South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co.’s sports utility vehicle Santa Fe has received top scores to be named the safest car in its segment by a European car assessment program, the company said Friday.

At the latest test by the European New Car Assessment Program, the Santa Fe garnered 96 percent in adult occupant protection and 89 percent in child occupant protection categories, which measure how stable the passenger compartment remains in the case of frontal impact.

The Hyundai SUV also earned 71 percent for the protection provided by the bumper to pedestrians’ legs, and received 86 percent in the safety assist section, according to Hyundai Motor.

The Santa Fe topped the large off-road 4X4 segment with five stars in total, closely beating the BMW X3, the Chevrolet Captiva and the Range Rover Evoque.

Meanwhile, the Euro NCAP picked up the safest cars in eight segments including the Renault Clio, the Volvo V40 and the BMW 320d.

The new 2012 Santa Fe went on sale in Europe in the second half of last year, with its sales hitting 68,382 units throughout last year in South Korea. (Yonhap News)