2017 Subaru Impreza Earns High Marks in IIHS Crash Test
CARS.COM — With top ratings in all crash tests plus strong performance scores for its headlights and crash-avoidance technology, the redesigned 2017 Subaru Impreza earned a Top Safety Pick Plus from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Impreza’s sedan and hatchback body styles both received the Plus designation, IIHS’ highest crashworthiness honor, the institute said today.
Related: 2017 Subaru Impreza Review: First Drive
Subaru’s EyeSight system, which incorporates forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, earned a superior rating in IIHS’ dynamic tests; vehicles must earn advanced or superior scores for front crash prevention for the Plus designation. Another requirement to earn Plus status under the agency’s tougher 2017 rules is adequate or good headlight performance, both of which the Impreza received for different headlight systems.
From a safety standpoint, those results put the Impreza in the top tier of its class. The 2017 Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta share the Impreza’s Plus designation, while the 2017 Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Volkswagen Golf have Top Safety Pick (no Plus) billing, one rung down. Rivals such as the Ford Focus, Kia Forte and Chevrolet Cruze have no IIHS designation because of subpar or missing crash tests.
Note that the Impreza’s results don’t apply to the Impreza-based WRX, which remains based on the previous-generation car for 2017. The 2017 WRX received top scores from IIHS, save for the headlight evaluation, earning it a Top Safety Pick but falling short of a Plus designation.
