Subaru’s all-new Forester, which is due to arrive in March this year, has been awarded a five-star safety rating by renowned crash test institute Euro NCAP. Thanks to advanced safety systems, cutting-edge chassis design and high-tech safety assistance systems, the all-new Forester is the safest Forester ever built. The Euro NCAP rating follows a five-star Australian ANCAP safety rating which the new Forester also scored earlier in 2012.

Euro NCAP’s safest SUV

Following the European New Car Assessment Programme’s latest and most-stringent crash test regulations and criteria, the new Forester won the highest five-star overall rating for SUVs in 2012 Euro NCAP crash tests. The Forester’s achievement is the third five-star Euro NCAP performance for Subaru after the Legacy and XV were both awarded five-star ratings in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

Since 2009, a more comprehensive and rigorous assessment system has been implemented at Euro NCAP, which evaluates Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist. Scoring well in all areas, the new Forester was awarded the maximum-possible score for the protection of all body areas in a side barrier test, while its front bumper scored top marks for pedestrian leg protection. The side impact results are as a direct outcome of Subaru’s Ring-Shaped Reinforcement™, which optimises the chassis’ impact energy relay structure thanks to the use of high-tensile steel, which goes further in reducing weight, increasing safety performance in collisions from all directions and enhancing passenger safety. The fact that the new Forester features better visibility – thanks to the A-pillar sitting some 200 mm further forward than before – and all-round raised seating positions, also enhances its crash safety performance while providing better all-round visibility for a safer drive.

New Forester is packed with safety tech

With a host of active and passive safety systems on board, the new Forester is loaded with safety technology which not only serves to keep its occupants safe but also reduce the risk to other road users. Standard safety systems include ABS with EBD and VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control), which monitors all four wheels and ensures the Forester remains stable at all times. Complimenting these systems are seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag) and a collapsible brake pedal and steering column which go further to minimise injury upon impact. The new Subaru Forester also provides five three-point inertia reel seat belts for all occupants (pre-tensioned at the front) along with ISOFIX child seat mounting points with tether anchors. Adding extra safety is the new reversing camera, which links to the multi-function display screen to provide a clear view behind the new Forester.

As with other Subaru models, the new Forester isn’t only made safer thanks to this array of safety systems – the trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive™ system along with the use of Boxer® engines also contribute to safer driving thanks to the resultant low centre of gravity created by the drivetrain. With the power being split evenly between all four wheels – for better control and stability – linked to the Boxer® engine’s own low centre of gravity and smooth nature, inherited driving dynamics which not only inspire confidence but benefit also from exceptional balance, go further to making the Forester a safer car all-round.

Marketing Manager at Subaru Southern Africa, Ashley Lazarus, says “the all-new Forester represents a crown jewel for Subaru in many respects, with safety being an important facet of its focus. With its top Euro NCAP safety rating and its advanced technology, the new Forester is sure to appeal to a wide variety of existing and new customers in South Africa.”

Subaru’s feverish obsession with safety comes to particular light in the South African context where high road accident numbers and road deaths in particular warrant the need for safer vehicles on South African roads. After the high death toll experienced over the festive season in 2012, the new Subaru Forester presents an exceptionally attractive option to motorists who want a safer vehicle. The new Forester is the personification of Subaru’s brand and product DNA, where safety is of paramount importance.