Subaru Outperforms Rivals in Major Crash Test Programme

COLESHILL, UNITED KINGDOM – November 23, 2009: Subaru vehicles are among the safest on the road, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in America.

The insurance-industry-backed organisation, which conducted a series of stringent frontal, side, rear and rollover crash tests on a wide variety of vehicles, found that Subaru was the only manufacturer to score enough points to receive its ‘Top Safety Pick’ Award for every model it entered. In pulling off this remarkable crash test coup, the Japanese firm outperformed the likes of Volvo, Volkswagen, Audi, Honda and Ford.

Only vehicles with roofs more than twice as strong as the current minimum standard and fitted with ESP (VDC in Subaru models), were considered for the tests. Previous studies conducted by the institute suggested that, compared with minimum-standard vehicles, cars with stronger roofs reduce the risk of serious and fatal injury in single-vehicle rollovers by about 50 per cent.

“With the addition of our new roof strength evaluation, our crash test results now cover all four of the most common kinds of crashes,” said Institute President, Adrian Lund. “Consumers can use this list to zero-in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety. Cars and SUVs that win Top Safety Pick are designs that go far beyond minimum federal safety standards.”

Subaru’s five IIHS Top Safety Pick awards came in four different categories: the New Legacy and Outback were recognised in the Midsize Car group; the Impreza was named in the Small Car category; the Forester was awarded the prize in the Small SUV section; and Tribeca in the Midsize SUV class .

Prices for the New Legacy start at £23,295 for the 2.0D S, and range up to £27,295 for the 2.5i SE NavPlus Lineartronic. The New Outback is available in five different guises. The line-up starts with the £26,295 2.0-litre diesel SE and 2.5i SE petrol models, and is topped by the £33,295 petrol 3.6-litre R.

The Forester SUV costs from £19,115 for the base 2.0-litre X model and rises to £25,965 for the range-topping 2.0-litre D XSn. Impreza hatchbacks start at £12,730 for the entry level 1.5-litre R and rise to £30,350 for the 330PS 2.5-litre STI 330 S.