Recently, I have learned that Subaru is creating a big name in the safety line. They were able to gain high ranks in the crashworthiness test made by Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The new Impreza was in the spotlight. But, it is not just that single model that made it to the top. Included in the complete list were the all-wheel drive Forester, Liberty, Outback and the Tribeca. They are all the ones who lifted the Subaru name above all others.
Let’s take a look with what’s behind the five-star rank for occupant safety and four-star pedestrian rating. Of course, it has been brought about by the active safety systems available in all Subaru vehicles. If they were able to create efficient Subaru coil springs, safety equipment would be as effective as well. Based from autoweb.drive.com, these are all the active safety features:
Let’s take a look with what’s behind the five-star rank for occupant safety and four-star pedestrian rating. Of course, it has been brought about by the active safety systems available in all Subaru vehicles. If they were able to create efficient Subaru coil springs, safety equipment would be as effective as well. Based from autoweb.drive.com, these are all the active safety features:
- Constant All-Wheel Drive – provides constant drive to all four wheels, promoting balance and control.
- Anti lock brakes (ABS) – controls the braking force, which provides high stability in braking. Furthermore, it has the ability to steer around traffic hazards when braking, thus avoiding the risk for “locking up” and losing control. It is found to have cross-linked dual channel system. It works through retaining the brake on at least one front and one rear wheel (one left and one right) if a channel gets faulty. The brake piping of Subaru vehicles is inside the floor panels to reduce damage or corrosion.
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) – improves rear wheel braking in response to load shifting caused by deceleration.
- Vehicle Dynamics Control – activates to control each wheel individually. It happens when the electronic control unit (ECU) detected unstable or unusual wheel speed, steering position, front/back and lateral (sideways) G ford, and yaw rate, even swerving sideslipping or entering a spin. With its function, the car gains stability from its most stable wheels. Some models are found with Traction Control System (TCS), which helps in limiting traction loss during acceleration on slipper surfaces.
For the passive safety features, here is the list:
- Ring-shaped reinforcements – surrounds the passenger cabin. It forms a high strength safety cell, which results in greater body rigidity and minimum distortion on impact.
- Dual front and side SRS airbags – operate in conjunction with the front seatbelts to ensure maximum occupant protection.
- Front seatbelt pretensioners – used to quickly tighten the belt on impact and remove any slack between the belt and body.
- Automatic Emergency Locking Retractors (AUELR) – seatbelts are ratchet back into position for more positive security of child safety seats. It happens when the belts are fully extended. Ratchet is cancelled in fully retraction.
- Engine impact limitation – the flat horizontally opposed boxer engines go under the passenger cabin in a heavy frontal collision.
- Steering wheel impact minimization – support beam inhibits the rearward movement of the steering wheel in a collision.
- Reinforced door beams and strengthened side frames – provide extra protection in a side collision. It also provides solid base frame for suspension, which ensures that the body flex does not affect vehicle stability.
- Safety pedals – reduce injury to the driver’s lower legs in a heavy frontal collision.