Subaru Forester, Legacy Have Longest Top Safety Picks Win Streak in America

Some organizations know how to stay focused on their core vales, while others blow with the latest hot winds. Subaru Corporation has been focused on safety for 50 years and it’s why they will likely stay the safety leader. They just aced the newest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests with the 2018 Subaru Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, Forester and WRX getting top scores.

Subaru’s win streak of top safety picks goes back over a decade. The Subaru Legacy sedan continues its streak as the longest running midsize sedan with top safety ratings for an astounding 13th year in a row, while the Forester SUV extends its title as the longest running winner in the small SUV category with a record 12th win. Both impressive feats.

How do they do it?

Subaru developed proprietary crash methods more than 10 year before new car assessment programs were ever developed. They began testing their micro car the Subaru 300 in 1965. Pedestrian crash safety testing was also conducted by Subaru before it became an industry standard. The Japanese automaker has been fine tuning their vehicle safety for almost 50 years, and Subaru conducts safety tests in their own collision simulator in Japan today.

It’s about EyeSight

Subaru touts how they want to be the global leader in overall safety. They've been developing their EyeSight driver assist safety system when it launched in 1999. The Subaru Corporation has used the stereo cameras as safety devices ever since, and Active Driver Assist (ADA) continues to be developed to this day in the new-generation EyeSight found in the 2018 Subaru Forester SUV and Legacy sedan.

Here’s what Subaru found after testing the EyeSight-equipped Outback on Russian and European roads. The Active Driver Assist (ADA) system helped prevent at least one crash for every fourth driver according to surveys of owners in Europe. So 25 percent of Outback owners said the safety system prevented an accident.

When equipped with EyeSight, the 2018 Subaru Forester earned the 2018 TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP), and 2018 Subaru Legacy earned the highest 2018 TOP SAFETY PICK + award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It’s 13 years running for Legacy and 12 years in-a-row for Forester.

Check out The new Subaru XV - History of crash testing video below

Photo credit: Subaru