The Highlander Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
The Highlander Hybrid (except LE/XLE/Bronze) offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Crosstrek Hybrid only offers a rear monitor.
Compared to metal, the Highlander Hybrid’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has a metal gas tank.
Both the Highlander Hybrid and the Crosstrek Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid weighs 613 to 878 pounds more than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid:
|
Highlander Hybrid |
Crosstrek Hybrid |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
321/243 lbs. |
252/363 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.6 inches |
.7 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
28.4% |
44.6% |
Neck Stress |
179 lbs. |
195 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid:
|
Highlander Hybrid |
Crosstrek Hybrid |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
55 |
138 |
Chest Movement |
.3 inches |
.7 inches |
Abdominal Force |
79 lbs. |
196 lbs. |
Hip Force |
300 lbs. |
346 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
114 |
303 |
Spine Acceleration |
37 G’s |
58 G’s |
Hip Force |
152 lbs. |
428 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Spine Acceleration |
41 G’s |
49 G’s |
Hip Force |
664 lbs. |
824 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.