Forester And ASX Survive Tough ‘Small Overlap’ Crash Test

America's Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has introduced a test that the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) doesn't expect to adopt, but it's proving a strong marketing tool for carmakers. 

Those few that make the cut, that is. 

Known as the 'small overlap' test, the procedure replicates a collision with a tree, pole or parked car, striking a section of the vehicle's front at 40mph (64km/h). 

According to the IIHS, the test represents crashes that account for around 25 percent of serious road injuries and fatalities in the US.

The test has proven challenging for the current crop of new cars, with just two of the most recent 13 tested making it through with a pass. 

This time around, Subaru's brand-new Forester has made it through with a score of 'good', while Mitsubishi's ASX - known in the US as the Outlander Sport - achieved a rating of 'acceptable'.