How Safe Is the 2016 Subaru Outback?

Subaru touts their safety features on the new 2016 Subaru Outback. How safe is it?

Subaru has stated safety is one of their core values. COO Tom Doll even went so far as to say it’s their number one priority over everything else. The 2016 Subaru Outback is their bell cow and it gets new safety features before some of the other models. What does Outback’s safety features tell you about the brands commitment to safety?

The new Subaru Outback comes with a number of safety features that make it one of the safest crossovers for the price. The majority of accidents occur due to limited visibility, and Subaru has these blind spots covered. Subaru uses a radar system to alert the driver of approaching vehicles from behind by means of visual and acoustic signals.

Subaru’s system uses 3 driver-assist features

The 2016 Subaru Outback has LED lights integrated in the outside mirrors indicating an approaching vehicle allowing the driver to keep their eyes on the road. It’s easy to miss a vehicle in this blind spot when changing lanes. The LED lights can help prevent an accident.

Subaru further keeps “eyes” on the blind spot by use of radar located in the middle and rear pillars. When the driver uses the turn indicator, a proximity indicator is activated to alert the driver to the danger. The radar sensor system detects the vehicles in the adjacent lane, approaching at high speed, and notifies the driver of the danger of collision.

When back up, the radar-based sensor system detects approaching vehicles to the right or left and warns the driver about the danger of collision by activating the indicator light and an audible warning. This is especially useful when backing out of a parking space or driveway.

High Beam assist HID headlamps

Upper trim levels of the 2016 Subaru Outback feature High Beam Assist headlights (HBA). HBA can automatically toggle between high and low beams depending on road conditions such as speed and oncoming traffic, enhancing visibility for the driver, and keeping other drivers from being blinded.

New on the 2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited, is the ‘Hawkeye’ High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting system, lighting the road for better visibility at night. HID low-beam projector headlights (with auto-on/off) and multi-reflector halogen high-beam headlights provide better light intensity than ever before.

Emergency braking signal (ESS)

New Outbacks will feature an emergency braking signal. The system can detect emergency braking conditions and warn the driver of the car, coming from behind, of the danger of collision by changing the rear brake lights to hazard warning lights. When braking, they start flashing at a high frequency.

Subaru touts their safety features on the 2016 Subaru Outback, and they back up their claims with driver-assist systems that will prevent accidents. Outback is the brand's bell cow, and these systems and other safety features will be coming on most next-generation Subaru vehicles.

Source: Subaru

Image source: Subaru