[THE INVESTOR] Kia Motors’ Sorento SUV earned the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on May 18.

Kia obtained a Top Safety Pick Plus rating for the Sorento SUV as the vehicle earned Good ratings in all six crashworthiness tests, along with Good-rated headlights, when equipped with optional autonomous emergency braking and LED headlights, the company said in a statement.

With the top safety rating for the Sorento, Kia currently has the highest number of vehicles with either a 2018 TSP or TSP+ rating among all brands sold in the key North American country, the statement said.

Vehicles with the TSP+ rating include the 2019 Sorento SUV, the Forte subcompact, the Optima sedan and the Soul boxcar. Those with a TSP rating include the Cadenza (or K7) sedan, the Sedona (or Carnival) minivan, the 2018 Sorento and the Sportage SUV, it said.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)