Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia EV3 Recognized as Top Safety Vehicles in South Korea
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Seoul, Dec 25 (NationPress) The mid-size SUV Hyundai Santa Fe and the entry-level electric vehicle Kia EV3 have been highlighted as among the safest cars in this year's official automobile safety evaluation, according to the transport ministry's announcement on Wednesday.
These models, along with Mercedes-Benz E200 and Volvo S60 sedans, achieved the top safety rating of grade 1 in the annual Korean New Car Assessment Program, which is a collaborative effort between the ministry and the state-run Korea Transportation Safety Authority.
The ministry reported that these four vehicles excelled in all three safety evaluation categories: collision safety, pedestrian safety, and accident prevention, as noted by the Yonhap news agency.
This year's evaluation assessed a total of nine models across three categories: EVs, hybrids, and internal combustion engines.
Among the electric vehicles, Hyundai Casper Electric received a grade 3 rating, while Tesla Model Y was awarded a grade 4 rating.
In the newly introduced safety evaluation for EV battery management systems, both the EV3 and Casper Electric received grade 2 ratings, whereas the Model Y achieved a grade 4, as stated by the ministry.
In other news, the Kia Sorento, a highly popular sport utility vehicle, is on track to become this year's top-selling car model in South Korea, according to industry data.
Sales figures from domestic automakers reveal that the Sorento secured the leading position for domestic cumulative sales from January to November, with 85,710 units sold.
Kia's Carnival minivan followed in second place with 75,513 units sold, while the Hyundai Santa Fe came in third, with 70,912 units sold during the same period.
Industry analysts predict that the Sorento will maintain its lead through December, making it the first Kia model to top domestic sales since the automaker became part of the Hyundai Motor Group in 1999.
The Sorento is also anticipated to be the first non-sedan and non-commercial vehicle to achieve the top position in domestic sales.
