New Subaru Forester Just Failed Consumer Reports’ Latest Safety Testing

This is a story about Consumer Reports not Subaru. If I wanted to read their garbage I wouldn’t come here.

Your bias towards the Outback is more than present in most of your writings. It's clear that you hate the Forester but love the Outback. Your headline today: “New Subaru Forester Just Failed Consumer Reports’ Latest Safety Testing”.

The article that you refer to from CR mentions Subaru and also the Outback. It doesn't even mention the Forester. But yes, Driver Focus is available on upper end Subaru's. And it's not good - got it. But to even hint that the Forester failed the latest safety testing is wrong and just plain bad journalism. The reality is CR rates the Forester as one of safest small SUVs. Period!

But you often include mistaken information in your articles.

My takeaway from this - Consumer Reports grading system is pointless. Detracting from a vehicles safety score because a system can be turned off? May as well detract from a vehicles score because a driver could ride on bald tires, or run with worn out brake pads, or burnt out headlights. What, should the vehicle refuse to be driven if any of those conditions exist?

At what point is the DRIVER going to be responsible?

I read the CR article and it doesn’t say anything about Forester or Legacy failing; just the Outback. Can you clarify where you read this information from? Thanks.

The sensationalism from Torque News is quite obvious. This article is nothing more than click bait, and is more of an biased opinion than it is journalism or actual news. Consumer Reports is reaching, and lose credibility in my opinion. They want to become the authority of safety but, they're quickly becoming a nuisance and annoying. It doesn't matter if the feature can be turned off. It's there for those that choose to use it. I'm glad Subaru gives the owner that purchased the car options, unlike manufacturers that force auto start/stop down your throat. I'm not buying anymore CR magazines and I just removed Torque News from my feed.

I can turn stability control off and drift in the snow. Does it get deducted points for that as well?

Well, I personally see advantage in having a chance to shut intrusive apps and systems off.

Hello, Long time Subaru Customer and Employee. Where has freedom gone? CR is punishing Subaru for giving the ability to the consumer for the car THEY OWN that they shouldn’t be able to turn off the (DMS). First off it was really about safety and not control they wouldn’t dock them. That’s stemming into taking away control of your own features and forcing manufacturers’ to do so. With the DMS system sometimes when wearing a mask or beanies or such the system can confuse you for looking away even when you are not… giving you an audible tone and visual to “stay alert” which could potentially get annoying. This is the reason Subaru has given the ability to their clients. Subaru has always been great for giving the consumer the ability to have a very raw driving experience or have all your safety systems on. Point being CR has lost a lot of respect when that report came out. Manufacturers and dealers will boy cot. Forester is still the safest compact SUV on the road with its ring shape reinforcement and SGP body. CR is pushing manufacturers to give consumers LESS options when it comes to disabling things like Driver mitiagation which could very well make a lot of buyers very very uncomfortable. The system essentially is watching your every movement. OF COURSE it should be an option its not the manufacturers car is the OWNERS !!! Why is CR basically putting Subaru in a corner to take away ability from customers because lord knows Subaru will do anything to be the “safest” on the road. DONT GIVE IN SUBARU WE STILL LOVE YA! Screw these Liberal/Dictator agenda’s.

So they lose points for letting the owner shut off a system that isn't even available on most vehicles. Doesn't sound like a fail for customers. More like a zonk for cr and torque news. Being top rated from cr will soon mean nothing.

Subaru has always sucked .no man would buy one .and besides that I can share my own love .I don't need phony charity scammers to sell cars .

if Subaru could just build decent cars that were good .and forget tree hugging and phony emotional sales schemes they might actually get some respect.

The system works just fine. Subrau didn't pay the bribes necessary to make the grade issued by a proven biased group of thieves.
This is an advertisement for consumer reports. An aged, useless "review" organization that is the precursor to the YouTube and TicTok influencer.
Your hesitancy to report that or your inability to print it due to either ignorance or being on their payroll is a testament to the state of journalism today
You fit right in.
You can't expect folks to hang their head in shame when they have none to speak of.

Agree completely. Great clickbait headline. So not getting the 2 magical points in this new category means it failed.

Subaru sucks! They treat their associates that build their terrible cars like ass (Subaru of Indiana Automotive). It must be a small dick thing with the management. Especially small dick McTaggert! Your shit stinks assholes ;)