Both the all-new Subaru WRX and WRX STI earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for the cars' good performance in each of the organization's crash tests, including the small overlap front test.
According to the IIHS, this was the first time it has tested both the WRX and the WRX STI, and although both models share some design elements, "there are sufficient differences for the vehicles to be rated separately."
For the small overlap test, the structure of the vehicles held up, with hardly any intrusion into the driver's space. The dummy's movement was reportedly well-controlled, with the measures taken from the dummy indicating "a low risk of any significant injuries." The side airbag also deployed with enough forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The WRX and the WRX STI also supposedly earned good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests.
"Safety is one of our brand tenets and so we are extremely proud to have earned a TSP rating for our performance models," said Subaru of America president and chief operating officer Thomas Doll. "We are committed to providing engaging driving together with safety, and this award is testament to that commitment."
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