The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Crosstrek Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.
Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and Crosstrek Hybrid have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.
Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Crosstrek Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is much safer than the Crosstrek Hybrid:
|
Tucson Plug-In Hybrid |
Crosstrek Hybrid |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
POOR |
Structure |
GOOD |
POOR |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
121 |
245 |
Head Peak Forces |
no contact |
55 G’s |
Neck Tension |
223 lbs. |
290 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
-45 lbs. |
0 lbs. |
Torso |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
Shoulder Deflection |
1.1 in |
1.89 in |
Shoulder Force |
223 lbs. |
357 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.34 in |
2.01 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
9 MPH |
10 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Pelvis Force |
759 lbs. |
1116 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
116 |
231 |
Neck Tension |
45 lbs. |
89 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
-134 lbs. |
178 lbs. |
Torso |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
Shoulder Deflection |
1.1 in |
2.09 in |
Shoulder Force |
245 lbs. |
424 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.38 in |
1.69 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
5 MPH |
13 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Pelvis Force |
669 lbs. |
825 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Crosstrek Hybrid was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2022 but no longer qualifies.