NEW, SMARTER, SAFER, FURTHER: NEW SUBARU FORESTER SAFETY
- Euro NCAP’s safest SUV for 2012
- 5-star ratings from ANCAP and Euro NCAP
- Subaru’s tradition for exceptional safety continues
The all-new Subaru Forester has started out in life with an arsenal of safety accolades and credentials under its belt, giving it an exceptional competitive edge in the compact SUV segment. Following in the tradition of any modern car bearing the Subaru badge, the new Forester’s safety features come together to produce one of the safest cars money can buy.
ANCAP and Euro NCAP award five stars
Following the five-star safety ratings awarded to the new Subaru Forester early in 2012 by the Australian ANCAP crash test institute, the five-star rating awarded by industry giant Euro NCAP was a huge achievement for the new Forester. Not only walking away with a five-star rating, the new Forester was given the maximum-possible score for pedestrian leg protection (thanks to its front bumper’s design) and, thanks to Subaru’s Ring-Shaped Reinforcement™, top marks for the protection of all body areas in a side barrier impact. The signature chassis design technology optimises the chassis’ impact relay structure by making use of high-tensile steel which, in addition to reducing weight and increasing safety performance in collisions from all directions, enhances passenger safety.
The fact that, as a result of Subaru’s meticulous focus on safety, the new Forester turned out to be the safest SUV tested by Euro NCAP in 2012 speaks for itself, especially considering that since 2009, the organisation’s crash testing assessment system has evolved to be more rigorous and comprehensive. New areas of Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist are now evaluated – the Forester of course scoring exceptionally well in all of them.
The A to Z of safety systems
The all-new Subaru Forester makes no bones about its safety ratings and as such, all five models in the new South African range come equipped with the highest level of active and passive safety equipment to ensure no compromise and peace of mind, no matter which Forester may be preferred.
Standard safety equipment includes a total of seven airbags – dual front, side and curtain airbags are complimented by a driver’s knee airbag – as well as a collapsible brake pedal and steering column. ISOFIX child seat mounting points with tether anchors are also provided, along with three-point inertia reel seat belts for all five seats (pre-tensioned up front) and seatbelt warning buzzers for both front occupants.
Electronic aids are part and parcel with any top-performing vehicle and the new Forester doesn’t disappoint by any means. With Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) fitted as standard to all models, the new Forester benefits from a host of smart electronic aids to ensure the driver and vehicle remain composed at all times in order to prevent a collision. VDC encompasses ABS and EBD with BA, along with TCS (Traction Control System), ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and LSD (Limited Slip Device).
The employment of Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive™ system linked up to the Boxer® engines available across the range also goes some way to providing extra safety for Forester occupants. Thanks to its low centre of gravity, superbly balanced operation due to the punching motion of the pistons and the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive™ system’s balanced design, the drivetrain itself provides extra grip, balance and control while driving to enhance the Forester’s handling to a large degree – inspiring confidence in the driver and providing the safety to explore the limits with added peace of mind and enjoyment.
