New Subarus score top marks in NCAP safety tests

Subaru's new XV and Impreza have both achieved full five-star ratings in recent Euro NCAP crash safety tests.

The pair achieved outstanding results in all four assessment areas (Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian Protection, Safety Assist), performing well above the minimum requirement, and with noticeably high overall average scores.

Both models are among the first to be built on the Japanese car maker's new Subaru Global Platform (SGP), which was designed to improve safety, as well as driving enjoyment and ride comfort. The SGP seriously improves rigidity (front lateral flexural rigidity has been improved by 90 percent, torsional rigidity and front suspension rigidity by 70 percent, rear sub frame rigidity by 100 percent), while also improving impact energy absorption by 40 percent over the outgoing models.

'We are very pleased that Euro NCAP has recognised the new Subaru XV and Impreza with five-star ratings in its recent tests,' said Masamichi Kudo, president of Subaru Europe. 'Safety is the core value Subaru provides to customers and we are proud to have been endorsed all over the world with outstanding safety recognitions for both new models, and now also in Europe.

'This marks the sixth time in a row that Subaru has been honoured with the prestigious five-star rating from Euro NCAP following the 2009 rating for the Legacy, 2011 Subaru XV, 2012 Forester, 2014 Outback and 2016 Levorg'.

The new XV and Impreza's full marks for safety in Europe comes after the cars were awarded the 2017 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States following an independent study.

Unveiled earlier this year in Geneva and Frankfurt respectively, the new XV and Impreza will go on sale soon. The XV is expected by the end of this year, will the Impreza is slated to return to showrooms in 2018.