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Subaru Ascent Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award


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ARLINGTON, Va. — A new midsize SUV from Subaru earns the highest award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when equipped with good-rated LED headlights.

The 2019 Ascent is the seventh Subaru vehicle to earn the 2018 Top Safety Pick+ award. The company also has one vehicle earning a Top Safety Pick without the "plus."


To qualify for Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must have good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. It also must have a front crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating and good-rated headlights.

The Ascent earns good crashworthiness ratings across the board and comes with standard, superior-rated front crash prevention. In IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, the Ascent avoided collisions. The system also has a forward collision warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.

The LED headlights that come on the Limited and Touring trims earn a good rating. The SUV's base halogen headlights are rated poor. The low beams provide inadequate visibility and also create excessive glare for drivers of oncoming vehicles.

Watch the crash test videos: 2019 Subaru Ascent

To qualify for Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must have good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. It also must have a front crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating and good-rated headlights.

The Ascent earns good crashworthiness ratings across the board and comes with standard, superior-rated front crash prevention. In IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, the Ascent avoided collisions. The system also has a forward collision warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.

The LED headlights that come on the Limited and Touring trims earn a good rating. The SUV's base halogen headlights are rated poor. The low beams provide inadequate visibility and also create excessive glare for drivers of oncoming vehicles.