- Subaru XV scoops up yet another award
- Subaru remains only manufacturer to achieve Top Rank IIHS awards for all models for three consecutive years
Hot on the heels of winning the Japan Industrial Design Promotion’s Good Design award for 2012, the Subaru XV has racked up yet another accolade as the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) in the United States bestowed its “Top Safety Pick” award to the XV recently. This means that Subaru is now the only manufacturer to score Top Rank awards for all models, three years in a row – testament to the brand’s commitment to class-leading safety.
Executive Vice President and COO of Subaru of America, Inc. Thomas J. Doll, commented that the XV brings Subaru’s Symmetrical All Wheel Drive and crossover technology to the small CUV segment. “Our buyers know that Subaru means safety and adding the XV to our 100% list of IIHS Top Safety Picks is proof of that.”
The Top Safety Pick award recognizes vehicles which do the best job of protecting occupants in frontal, side and rear collisions – now including roll-over crashes as well – based on “good” ratings in each category during IIHS testing. Rankings range from Poor or Marginal to Acceptable and Good, the latter of which being the highest rank possible in Institute tests. Electronic stability control is a requirement in order to achieve a Good rating.
“Confidence in Motion” – the Subaru brand statement – goes to prove the brand’s commitment to offering customers the unique enjoyment and peace-of-mind driving experience which is so typical of Subaru products. Continuous improvement and enhancement of active, passive and pre-crash safety technologies as well as embodiment of the brand’s commitment to all-round safety as the foundation of these principles is at the fore of Subaru’s development activities.
SUBARU XV safety abounds
With a rich history of well-engineered vehicles with safety as a priority, the new Subaru XV is no exception to the rule. As has been proven by this new IIHS accolade as well as five-star ANCAP and EuroNCAP safety ratings already in the bag, the XV’s safety credentials are exemplary.
Active safety features including outstanding visibility, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), ABS with EBD and BAS as well as Subaru’s legendary Constant Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system help in preventing an accident from occurring in the first place. A crash is sometimes inevitable however, and the XV’s passive safety systems are always primed and ready to take action in protecting the vehicle’s occupants as much as possible.
Safety enhancements include a thickened toe board for greater strength against rearward movement of the pedals in the event of a collision. Then, a reinforcing member strengthens the joint between the A-pillar and the upper frame, ensuring impact energy created by a frontal impact is passed efficiently from the frame to the A-pillar. Panel deformation around the outer door handles in the event of a side collision is also limited thanks to a new double-beam structure for the rear door beams, and even the seats have been redesigned to limit neck injury severity and minimise whiplash via improved head and torso support should a crash take place.
Improvements to the airbags have been carried out as well for the Subaru XV – faster collision detection is implemented and the front passenger’s SRS airbag features a creased centre, exposing the neck to less impact force on deployment without compromising safety in any way. A total of seven airbags feature in the XV, comprising two front, two side and two full-length curtain airbags as well as a driver’s knee airbag.
