The redesigned Subaru Impreza compact car is the latest winner of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 2017 Top Safety Pick+ award, thanks to top IIHS scores for crash protection, a “superior”-rated front crash prevention system, and headlights that drew a rating of “good.”
The Top Safety Pick award is given to vehicles that earn the best possible rating of “good” in the institute’s five crashworthiness tests — small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints — and also have an available front crash prevention system that earns an “advanced” or “superior” rating. The plus is added for winners that also have headlights that merit a rating of “acceptable” or “good.”
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Both the sedan and wagon version of the 2017 Impreza earned the award. The Impreza's optional EyeSight system drew a “superior” rating for front crash prevention. In IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, the Impreza avoided a collision, IIHS said. The system also has a forward collision-warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.
The Impreza has several available headlight systems. When equipped with LED headlights and high-beam assist, which automatically switches between high beams and low beams depending on the presence of other vehicles, the car earned a “good” headlight rating. Without high-beam assist, the LED headlights drew an “acceptable” rating. The halogen lights that come on lower trim levels attracted a “marginal” rating.
The Impreza also earned the top rating of “good+” for ease of use of LATCH hardware for installing child restraints. This makes it the only small car to earn top ratings in all IIHS evaluations, the institute said.
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