Subaru’s newest model, the Tribeca, has scored the maximum possible five stars in independent crashworthiness testing conducted by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

Tribeca, a luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV), follows the five-star path established by current generation Forester, Liberty and Outback.

The five-star rating applies to occupant protection.

Tribeca was unveiled today at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney and goes on sale next month.

It will be the largest vehicle in Subaru’s range and is available with five and seven-seat cabins.

Among Tribeca’s stand-out safety features are:

       ABS brakes with four-wheel discs and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)

       Brake assist

       Child seat anchor points

       Dual front, side and curtain airbags

       Front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters

       Heated wing mirrors

       Rear door child lock

       Reversing camera

       Ring-shaped reinforcements surrounding the passenger cabin

       Rollover sensor

       Seatbelt indicator lights – all seats

       Side intrusion bars

       Speed sensitive wipers

       Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive

       Three-point A/ELR rear centre seatbelt

       VDC – Vehicle Dynamics Control with Traction Control System

       Windscreen wiper de-icer



Tribeca underwent a frontal crash test at 64 km/h, where part of the vehicle hits a barrier, and a side impact test at 50 km/h.

It was also tested to assess likely injuries caused to pedestrians by the vehicle travelling at 40 km/h.

Tribeca underwent an optional pole test too, where the vehicle travelling sideways at 29 km/h strikes a round pole lined up with the driver’s head. This measures the effectiveness of head protecting side airbags and can result in extra points being scored.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: "Safety is an absolute priority for Subaru.

"The fact that we have so many five-star ANCAP rated vehicles in our range is proof of their engineering integrity.

"It’s unusual for a vehicle of Tribeca’s size to achieve such an outstanding result, which underlines its credentials as a safe car for larger families.

"Engineers from Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars, together with our own engineers from Subaru Australia, work closely to produce vehicles that are ideally set-up for Australian conditions. That’s reflected in this result."

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, all State governments, the New Zealand government and the FIA Foundation.