KBB Says New BRZ And Legacy Are Now The Safest Subaru Models

The Subaru brand is known for its safe all-wheel-drive vehicles. A new report from Kelley Blue Book says the 2023 Subaru BRZ and Legacy are now the safest new models.

Which Subaru models are the safest? A new report from Kelley Blue Book now says the safest new vehicles of 2022 now include the 2023 Subaru BRZ sports coupe and the 2023 Legacy sedan. They base the rankings on the latest IIHS and NHTSA coach scores. BRZ and Legacy earn a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

What about the 2022 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, and Ascent?

KBB doesn’t include the 2022 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek Hybrid, and Ascent, which earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award. The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza earn Top Safety Pick awards.

photo credit: Competition Subaru

The 2023 Subaru BRZ

KBB says, “Unrated by NHTSA, the BRZ breaks with Subaru pedigree with its rear-wheel drive. Completely redesigned for 2022, the updated BRZ continues its mission as a sporty driver engineered to tame twisty two-lanes. Subaru doesn’t adorn it with safety features in BRZ’s Premium entry-level state. In fact, beyond auto on-off LED headlights and seven airbags, the BRZ doesn’t claim any of our sought-after safety features. (To earn the IIHS TSP+ rating, the BRZ requires the 6-speed automatic transmission).”

The automatic transmission costs $1,600 and gains the EyeSight Driver Assist bundle of safety features and high-beam assist. EyeSight includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, and lane-departure warning.

Stepping up to the Limited ($31,490), it adds adaptive LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The automatic transmission ($1,800) adds high-beam assist and the EyeSight safety technology. KBB recommends the adaptive headlights and advanced safety features on the Limited trim with the automatic transmission “is the way to go.”

What is the price of the 2023 BRZ?

The 2023 Subaru BRZ comes in two trim levels with two transmission options. The BRZ Premium with a 6-speed manual gearbox has a starting price of $29,615. BRZ Premium with an automatic transmission starts at $33,115. The Limited (6-speed manual) has a starting MSRP of $32,115. The Limited with an automatic transmission starts at $33,255.

All pricing includes destination and delivery fees. Destination and delivery fees increased to $1,020 (+$25) on all BRZ trim levels.

2023 Subaru Legacy

KBB says, “No matter the trim level, every Legacy comes standard with all-wheel-drive. The Subaru Legacy blends a roomy cabin with impressive fuel economy and a go-just-about-anywhere attitude. It won’t win a beauty contest, and its base grade only features a few features from our safety checklist. They include eight airbags, LED headlights, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-centering assist.”

“We recommend you step up a notch to the Premium grade ($25,745). That alone doesn’t increase the safety features. However, spending another $1,000 on the option package gains blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and LED fog lights, among other goodies. Another $265 gets you an auto-dimming rearview mirror,” says KBB.

What is the price of the 2022 Legacy?

The 2022 Legacy sedan comes in six trim levels. We have included the price increase on each trim after the new pricing. The 2022 midsize sedan starts at $24,490 for the base trim, Premium ($26,740), Sport ($30,285), Limited ($31,440), Limited XT ($35,990), and Touring XT ($37,690). Destination and delivery fees are included in the pricing above ($995).

The Subaru brand is known for its safe all-wheel-drive vehicles. A new report from Kelley Blue Book says the 2023 Subaru BRZ and Legacy are now among the safest new models.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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