Subaru’s global reputation for safety continues to stand out, with independent crash-test results reinforcing the brand’s focus on protecting occupants and preventing collisions, the manufacturer claims.
Every year, UNICEF estimates that more than 181 000 children and young people aged 0 to 19 die as a result of road traffic injuries, with more than 90% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Locally, the Road Accident Fund reported that in 2024, school children aged five to 14 accounted for nearly 6% of all lives lost on South African roads.
Independent safety assessments:
Organisations such as Euro NCAP and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States provide independent evaluations of crash protection and crash avoidance. Subaru has consistently performed strongly in these assessments.
In 2026, the Forester, Outback and Ascent earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest safety honour from the organisation. The Forester and Crosstrek also achieved five-star Euro NCAP ratings, with child-occupant protection scores of 89% and 90% respectively.
Protection features:
Subaru’s approach to safety extends beyond standard equipment such as airbags and anti-lock brakes. The Forester, for example, has been designed with outward visibility in mind, helping drivers to see more clearly in environments where children may be present. Rear door engagement pins further strengthen the cabin structure, reducing the risk of intrusion during side-impact collisions.
EyeSight driver assist: Subaru’s EyeSight system uses camera-based technology to monitor the road ahead and assist the driver. Features include pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and lane-keeping support. These systems are designed to reduce the likelihood of accidents by supporting the driver in real time.
Safety philosophy:
“Safety has always been central to Subaru’s engineering philosophy, but it becomes especially meaningful when we think about the people our vehicles are designed to protect,” says Nteo Nkoli, National Marketing Manager at Subaru South Africa. “For families, choosing a vehicle is about trust. Independent safety ratings, strong child-occupant protection scores, thoughtful vehicle design and technologies such as EyeSight all help give motorists confidence that their vehicle has been designed with that responsibility in mind.”
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