The new Subaru XV SUV and Holden Astra have scored resounding 5-star safety rating in ANCAP crash testing.
Subaru’s newly-facelifted SUV scored an impressive 35.80 out of 37 across all variants based off Impreza crash data from late 2016 (XV shares the same platform),
Impreza, platform for XV
while the Astra sedan scored a respectable 34.94 out of 37.
Astra sedan does not use the hatch crash data due to differing design, manufacturing and specification to the former, according to ANCAP CEO James Goodwin as reported in today’s CarAdvice story. Astra hatch scored 5 stars in November 2016 based on EuroNCAP crash testing.
The Subie managed 14.80 out of 16 in the frontal offset test and both cars scored a perfect 16/16 and 2/2 in the side impact and pole test respectively.
The frontal offset crash caught the new Astra out slightly, with more prominent driver and passenger chest injuries, and more significant lower leg injuries recorded by (anthropomorphic test devices) ATD dummies than in the XV.
While the XV comes with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of collision avoidance technology on all variants bar the base model, Holden’s Astra sedan is devoid of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) which is a cost-option available on the hatch variant.
“It is disappointing autonomous emergency braking is not available across the board on two new models,” said ANCAP CEO James Goodwin, “we continue to 
encourage consumers to ask for, and brands to offer, this potentially life-saving technology.”
ANCAP says manufacturers need to do better as of next year when AEB will be enforced on them for the sake of retail and fleet consumers.
“As our requirements become more stringent next year, it will not be possible for new models to achieve a 5 star ANCAP safety rating without an effective AEB system fitted as standard.”
Astra’s pedestrian score detailed improvements could be made for head impacts on the bonnet and the base of the windscreen, where the A-pillar meets the top of the firewall, could be improved. Similarly, the front bumper and leading edge of the Astra did well for leg impacts, except for the headlights. The XV also showed red impact readings in the windscreen base.
View ANCAP’s full Subaru XV technical report and Holden Astra sedan technical reports before selecting either as your mobile workplace. Learn more about ANCAP crash testing.
