You'll Be Glad You Have A New Subaru Forester And Ascent Feature This Summer

The 2020 Subaru Forester and Ascent come with a feature that could prove to be extremely valuable this summer. Why doesn’t Outback come with it?

Subaru wants to be the safety leader and they brought a new Rear Seat Reminder in the 2020 Forester compact SUV and Ascent family hauler models. It’s a new feature that could prove to be extremely valuable this summer. As outside temperatures warm up, the interior of a car can become like an oven. Heatkills.org says “When temperatures outside range from 80 degrees to 100 degrees, the temperature inside a car parked in direct sunlight can quickly climb to between 130 to 172.”

CNN Health reported an average of 37 children die trapped in hot cars every year, and Consumer Reports says fifty-two children died after being left in hot cars last year. Many automakers are installing seat reminder systems in vehicles as standard equipment. It offers an extra level of safety for busy parents. For the 2020 model year, all Subaru Forester and Ascent trims will come with a new Rear Seat Reminder.

How does the Rear Seat Reminder work?

The new feature will give the driver a reminder to check the rear seat before exiting the SUV. It’s designed to assist in preventing a child or a pet from accidentally being locked and trapped in the vehicle.

Subaru says the system will not be able to physically sense the presence of children or pets in the rear seat area, but it will turn on if one of the following conditions is met: the vehicle is started within 30 minutes after a rear side door is opened and closed, a rear side door is opened and closed when the vehicle is running and stationary, the vehicle is turned off and back on again within 30 minutes, and the rear side doors remained closed.

The Rear Seat Reminder will alert the driver with an audible sound after the vehicle is turned off and will display a warning message in the Combination Meter Display, reminding the driver to check the rear seat area. It could also be a good reminder to check for valuables or electronic devices left in plain sight on shopping trips or leaving your vehicle in a secluded area while going on a hike.

If you buy a 2020 Subaru Forester or Ascent, they both come standard with the new Rear Seat Reminder. The new Rear Seat Reminder is not offered on the redesigned 2020 Subaru Outback yet. Look for Subaru to add the safety feature on all 2021 Outback trim levels.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!

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Photo credit: Subaru