Top Safety Pick criteria

2006 Subaru Impreza

small car / 4-door sedan

2006 Subaru Impreza 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria Rating
Moderate overlap front: original test
G
Side: original test
G
Head restraints & seats
G

Key

GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Moderate overlap front: original test

Tested vehicle: 2002 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS 4-door
Rating applies to 2002-07 models built after September 2001

The Subaru Impreza was redesigned for the 2002 model year. Imprezas manufactured after September 2001 include structural changes to improve occupant protection in frontal crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door). The Saab 9-2X was introduced in the 2005 model year and discontinued after the 2006 model year.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of an Impreza with the structural changes in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier.

The frontal offset crash test ratings also apply to the station wagon version of the Impreza, beginning with 2002 models manufactured after September 2001. The 9-2X was available only as a wagon.

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID CEF0126
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 5
Left (cm) 10
Center (cm) 10
Right (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 10
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) 1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID CEF0126
Head
HIC-15 138
Peak gs at hard contact negligible
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 21
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.4
Femur force - right (kN) 2.8
Knee displacement - left (mm) 3
Knee displacement - right (mm) 5
Maximum tibia index - left 0.44
Maximum tibia index - right 0.68
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.8
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 75
Right 56

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Tested vehicle: 2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4-door with standard front seat-mounted combination head and torso airbags
Rating applies to 2006-07 models

The Subaru Impreza was redesigned for the 2002 model year. Side airbags designed to protect drivers' and front passengers' heads and torsos became standard beginning with 2006 models (optional in 2004-05 models). The Saab 9-2X was introduced in the 2005 model year, equipped with standard side airbags using the same design as in the Impreza. The 9-2X was discontinued after the 2006 model year.

Beginning with 2006 Impreza and 9-2X models, a reinforcement was added to the the pillar behind each rear passenger door to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes.

The side impact crash test ratings also apply to the station wagon version of the Impreza, beginning with 2006 models. The 9-2X was available only as a wagon.

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
The dummy's head was hit by the pillar behind the rear passenger door. This pillar is required by federal standard to provide some protection for occupants' heads.
A
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES0606
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -5.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID CES0606
Head HIC-15 325
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 55
Lateral force (kN) 2.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.24
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.88
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.0
Acetabulum force (kN) 3.2
Combined force (kN) 5.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0
L-M moment (Nm) 195
A-P moment (Nm) 23

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID CES0606
Head HIC-15 577
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 1.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 39
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 43
Average deflection (mm) 34
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.71
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.77
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.7
Combined force (kN) 3.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0
L-M moment (Nm) 107
A-P moment (Nm) -44

About the original side crash test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: All seats AHR manufactured after Sept 2004

Overall evaluation
G
Dynamic rating
G
Seat/head restraint geometry
G
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type All seats AHR manufactured after Sept 2004
Geometry
Backset (mm) 40
Distance below top of head (mm) 42
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 10.9
Head contact time (ms) 64
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 42
Max neck tension (N) 462

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.