Not all subcompact SUVs are created equal when it comes to safety. Why does the Volkswagen Taos fall short in getting a top safety score, and the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek earns the highest rating? Check out the results here.
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Consumers looking for the safest new subcompact SUVs can check Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) scores before deciding on their new car. Check out the 2022 Volkswagen Taos vs. the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek.
In recent IIHS tests, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos fell short in two crash tests. The Taos subcompact SUV can only manage acceptable ratings in small overlap and head restraint evaluations of the passenger side.
photo credit: Competition Subaru
The IIHS requires a vehicle to get "Good" ratings in these and four other crashworthiness tests for a vehicle to be eligible for a 2022 Top Safety Pick award. In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV earns the Top Safety Pick award for 2022.
Why does the VW Toas fail and the Subaru Crosstrek excel?
The IIHS says, "In the passenger-side small overlap test, the SUV's occupant compartment allowed excessive intrusion into the passenger's survival space, resulting in a marginal score that brings down the overall rating. In the head restraint evaluation, the dummy's head and neck weren't adequately supported early in the simulated rear-end crash."
The Taos also manages only a basic rating in the vehicle-to-pedestrian test. Advanced or superior ratings are required in the test to earn the IIHS's Top Safety Pick award.
How safe is the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek?
The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek was recently rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and earned the Top Safety Pick award. Crosstrek is now a TSP winner for 11 consecutive years. The Crosstrek Hybrid earns the highest Top Safety Pick + award for its LED projector headlights.
The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Base trim level, Premium, and Sport trims earn the best crash prevention scores from the IIHS but get a poor rating for their Halogen reflector headlights. Thus the lower but still excellent Top Safety Pick award.
In contrast to the VW Taos, the Crosstrek gets the highest "Good" scores in the passenger-side small overlap test, head restraint evaluation, and the vehicle-to-pedestrian test.
Where does the Crosstrek need to improve to get the highest Top Safety Pick + award?
Subaru needs to improve the Crosstrek's headlights. The Top Safety Pick+ is only awarded to models that meet all the requirements and must have "Good" or "Acceptable" headlights across trim levels and packages. Because not all trims have the best LED headlights, the Crosstrek gets a Poor rating for its lower-rated Halogen reflector headlights.
Look for Subaru Corporation to improve the next-generation 2023 Subaru Crosstrek headlights and offer the best LED projector lamps across trim levels and packages. The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek remains a Top Safety Pick winner.
Consumers looking for the safest new subcompact SUVs can check IIHS scores before deciding on their new car. The Volkswagen Taos falls short in three critical areas, while the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek excels and earns the Top Safety Pick rating.
You Might Also Like: Consumer Reports - 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Is the Best SUV Under $30K With One Small Flaw
Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Photo credit: IIHS and Subaru
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