Subaru WRX Is Safest Compact Performance Car In America; Why Not STI?

The newly-remodeled 2018 Subaru WRX is rated the safest compact performance car in America, but why not the STI? Subaru announced the 2018 Subaru WRX along with the 2018 Impreza, Legacy, and Outback earned the 2018 TOP SAFETY PICK + award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Why doesn’t the new 2018 WRX STI also get the award, and how does the performance car compare with the VW Golf R, Honda Civic Type R, and Ford Focus RS?

Performance fans can feel safe in crash protection when behind the wheel of the 2018 WRX. It gets the top IIHS award when equipped with the brand’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and LED Steering Responsive Headlights. EyeSight is only available on WRX with the CVT automatic transmission. Subaru can’t install it on the 6-speed manual cars. It’s why the 2018 WRX STI doesn’t get the highest safety award, although the STI still gets high marks from IIHS.

How does WRX compare with the competition?

How does the newest WRX compare with its main competition, VW Golf R, Honda Civic Type R, and Ford Focus RS? The 2018 Subaru WRX gets the highest marks for the driver-side, passenger-side, moderate overlap front and side, roof strength, headrest, and seats crashworthiness tests. It gets the highest superior rating for front crash prevention,. It also gets highest rating for headlights, and acceptable for child seat anchors (Latch) ease of use.

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf R hatch scores highest marks for the driver-side, not rated for passenger-side, highest marks for moderate overlap front and side, roof strength, headrest, and seats crashworthiness tests. It gets the a lower advanced rating for front crash prevention. It gets rated poor for headlights, and good for child seat anchors.

The 2018 Honda Civic (Type R) gets highest marks for the driver-side, not rated for passenger-side, highest marks for moderate overlap front and side, roof strength, headrest, and seats crashworthiness tests. It gets a superior rating for front crash prevention, and is rated poor for headlights, and not rated for child seat anchors.

The 2018 Ford Focus (RS) scores acceptable for the driver-side, not rated for passenger-side, highest marks for moderate overlap front and side, roof strength, headrest, and seats crashworthiness tests. It’s not rated for front crash prevention, and is not rated for headlights and acceptable for child seat anchors.

Overall testing by IIHS says the 2018 Subaru WRX is rated the safest compact performance car in America. It received the highest possible rating in front crash prevention when equipped with EyeSight and gets the highest TOP SAFETY PICK+ award.

Photo credit: Subaru USA