Subaru Has Only One IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Winner, Forester, Crosstrek Drop Off The List

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Thanks to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Subaru now only has one Top Safety Pick+ winner. Last year, they had nine with the highest scores. Why did Subaru fall so far?

Subaru used to have nine Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ winners, but what a difference one year makes. Subaru's new safety scores look dismal thanks to the IIHS's new stricter requirements for better protection for back seat passengers and improved pedestrian crash avoidance systems. 

Subaru has been known for building the safest vehicles in the industry, and it's one reason why I drive one. Should customers worry about buying a new 2024 Subaru Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, or another vehicle? Keep reading, and I will answer the question.

It doesn't look good for Subaru vehicles on the surface.

Last year, Subaru had nine vehicles with the highest Top Safety Pick+ awards. In 2024, Subaru only has one Top Safety Pick+ winner: the 2024 Subaru Ascent 3-Row SUV. Subaru lost eight models to the new, more demanding IIHS requirements.

Subaru of America tried to put their spin on the new 2024 model year awards, but the Camden, N.J. automaker took a significant punch to the gut. And it had to hurt. I cover the IIHS awards annually, and here are more results and bad news for the 2024 model year Subaru vehicles.

Here's what Subaru said 

It was hard for Subaru to be optimistic about the dismal results, but they managed to make a positive statement. President and Chief Operating Officer of Subaru of America, Jeff Walters, said, "Subaru's commitment to safety is renewed daily in the cars and SUVs we deliver to our customers. With tougher criteria again for 2024, we're proud to be recognized by the IIHS this year with Top Safety Pick awards."

Can it get any worse?

The 2024 Subaru Outback midsize SUV, Subaru Impreza compact hatchback, and Subaru Solterra electric SUV all earned the Top Safety Pick award. Last year, the three models earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award. 

The 2024 Subaru Outback is the Camden, N.J. automaker's top-selling model and is typically sold to a more seasoned demographic who highly value safety. It's a significant hit for the midsize SUV. Does it mean the Outback is unsafe? Not at all. It's just that the IHS has made it tough on all automakers. The Outback is one of many models to drop in the IIHS scoring. 

It gets much worse for Subaru.

Subaru's top two selling SUVs took the biggest hit in the new IIHS test scores. The 2024 Subaru Forester compact SUV and the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV do not qualify for a Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick awards. They get shut out of the top safety models this year. Both models earned the top honors last year. 

MY TAKE

The IIHS says, "We followed the tougher requirements we introduced last year with another major update to the award criteria in 2024," said IIHS President David Harkey. 

Subaru customers should not be concerned that Subaru vehicles are unsafe because they are safe.

The new stricter requirements that the IIHS instituted this year for side impact protection, pedestrian crash prevention systems, and moderate front overlap tests were put in place to push the automakers to improve their safety systems even more.  

Subaru will update its safety technology to comply with the new criteria set forth by the IIHS. Look for the 2025 and 2026 model year Subaru Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and other Subaru vehicles to meet the more challenging requirements. 

This is the latest information regarding the Subaru safety scores from the IIHS. I'll keep you updated with any new information.

Until then, visit torquenews.com/subaru regularly and bookmark the page for my latest updates.

What about you? Will the safety scores deter you from buying a new Subaru? Let us know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the Subaru safety technology 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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Watch Safest vehicles to start 2024 meet tougher criteria - IIHS News

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.

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photo credit: Subaru USA

Submitted by Jack E. (not verified) on February 28, 2024 - 10:01AM

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I drove Subaru Foresters for 25 years, but I just got a 2024 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD. Not only does the newly-designed 2024 Kona have better features than any Subaru, but the Kona is a 2024 Top Safety Pick+.

This topic and this reporting is why Torque News is my go to source for Subaru news. This report is alarming. I will be test driving a new 2024 Subaru Forester this Saturday 3/9. I can easily wait a few years to buy another new vehicle but this information makes that decision just that much easier. I look for safety first, reliability second and vehicle design third. It is hard to believe that these safety numbers could change so dramatically in just one year. Spin or no spin on this topic from executives, I will be waiting until these safety figures change.

Today's cars are all extremely safe. They can change the requirements again and that's not going to make current cars unsafe just not meeting new standards they weren't built to meet. They will eventually be adjusted to do so and then the regulations will change again.