Kia K4, EV9 Earn Top Safety Pick+ for 2026

TDT | Manama

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Kia has strengthened its safety credentials after the 2026 Kia K4 and Kia EV9 earned the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — the prestigious 2026 Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) award.

The latest recognition brings Kia’s total number of 2026 TSP+ award-winning models to four. The K4 and EV9 join the previously awarded Kia Sorento (models built after September 2025) and Kia Sportage (models built after May 2025). The awards apply specifically to vehicles sold in the United States.

Kia officials highlighted that safety remains a central pillar of the brand’s development strategy. SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, emphasized that the company continues to expand safety features across its lineup in response to evolving global standards.

For 2026, IIHS has introduced stricter testing requirements, placing greater emphasis on rear-seat passenger protection and improved crash avoidance technologies. The updated protocols include tougher assessments for moderate overlap front crashes, enhanced pedestrian detection systems, and stronger performance standards for high-speed collision prevention.

The Kia K4, starting at $22,290, offers a range of advanced safety technologies as standard. These include Lane Keeping Assist and Forward Collision Avoidance systems capable of detecting vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, as well as assisting drivers during intersection turns.

Meanwhile, the all-electric Kia EV9 continues to stand out in the three-row SUV segment with advanced driver assistance features such as Highway Driving Assist 2, designed to maintain safe distances between vehicles and keep the car centered within lanes on highways.

The latest accolades reinforce Kia’s growing reputation for delivering high safety standards across both conventional and electric vehicle segments.