• 24-FEB-2015

IIHS 'Top Safety Pick' rating for new Kia Sorento

The all-new Kia Sorento has been awarded a 'Top Safety Pick' rating by the USA's Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to road safety.

The third-generation Sorento SUV qualified for the 'Top Safety Pick' award by achieving a 'Good' rating in every one of the IIHS's demanding tests, thanks to an even stronger bodyshell and a wide array of passive and active safety equipment.

This is the latest accolade from a globally-respected crash safety organization – the all-new Sorento has already been awarded the maximum five-star crash safety rating by Euro NCAP. The car's passenger compartment came in for particular praise for remaining stable in the event of a collision, and offering good protection for passengers of different physiques, no matter where they were seated in the car.

Soon-Nam Lee, Vice President of the Overseas Marketing Group, Kia Motors Corporation, commented, "The all-new Kia Sorento is among the safest models in its class and we're delighted with this latest accolade from IIHS – a highly respected vehicle safety institution. We've gone to great lengths to enhance every aspect of Sorento, with active and passive safety systems a top priority."

Passive safety improved by significantly stronger bodyshell
The structure of the new Sorento is significantly stronger, thanks in large part to the more widespread use of ultra-high tensile steel (UHTS). The previous-generation model was made up of 24.4 percent UHTS, while the bodyshell of the new model consists of 52.7 percent UHTS, aiding the integrity of the car's core structure in the event of an impact and also improving torsional rigidity by 14 percent.

The new Sorento also features more than twice as much ultra-strong hot-stamped steel as the outgoing model, up from 4.1 percent to 10.1 percent in the new model, greatly strengthening the A- and B-pillars.

High-tech active safety features
The new Sorento also boasts a range of safety assistance technology. The new model's standard-fit Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system ensures the car remains stable when simultaneously braking and cornering, particularly on low-grip surfaces, by carefully controlling both the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and electric motor-driven power steering. Both systems are activated as soon as the car's sensors detect a loss in traction, helping the driver to remain safely in control of the vehicle.

Buyers will also be able to choose from a wealth of 'active' safety technologies, including: ASCC (Adaptive Smart Cruise Control); LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System), which emits an audible alert when the driver strays from the chosen lane without using indicators; BSD (Blind-Spot Detection), with a visual warning in the door mirror when another car is in the driver's blind spot; RCTA (Rear Cross-Traffic Alert), which warns against other cars driving behind the Sorento in car parks; and SLIF (Speed Limit Information Function), which displays the speed limit in the driver's instrument cluster based on cameras detecting roadside signs.

The all-new Kia Sorento is now on sale globally.