2019 Subaru Ascent Earns Top Safety Pick+

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named Subaru's 2019 Ascent midsize SUV a 2018 Top Safety Pick+ when outfitted with good-rated LED headlights. This makes seven Subaru vehicles that have earned the institute's highest award.

The Ascent scored good ratings in six rigorous tests, including the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, and the institute's newest passenger-side small overlap front test.

The midsize SUV also boasts a standard, superior-rated front crash prevention system, which helped it avoid collisions in IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph. The system also has a forward-collision warning that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.

The LED headlights that come on the Limited and Touring trims earned a good rating. However, the SUV's base halogen headlights are rated poor because the low beams provide inadequate visibility and create excessive glare for drivers of oncoming vehicles, according to IIHS.