Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) provides consumers with vehicle safety information using a four-level rating system.

In the latest 2010 assessment, a new component on roof strength to measure protection in a rollover was added as criteria to be awarded the Top Safety Pick award. Because of this stringent new requirement for the vehicles evaluated to have a strong roof, the winners of the 2010 "Top Safety Pick" narrowed down to 27, compared to 94 in 2009.

The "Top Safety Pick" award recognises vehicles that, in IIHS testing, do the best job of protecting people in the front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes. Its frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 64 km/h (40 mph) frontal offset crash tests.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test where the side of the vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 50 km/h (31 mph). The effectiveness of the head restraints is evaluated in the rear crash protection. Winners of the award must also have electronic stability control.

"To be the only manufacturer with all vehicles awarded the IIHS 2010 "Top Safety Pick" is recognition of the high standards of innovation and engineering that goes into each Subaru product," said Ms. Hannah Tan, Regional Marketing Manager for Motor Image Group. "Many people know that Subaru delivers great driving experiences, so I am truly thrilled to see Subaru being recognised for its safety by a prestigious professional body like the IIHS."

Subaru will further enhance its renowned safety performance through the refinement of its distinctive technologies and continue to build cars that are safe, durable, reliable and fun-to-drive.