The 13 Safest Car Brands - Subaru Is Only 6th Best

Which brands make the safest vehicles? U.S. News Autos looked at each automaker's average U.S. News safety score across its entire model range to answer that question. They've excluded brands with only two models or only two models with U.S. News safety scores because those automakers have limited information.

I have covered why Safety technology is a core value for Subaru vehicles, but they only rank the sixth best. 

Safest Car Brands according to U.S. News rankings

1. Genesis
2. Volvo
3. BMW
4. Lexus
5. Mazda
6. Subaru
7. Hyundai
8. Volkswagen
9. Ford
10. Audi
11. Infiniti
12. Kia
13. Toyota

What does U.S. News say about Subaru?

U.S. News Average Safety Score: 9.60/10

U.S. News says, "Owner treasure Subaru's vehicles because of their outdoorsy capabilities. The line includes cars and SUVs with a down-to-earth, practical focus."

"Nothing is more practical than safety, reflected in the attributes of Subaru's model line. For instance, the Ascent has an excellent 9.8 U.S. News safety score out of 10. This model matches a spacious cabin and standard all-wheel drive with driver aids like adaptive headlights and lane-centering assist. The NHTSA gave the Ascent a perfect five out of five stars for overall crash protection."

"Another strong choice is the Crosstrek, which comes standard with evasive steering assist and pedestrian and cyclist detection."

Subaru Just Dropped An Inferior Feature On New Models To Get The Best IIHS Safety Score via @SubaruReport @torquenewsauto https://t.co/t1YSJcUJS9 pic.twitter.com/IIMfWFftRf
— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) October 28, 2023

Subaru is considered a top safety car brand by the IIHS and NHTSA but only ranks sixth-best in the U.S. News new report. Safety is synonymous with the Subaru brand. Subaru's models are Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick winners. Subaru has a goal to have zero fatal accidents by 2030. 

A closer look reveals that Subaru ranks among the best mainstream (non-luxury) car brands. You don't have to buy an expensive luxury vehicle to get the best safety technology. Genesis, Volvo, BMW, and Lexus score better but will cost considerably more than a Subaru Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Ascent, and other Subaru models.

How does EyeSight make Subaru vehicles safer? A study by Subaru Corporation based on data from Japan's Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA) has revealed the accident rate of EyeSight-equipped vehicles is as low as 0.06% in Japan. A similar study in the U.S. conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found the safety system reduces rear-end crashes with injuries by up to 85 percent in U.S. EyeSight-equipped vehicles.

IIHS Reveals The Safest New Cars This Year And How Subaru Scores 5 Top Pickshttps://t.co/gKJzJSzfJ6
— Marion Subaru (@MarionSubaru) February 24, 2023

When customers consider a car brand for safety today, they should check out the 2024 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, Ascent, Solterra, and other Subaru models equipped with the automaker's EyeSight safety technology. 

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru safety story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to new Subaru models, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

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• 7 Subaru Winter Driving Features And One That's Still Missing On Many Models

Check out this winter tire report: Winter Tires vs All-Season Tires: When All-Season Tires On Your Subaru Is The Worst Idea in Winter.

I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time - It’s called the “Subaru Report.” Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: Subaru USA