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(NAPSI)-When shopping for a vehicle that will keep you and your family safe on the road, it pays to start at the top.
For example, the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca, a progressive new SUV, has earned the highest rating in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program crash tests: five stars in the frontal and side-impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions.
The B9 Tribeca is equipped with high levels of passive and active safety equipment. Passive safety systems are the systems that help protect occupants in the event of a collision. Active safety systems are designed to help the driver avoid hazardous situations.
Passive safety
In the B9 Tribeca, the foundation of passive safety is the Ring Frame Reinforced structure, with a front-end structure that disperses collision energy in three directions. This design forms a series of "rings" around the passenger compartment, providing excellent protection in a variety of collision types. Hydroformed center pillars enhance side-impact protection, which is further bolstered by side-impact door beams.
Active safety
Designing a vehicle for active safety provides a strong sense of security by giving the driver control and maneuverability. Subaru has designed the B9 Tribeca with the crisp, agile handling that can help to provide outstanding accident avoidance. To that end, active safety in the B9 Tribeca begins with its "right size" proportions and reasonable weight, then moves to its dynamic handling systems-notably, the most advanced version of Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
The system combines Variable Torque Distribution All-Wheel Drive with Vehicle Dynamics Control, an advanced stability control system, and four-wheel traction control to endow the B9 Tribeca with outstanding nimbleness and all-weather grip.
About the rating system
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) provides consumers with vehicle safety information, primarily front and side crash test results, and, more recently, rollover resistance ratings, to aid consumers in their vehicle purchase decisions. The test results are relayed to consumers via an easily recognizable star rating system-from one to five stars, with five being the highest. The NCAP crash tests are conducted at speeds higher than required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for both side impacts, at 38.5 miles per hour, and full frontal barrier impacts, at 35 miles per hour. Results can be found at www.safer car.gov.
For additional information about the B9 Tribeca, visit www.subaru.com.