Subaru Outback 2022 achieves highest ANCAP safety rating on record

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When Subaru launched the Outback earlier this year its engineers confidently proclaimed the high-riding wagon would score five stars under the current ANCAP protocols and they have now been proven right.

The Australian vehicle safety authority released its report on the safety of the sixth generation Outback after it was crash tested by its overseas counterpart Euro NCAP while ANCAP’s local testing centres remain closed in several states due to Covid-19 lockdowns.

The ANCAP safety rating applies to all 2021 Outback models and onwards.

ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said the Outback sets a new benchmark for vehicles tested under the current criteria, which was introduced in 2020 and will be updated again in 2023.

“The Subaru Outback has comprehensively impressed, achieving the highest scores we’ve seen so far when testing to our current protocols,” she said.

While many vehicles are able to achieve a five-star rating, ANCAP also records a percentage score for how well it performed across a number of areas.

The Outback recorded 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 91 per cent for child protection, 84 per cent for vulnerable road user protection (such as pedestrians and cyclists), and 96 per cent for its crash prevention safety systems.

Those scores outperform rivals such as the Toyota Kluger and Kia Sorento large SUVs, while the more comparable Volkswagen Passat Alltrack has not been tested under the latest criteria but did achieve a five-star rating in 2015.

Within the report, assessors praised the Outback for its driver monitoring system and the addition of rear autonomous emergency braking, both of which are standard on the base model and up.

Curiously, the lack of a centre airbag to prevent front passengers from colliding in an accident was not necessary for the Outback or the Kluger to achieve their high scores.

Subaru Outback 2021: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Outback AWD: $39,990
• Outback Sport AWD: $44,490
• Outback Touring AWD: $47,790