Subaru Outback gets record safety score

The new-generation 2021 Subaru Outback launched earlier this year has achieved the highest safety scores from ANCAP to date under its latest testing regime across three of the four key areas of assessment.

In achieving a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, the Subaru Outback recorded 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 91 per cent for child occupant protection, 84 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 96 per cent for Safety Assist crash-avoidance systems.

The latter included close to full points for autonomous emergency braking (AEB), and full marks for lane keep assist, but was dragged down by a ‘poor’ result for rear cross traffic alert that’s designed to prevent reversing collisions with pedestrians.

“The Subaru Outback has comprehensively impressed, achieving the highest scores we’ve seen so far when testing to our current protocols,” said ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg.

At the same time, Australia’s independent crash safety authority has awarded a five-star rating to the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai fuel-cell electric vehicle, which is yet to become available to private customers.

The Mirai scored 88 and 87 per cent respectively for adult and child occupant protection, plus 80 per cent for vulnerable road users and 83 per cent for Safety Assist.

The Mirai’s hydrogen fuel-cell electric powertrain was also closely assessed, with ANCAP finding the newer fuel type had “no effect on the Mirai’s inherent safety” either during or post-crash.

“The results achieved by the Toyota Mirai are to be commended, showing safety and environmental benefits can and should go hand-in-hand,” said Hoorweg.

Overseas, ANCAP’s European equivalent – Euro NCAP – has also released several new five-star safety ratings for models that are either locked in, or a strong chance, to launch in Australia.

These include the Audi Q4 e-tron, Lynk & Co 01 and the NIO ES8.

The latter two are the first European offerings from the Chinese brands, and scored highly in their respective tests.

Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: “Lynk & Co and NIO … show that ‘Made in China’ is not any longer a pejorative term when it comes to car safety. Here we have two new cars, both Chinese-developed, performing extremely well in our tests.

“It’s clear that all manufacturers know that Euro NCAP will hold them to high standards if they want to sell cars in Europe and gratifying that they are prepared to make the investment to get the best safety ratings.”