All-new Subaru Forester crossover-SUV gifted safety award
All-new Subaru Forester has measure of top US safety award
Author: Chris Barker
Published: 24 April 2008
The all-new Subaru Forester SUV crossover has collected a top US safety award ahead of its imminent April UK debut.
Another day, another piece of congratulatory medal-work to attach to some deserving automotive metalwork. This time the recipient is Subaru, which has been back-slapped for the safety provisions found on its comprehensively-new Forester all-terrain vehicle.
Always a difficult vehicle to pigeon-hole, the all-new third generation of Subaru's estate-cum-soft-roader-cum-utility car is now simply being labeled as a crossover Sports Utility Vehicle - and as such carries the weight of arguably being a new genre on its rounded shoulders.
However, it's Stateside that the Forester has won praise for its safety provisions, winning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's '2008 Top Safety Pick' medallion for considerable services to side, rear and offset frontal impact-protection.
The Forester – in order to achieve such acclaimed US status – was adjudged to offer the highest levels of overall crash protection amongst its vehicular class, whereby critical emphasis is placed on the Subaru and its peers ability to cope with crucial front, side and rear impacts.
The 'Top Safety Pick' is similar to the Euro NCAP, in as much as it offers potential car buyers a uniformed and far-reaching occupant and pedestrian protection appraisal for all current vehicles on the market and is globally acknowledged for its elaborative criteria.
The Institutes' stringent testing procedure includes frontal evaluations based on a 40mph offset collision, whilst the relevance of the side impact measures in place are determined by the Forester clashing with a moving barrier at 31mph. At a speed of 20mph a vehicle's head-restraint and general seat effectiveness in the context of rear smashes are assessed.
Both the US and UK-bound Forester is Japanese built, and therefore mirror each others' proposed life-assuring safety features as standard.
First viewed at this years Geneva Motor Show, the all-new Subaru Forester is based on the new Impreza platform, and goes up against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and is launched in the UK later this month in 2.0-litre petrol (manual and automatic transmission) form only on launch.
Subaru’s new Boxer Diesel engine will appear for the first time in both the new Forester and Impreza at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October.
New Subaru Forester gives UK car buyers opportunity to customise their Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 rivals, and ensure their soft-roader is out on its own.
The all-new Subaru Forester crossover SUV is available to buy from £17,995. All-condition performance, improved engines and strong kit levels are promised.
Subaru will show the new Forester SUV, boxer diesel-equipped Legacy and Outback models and electric vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show.
Free LPG conversion on 2-litre Forester can save drivers 40% on fuel bills and exemption from Congestion Charge, says Subaru.
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