Subaru’s all-new 2015 WRX and its more extreme STI variant are fun behind the wheel, but they’re incredibly safe as well. The cars have just been rated Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) after the institute’s latest round of crash testing, meaning they scored the highest ratings in all of the various crashworthiness tests including the new small overlap front test.

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Other tests include moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. The speeds at which the tests are conducted vary between 20 and 40 mph. However, in the roof strength test, which simulates a rollover, a metal plate is pushed against one side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of four times the vehicle's weight before reaching five inches of crush.

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According to the testers, the structure of the 2015 WRX held up well in all the tests and the driver's space was maintained as well. The dummy's movement was well-controlled, and measures taken from the dummy indicated a low risk of any significant injuries.

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