THE latest Subaru Legacy has been officially named Japan's safest car after being awarded the Grand Prix 09/10 in its home country's New Car Assessment Programme.

It's the third consecutive year in which a Subaru model has taken the jury's top honours following in the footsteps of the Impreza in 2007 and Forester in 2008.

The Legacy was rated as the safest passenger car in the collision safety performance tests for driver and front passenger, while also achieving the highest rating in the pedestrian head protection test.

This latest accolade comes hot on the heels of various other international crash test achievements as the Legacy also won the top five-star rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme, was awarded five stars for occupant safety in the latest Australasian tests and was named ‘2010 Top Safety Pick' by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety in the US.

Subaru UK Marketing Director, Kenyon Neads said: "It's clear from the number of top scores awarded to the Legacy in crash tests right around the world that it is one of the safest cars on sale today.

"When you combine these impressive safety scores with our trademark permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, world renowned boxer engines and the Legacy's superb interior space and practicality, the result is a unique and highly desirable family car proposition."