UPDATED - No Subaru Models Make CR's 2024 Safest Vehicles List

Are Subaru vehicles among the safest new cars?

One of Subaru's core values is to build the safest cars for its customers. With all the new changes in safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), some Subaru models have not qualified for the IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ scores.

I recently reported that two more Subaru vehicles qualify for Top Safety Pick awards (Solterra and WRX). Subaru now has five models that are the safest. However, some models are still left out. Find out more in my report here. 

No Subaru models make the CR list this year.

A new report from Consumer Reports (CR), "The Safest Cars You Can Buy Right Now" ( by subscription), does not have any Subaru vehicles on its updated list. Why did CR leave Subaru off the new rankings?  Is there a problem with Subaru vehicles being unsafe? 

The answer is a resounding no. Subaru vehicles are still among the safest models you can buy. I contacted Consumer Reports to understand why Subaru vehicles were excluded from this year's safest cars list. Here is their updated response.

Initially, in my report, Sierra from Member Support at Consumer Reports said, "Thank you for contacting us. We value you as a member and appreciate you taking the time to write to us."

"The Subaru has fared well in our reliability survey, consistently ranking in the top 1-10 of all the manufacturers.  They were listed in the top 10 in our "Safest New Cars of 2023."

The link they sent me can be seen here. The link is for the safest 2023 model-year vehicles. 

Note that this report was UPDATED on September 20, 2024. My report is corrected with a new response from Consumer Reports.

James McQueen, Senior Communications Specialist at Consumer Reports, says, "The 2023 article that our member services team referred you to was not our safest vehicles list; it was simply a verbatim listing of the IIHS’s Top Safety Picks for 2023. It’s not directly comparable to our own 2024 Safest Vehicles List, nor is it an “updated list.”

James McQueen said, “We did not “drop” any Subaru models. No Subaru models qualified for this list because most 2024 model-year Subarus have blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning as optional equipment, as opposed to standard across the trim lines. The exception would be the Soltera, which comes standard with those features but is not a CR Recommended model and does not offer at least one year of free automatic crash notification.” 

Here are the specific criteria Consumer Reports used in selecting its 2024 Safest Vehicles List:

• CR Recommended.

• Excel in crash avoidance by earning good scores in our braking performance, emergency handling, rollaway protection, and usability tests.

• Standard highway-speed AEB, AEB with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross-traffic warning (RCTW). This means they have these protective features in every trim level, not just the priciest ones.

• Offer at least one year of free automatic crash notification (ACN).

• No vehicles that score below four stars in NHTSA’s crash tests. 

• No vehicles with scores of Marginal or Poor, the second-lowest and lowest scores, respectively, in any of the IIHS original crash tests.


End of update. 

In the IIHS's recent round of tests, the 2024 Subaru Solterra and 2024 Subaru WRX join the ranks of safest new cars. The Solterra EV and WRX sports car achieved a 'Superior' rating in pedestrian front crash prevention. 

Subaru has five models, earning the prestigious Top Safety Pick awards. 

Subaru has two 2024 model year top-tier winners who have earned Top Safety Pick+ awards.

• Subaru Ascent (TSP+ for four consecutive years)
• Subaru Solterra 

Subaru has three 2024 model year next-tier winners earning Top Safety Pick awards.

• Subaru Outback (TSP for 16 consecutive years)
• Subaru Impreza (TSP for 17 straight years)
• Subaru WRX 

Jeff Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer of Subaru of America, says, "Safety is at the heart of every one of our vehicles, and we're excited to add the Solterra and WRX to the growing list of Subaru models recognized by the IIHS this year with TOP SAFETY PICK awards."

Subaru of America says since 2013, Subaru has received a cumulative total of 72 Top Safety Pick+ awards, more than any other brand (as of September 2024).

It's getting more challenging to qualify for the IIHS awards.

For 2024, the IIHS modified its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards requirements. The new criteria for side impact protection, pedestrian front crash prevention systems, and moderate front overlap crash safety were established. 

Which Subaru models do not qualify for IIHS awards?

The Subaru Forester, Crosstrek, Legacy, and BRZ models have not qualified for awards under the new IIHS guidelines. 

Subaru will have to update its safety technology to comply with the new criteria set forth by the IIHS. Will the 2025 model year Subaru Forester, Crosstrek, and other Subaru vehicles meet the more challenging requirements? Stay tuned. 

IIHS president David Harkey underscores the ongoing evolution of safety standards, stating, "There's still progress to be made in the protection that vehicles provide for their occupants, as the introduction of the updated moderate overlap test shows."

Emily Thomas, PhD, safety manager at CR's Auto Test Center says,

"The safest cars don't just protect passengers in a crash. They may avoid a crash in the first place. They may also lower risks to pedestrians and people in other cars."

Do Subaru vehicles avoid crashes and protect pedestrians and bicyclists?

Subaru uses its next-gen EyeSight in every one of its 2024 model-year vehicles. EyeSight includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with a complete stop, lane departure warning, lead vehicle start alert, rear vehicle detection, blind-spot detection, lane change assist, and a rear cross-traffic alert.

Now Bicycles And Pedestrians Are Safer

Because many accidents with bicycles and pedestrians occur around an intersection, the new vision sensor will help detect children and bicycles entering the road suddenly from the side and automatically apply the brakes.

Does EyeSight help avoid crashes?

In the updated IIHS testing, the "Good"-rated Forester avoided a collision with the passenger car target at every test speed, avoided hitting the motorcycle target at 31 and 37 mph, and slowed by an average of 30 mph before hitting the motorcycle target in the 43 mph tests, says the IIHS. 

"The forward collision warning alerts also came more than the required 2.1 seconds before the projected time of impact in all those trials and those conducted with the trailer."

Find out more in my Subaru Forester Now Scores Best With 4 Small SUVs In Rear Crash Prevention report here. 

The next-generation Subaru EyeSight on the redesigned 2025 Forester has a wide-angle Mono Camera, making it the best safety technology available today. 

How Does EyeSight Work?

The new safety technology uses Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system, which processes the recognized information and first alerts the driver. Then, it applies brakes to avoid collisions with crossing bicycles and pedestrians when necessary. In case of an accident, the system helps to mitigate the damage.

With the new information from Consumer Reports above, I now know why they have no Subaru vehicles on their list for safest cars in 2024. 

Having covered the Subaru brand for two decades, I've witnessed the automaker's unwavering commitment to safety. Safety is not just a priority but a core value for Subaru, and they continuously enhance their EyeSight technology with each new generation of vehicles they produce. 

I anticipate Subaru Corporation's proactive approach in updating its models that do not currently qualify for the Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards. I am confident the Japanese automaker will soon achieve the top scores with their commitment to safety. Stay tuned, and I will bring you the latest Subaru safety score updates as soon as they are available. 

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Subaru