (Euro NCAP)
For example, the INSTER's four-star 2025 rating was achieved under a newer testing programme than the i30's five-star 2017 rating. The i30's rating is also now expired. (Euro NCAP)
So, when comparing cars, look at:
1. The number of stars
2. The year the vehicle was tested
3. The individual protection scores
4. The safety equipment fitted to the particular vehicle
What Does a Euro NCAP Safety Rating Mean for Hyundai Drivers?
Euro NCAP is just one part of choosing the right car, but it can provide useful independent information when you're comparing vehicles.
Hyundai's current range includes models with different Euro NCAP ratings and test years, so it's important to look at the specific model and specification you're considering.
If safety is high on your list when choosing your next Hyundai, our team can help you explore the safety and driver-assistance equipment available on each model.
Explore the Hyundai Range at Read Hyundai
Whether you're looking for a compact car such as the i20, a versatile SUV such as the KONA or BAYON, a family SUV such as the SANTA FE, or an electric model from the IONIQ range, you can explore the latest Hyundai range at Read Hyundai.
Browse our new Hyundai cars, arrange a test drive or contact us to speak to our team to find the Hyundai that's right for you.
