Genesis GV80 Gets Top Rating From IIHS in Collision Testing

When golf star Tiger Woods was injured a few weeks ago in a terrible vehicle accident, much was made of the vehicle he was driving at the moment of the crash: a Genesis GV80 SUV. Though his injuries were serious, Woods survived, and is now recovering at home.

The footage of the accident showed a fairly damaged model, but with a well-protected cabin. For Genesis, it was hard to imagine a better piece of advertising for the safety capabilities of its SUV.

Now, with impeccable timing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has made the GV80 a Top Safety Pick+ following recent collision testing. This highest possible designation means that the SUV passed all crash tests, as well as additional tests involving electronic collision prevention and headlights.

When it comes to crashworthiness, Brian Latouf, head of safety at Genesis North America, told Car and Driver magazine that “you have to design with the end in mind. You start with the front structure, the subframe cradle, the foundational architectural design challenges. Then there are the restraint systems, and the electrical systems to enable those.”

It may all sound simple, but the symbiosis of all the systems and how they work together requires careful planning. In addition, the GV80, in addition to all its electronics, has 10 airbags.

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