2023 Kia EV6 Gets Highest-Possible Safety Rating

Thanks to improved headlights, the 2023 Kia EV6 has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest award of being named a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle. The updated headlights helped the EV6 ace the organization's tests and helps Kia’s electric vehicle match the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s score.

In order for a 2022 model to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating, it has to earn Good ratings in all of the IIHS’ crash tests, get an Advanced or Superior rating for its available front crash prevention system, and have headlights that earn an Acceptable or Good rating as standard. The 2022 model year originally missed out on the award from the IIHS because of its Poor-rated headlights.

Kia EV6 models built before September 2022 come with LED reflector headlights that earn a rating of Poor. Kia came out with a fix for the electric vehicle for models built after August 2022 that improved the headlights’ performance with high beams engaged. The automaker’s fix helped the headlights earn a rating of Good. The IIHS claims that Kia notified customers with Poor-rated headlights and offered to make the adjustment to turn them into Good-rated headlights for free at a dealership.

Kia made the fix standard for the 2023 model year, which sees the electric SUV earn the organization’s highest award. Beyond the headlights, the EV6 earned a score of Good in all six crash tests and has a front crash prevention system that earned a rating of Superior.

Other all-electric SUVs to earn a Top Safety Pick+ include the Genesis GV60, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, and Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Source: IIHS (Headlights), IIHS (Overall)

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