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

Work for Torque News, follow on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook.

Which automakers make the safest cars? Subaru is considered a top safety car brand but only ranks sixth-best in a new report. Check out the leading automakers.

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 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.

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. 

My Must-Read Top Picks

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 blogSubaruReportAll Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierlFacebook, 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!

Please leave your comments below, share the article with friends, and post X to your followers! 

photo credit: Subaru USA

Submitted by Irene (not verified) on November 28, 2023 - 8:32AM

Permalink

I love my Outback. Safe and secure and sturdy. Had a Forrester before it. It was my workhorse. Moved three houses’ furnishings with it. Long distance travel the best!💜👏👏👏

Agreed! The list is null and void without Mercedes. I was hit in the back in my 2013 GLK by a commercial truck and barely felt the impact. Agreed on Subaru Outback is everything. I love it!

Submitted by Ken H. (not verified) on November 29, 2023 - 12:42PM

Permalink

I'm a Subaru owner of a '15 Crosstrek and a '20 Forester. Both have Eyesight and it has paid for itself many times over. I run Michelin X-Climate 2 tires on the Forester and Yokohama on the XTrek. Both have done very well in the snow and general driving. In another couple of years, I'll trade the XTrek in for a newer Subaru, although it still runs great with only 80k miles on it.

Submitted by Robert Leibowitz (not verified) on November 30, 2023 - 10:47PM

Permalink

I own a 2017 forester touring model and it has a remote start that will turn off when I open the door to get in to my car and then I have to restart the engine again. I find this to be very annoying. Why bother having a remote start? Also the cargo area could use more light.
Robert Leibowitz

Submitted by David Radzieta (not verified) on December 1, 2023 - 4:46PM

Permalink

Nissan Leaf is among the lowest fatality rates of any car, truck, or SUV. Qualifies for a $3750 tax credit too.