Subaru: Highest score for the Outback 🎥
DONE A new test procedure from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has tightened up the side-impact crash. With an overall rating of 5 stars, the Subaru Outback achieved the highest rating.
The updated side impact test uses a heavier barrier traveling at a higher speed. The barrier simulates an impacting vehicle coming from the side into the driver's side of the test vehicle.
The new barrier weighs 1905 kilograms - roughly the weight of today's mid-sized SUVs - and hits the test vehicle at a speed of 60 km/h. In the original test, a 1496-kilo barrier was moved at 50 km/h.
The tests are carried out in four areas
The overall rating is made up of the results in four areas: Occupant protection, tested separately for adults and children, pedestrian protection, and supportive safety systems, i.e. driver assistance systems and active safety technologies.
Reinforcement frame of the body
The crossover from Japan achieved the highest possible score for side impact protection for the occupants with very good protection of the entire body. The developers at Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries have further optimized the ring-shaped reinforcement frame of the body in the new Outback.
Use of high-strength steels
As with the Subaru Forester, the use of high-strength steels has reduced the weight of the chassis while increasing structural stability and occupant protection in the event of a collision. The design of the front seats and front and rear head restraints also prevent the dreaded whiplash effect in the event of a rear impact
Only the Subaru Outback 4×4 passed the side-impact protection test with a rating of good; all other tested mid-size cars from competitors failed.
