Subaru B9 Tribeca awarded top crash test rating

Subaru’s new B9 Tribeca – which enters dealer showrooms this month – has been awarded another top-scoring crash test rating.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) has given the premium SUV a maximum 5-stars in its rigorous independent accident assessment programme.

ANCAP’s 5-star overall evaluation comprised frontal and side-impact crash tests and follows a similar top rating by America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In addition, Subaru’s new flagship also performed with distinction in the NHTSA’s tough roll-over tests, earning 4-stars.

The BMW X5-sized Tribeca was given a low 16 per cent chance of rolling over and a ‘No-tip’ dynamic test result.

This compares with an average 30 per cent chance of overturning among all US-market SUVs and a range between 12 and 19 per cent for passenger cars.

In the latest ANCAP tests, the Tribeca scored 33.07 out of a maximum 37 points. For example, the Subaru’s performance in side-impact tests was outstanding with a maximum 4-stars for head, chest, abdomen and pelvis.

ANCAP is an independent programme supported by Australian and New Zealand automobile clubs, the state government road and transport authorities of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia and the Australian Federal and New Zealand governments.

Priced from a highly competitive £28,995 on-the-road, the new Tribeca features a 3.0 litre 245 PS six-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine, five-speed automatic gearbox and full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive and Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (SVDC).

UK Tribecas are available in two 5-seat trim levels comprising 3.0 S5 and 3.0 SE5 and one 7-seat luxury-spec version, the 3.0SE7.

Standard equipment for all models includes dual-zone air-conditioning, eight-way powered front seats, front, side and curtain airbags, six-disc CD autochanger with nine speakers and MP3 playback and a leather-covered steering wheel with remote audio controls.

This is the third Subaru safety award this year as the 2006 Model Year Legacy saloon and Sports Tourer were given the first-ever ‘Top Safety Pick Gold’ award.

America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) scored the Legacy ‘Good’ in every category – a first for a midsize-class car.