Subaru’s design philosophy of “Safety First” comes from the company’s roots in aircraft manufacturing, and we have been carrying out collision tests with consideration for pedestrian protection since the days of our first production vehicles (such as the Subaru 360 in the 1960s). Our “Primary Safety” concept considers safety from the primary stages of the vehicle’s design such as form and operation.
Our “Active Safety” concept aims to improve collision avoidance on the road. Our “Preventive Safety” concept strives to prevent accidents through the use of advanced technologies and our “Passive Safety” concept aims to protect passengers in the event of a collision. We have spent a long time fine-tuning our “All-Around Safety” system which protects people from any danger in any situation. We have been considering safety from many angles in order to deliver “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” to all passengers who ride in Subaru vehicles, and to achieve our ultimate goal of creating a traffic accident-free society.
Subaru safety assessments around the world
Our 'Primary Safety' concept is about building safety right into the foundation of your Subaru. We believe safety starts at the drawing board, which is why 'Primary Safety' considers essential design elements like the vehicle's overall shape and how all its core systems operate. This means thinking about things like visibility, comfortable driving positions, and intuitive controls from the very start. By focusing on these fundamental aspects of vehicle design, we create a naturally safer driving experience, reducing the chances of accidents before they even begin.
Recognizing that early detection of danger is crucial for accident prevention, Subaru focuses on design elements that maximize driver vision. This includes features like minimized chassis pillars for a wider windshield, wipers stored out of sight, and body shapes designed for clear lines of sight to improve the driver's awareness of the vehicle's dimensions. Furthermore, automatic headlamps and rain-sensing windshield wipers enhance visibility and driver focus in varying conditions, contributing to a safer driving environment for the driver, passengers, and other road users.
Subaru prioritizes "Driving Comfort" as an essential element for both safety and reducing driver fatigue. By providing a correct driving position that allows for natural movement, Subaru aims to enhance the driver's ability to react and control the vehicle, especially in evasive manoeuvres. To achieve this, Subaru vehicles feature adjustable driver's seats with electronic lifter, tilt, slide and reclining functions, along with tilt-adjustable telescopic steering wheels, catering to a wide range of body types. Furthermore, Subaru designs comfortable seats that balance shock absorption and support to minimize stress and fatigue during long journeys, ensuring passengers are firmly held in place even with vehicle movement. These ergonomic seat designs distribute weight evenly and contribute to an overall comfortable and safer driving experience.
Subaru emphasizes an "Intuitive Interface" to minimize driver distraction from navigation and climate controls, directly contributing to safer driving. To achieve this, Subaru strategically positions key interfaces: navigation and multi-information displays are placed high in the driver's line of sight, while frequently used controls like air conditioning and audio are located lower for easy reach. Furthermore, Subaru utilizes larger dials and intuitively shaped switches that can be operated by touch without requiring the driver to look away from the road. This thoughtful design extends to steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a high-mounted navigation screen, all working together to create a driving cabin that promotes driver focus on the road ahead.
'Active Safety' is all about improving collision avoidance on the road. Subaru has fine-tuned all the basic functions of a car - driving, turning and stopping to develop cars that offer exceptional stability and predictable control. For instance, if you need to brake suddenly, or if you start to drift out of your lane, 'Active Safety' features are there to help you maintain control and stay safe by reacting to driving conditions and supporting your actions behind the wheel.
Outstanding traction and reliable drivability with the Symmetrical AWD system, and suspension with excellent control capabilities for car behavior that the driver expects. A highly-rigid and lightweight body for surefooted driving and higher levels of risk avoidance. The Hill-start Assist function also helps to reduce driver fatigue while on the road.
Subaru's "Traceability" feature ensures smooth and predictable cornering even in slippery conditions. This is achieved through technologies like Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), which electronically monitors driving conditions and prevents skidding by selectively braking individual wheels to maintain stability. Taking this a step further, Active Torque Vectoring enhances cornering by applying brakes to the inner front wheel during turns, optimizing power distribution to the outer wheel. This results in smoother turning, increased steering responsiveness, and allows the car to faithfully follow the driver's intended path, improving risk aversion in challenging driving situations.
Subaru prioritizes "Stopping" power as a core safety element, designing brakes for quick response on diverse road surfaces to provide driver peace of mind and enhance risk aversion. This is achieved through features like Electric Brake-force Distribution (EBD), which dynamically optimizes braking power between front and rear wheels based on driving conditions and weight shifts for more reliable stopping. Additionally, Brake Assist intervenes in emergency situations to automatically increase brake pressure when it detects insufficient driver input, while Brake Override mitigates pedal misapplication by prioritizing braking over acceleration if both pedals are pressed simultaneously. Together, these braking technologies ensure responsive and effective stopping performance in various driving scenarios.
Our 'Preventive Safety' concept takes safety a step further by leveraging cutting-edge technologies to proactively prevent accidents. We believe in anticipating potential dangers and equipping your Subaru with smart systems that can intervene before a risky situation even develops. 'Preventive Safety' is all about using advanced innovations to provide an extra layer of protection. Therefore, Subaru has developed the stereo camera and radar for more than 20 years, making advanced safety technologies including "EyeSight Driver Assist Technology". Subaru continues to evolve in future to enhance enjoyment and peace of mind all-around.
Subaru is committed to driver safety, and that was the key objective behind the development of EyeSight, as avoiding a collision is the best way to remain safe on the road. Two cameras that function similarly to human eyes are used to process the surrounding environment in 3D.
In addition to other cars, the system can also recognise pedestrians and cyclists, and accurately determine their distance, shape and speed of travel. The system can assist drivers in a multitude of driving situations, including reducing collision damage or if possible, prevent the collision, reducing fatigue on extended drives, or stopping incorrect acceleration if the wrong pedals are pressed.
In case of the presence of collision risk, it warns a driver of danger. If there is not avoidance control, it applies a brake to reduce speed or stop automatically. If there is avoidance control, it applies a brake at maximum force quickly by “Pre-Collision Braking Assist.”
If the driver mistakenly selects drive instead of reverse when the car is stopped or traveling very slowly, and EyeSight detects an object in front of the car, Pre-collision Throttle Management emits warnings, flashes the lamp and restricts engine output. This may help the driver avoid a nasty mishap at the front.
*The system may not be activated depending on the shape of visibility of walls or objects in front of the car.
When driving in reverse, four sonar sensors on the rear bumper detect obstacles. When the vehicle detects a possible collision, the driver is alerted. If the driver fails to respond by pressing brake, etc., the brake is applied automatically to prevent collision or reduce the damage from collision.
EyeSight has transformed the concept of traditional cruise control. The stereo cameras operate in concert with the engine, transmission and braking systems to ensure that the car remains a set distance behind the car in front, making adjustments for distance. The system is also extremely convenient on long drives or peak hour traffic even in stop-and-go movement.
*Adaptive Cruise Control is a driving support system designed for to make driving on highways or expressways. The above feature may not operate as expected depending on various conditions including the road, weather, and car. This system does not provide the driver with an automatic driving function that is capable of handling all traffic conditions. Drivers must remember not to exceed posted speed limits. The adaptive cruise control range differs depending on the country.
Driving fatigue can lead to a driver unintendedly swaying around their lane. When the system detects that and the car's speed is approximately 60km/h or more, EyeSight provides the driver with an audible warning and indicator light to help stay on track. The driver also will be alerted if the system detects that the car does begin to stray into the next lane when driving at a certain speed.
EyeSight helps drivers keep up with the flow of traffic by emitting a sound and a flashing light if the car remains stationary when it detects that the car in front has taken off and traffic has started moving and other conditions are met.
Active Lane Keep is the function to reduce driver fatigue drastically. Stereo camera recognizes both sides of the lines of driving lanes when you drive on the highway or automobile roads, thereby this function enables the driver to avoid the lane departure by assisting steering.
Subaru realizes the blind spots minimization and clear night vision by advanced technologies. Our safety aims to prevent an accident, delivering greater enjoyment and peace of mind to passengers.
The sensor installed in the rear of the car body detects vehicles approaching from behind. The driver is warned of an approaching vehicle by the LED indicator on the surface of the door mirror or the alarm.
Passive Safety is our commitment to protecting you and your passengers in the unfortunate event of a collision. While we strive to prevent accidents from happening in the first place, 'Passive Safety' is the crucial factor on minimizing injury and maximizing survival if a collision is unavoidable. All the features designed to absorb impact and protect occupants during an accident, include robust body structures, airbags strategically placed throughout the cabin, and seatbelts engineered for maximum restraint. 'Passive Safety' is about ensuring that, even in the most challenging circumstances, your Subaru is designed to provide the best possible protection.
The design of this body features a ring structure connecting all pillars via the roof and floor, combined with the strengthened side rails and side sills linking the side of the body to create a cage that envelopes the central cabin. This design absorbs shocks efficiently from any direction in the event of an accident, providing the cabin with solid protection.
Disclaimer
Never drive the car relying solely on the system explained above alone. The system has been designed assist the driver in making decisions on the road, and to reduce the chance of accidents or damage due to accidents and driver stress. It was not designed to prevent drivers from failing to focus on the road ahead by driving inattentively or carelessly, nor was it designed to provide driving assistance under poor weather or visibility conditions. It was also not designed to prevent collisions from occurring under any conditions. Drivers are responsible for driving safely and shall comply with all traffic rules and regulations regardless of the fact that the car is equipped with the system. Drivers shall ensure that they are driving safely, and maintain a safe distance between the car in front, pay attention to their surroundings and driving conditions, and apply the brake pedal when necessary or take other measures to maintain a safe driving distance. When a warning is activated, drivers should pay attention to what is in front of the car and the surroundings, operate the brake pedal and take other action as necessary.
There are limits to the system recognition and control performance in addition to the outline provided here. Drivers must be sure to read the owner’s manual for each function before using the system, and always use it properly. Improper use may lead to failure of control performance, which could cause an accident.
These videos are for illustration purposes only and may differ from actual specifications.
If there are discrepancies between these outlines (including the videos) and the outline provided in the owner’s manual, the outline in the owner’s manuals shall prevail.
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