ARLINGTON, Va., July 9 (UPI) -- The 2003 Subaru Forester earned top marks and a "best pick" designation in the most recent crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an industry group.
The Japanese sport-utility wagon earned a "good" rating in both the 5 mph bumper bash test and the 40 mph frontal offset crash. The 2002 Honda CR-V and the 2002 Saturn VUE also rated good overall, but the Land Rover Freelander earned only acceptable marks in the crash tests.
The CR-V also was a "best pick" and performed better in the tests than the 1998 model.
All four small SUVs earned good marks for structural integrity in the offset crash, in which 40 percent of the front end of the vehicle is driven into a deformable barrier at 40 mph, but the Honda, Saturn and Freelander performed poorly in the 5 mph bumper test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducts its new car crash tests at 35 mph.
"The very good performance of the new Subaru Forester in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's high- and low-speed crash tests demonstrates Subaru's commitment to designing vehicles that set exemplary standards for both safety and damageability," said institute president Brian O'Neill.
The redesigned Forester has standard dual-stage front airbags, standard front seat head and chest side-impact airbags, standard active front seat head restraints and standard anti-lock brakes.
"The Institute's findings reinforce our dedication to building safe vehicles," said Subaru of America head T.K. Saito. Subaru's entire all-wheel-drive lineup of Forester, Legacy and Impreza all were rated "best pick" by the insurance institute.
"Before this set of tests, only the Hyundai Santa Fe and previous Forester design, among small SUVs, earned good overall crashworthiness ratings," O'Neill said. "This will mean improved protection to people in serious real-world crashes."
