Subaru Quietly Attains Its Secret Goal, This Will Now Affect Every New Buyer
Subaru has reached a goal they've been silently striving for over the years. This achievement, which they never publicly announced, is a testament to their dedication. It's a wonder Subaru hasn't made a big fuss about it. So, I'll do the honors.
You Can Thank The BRZ And WRX (and Subaru's engineers)
The achievement is that EyeSight is now standard on every Subaru model in its lineup, including the WRX and BRZ. I found out about it by accident. I was researching the WRX trims and asked if all WRX trims would have the standard safety technology.
The answer is yes, and there's more.
I asked Subaru of America for a comment on the achievement. Subaru says, "Starting with the 2024 model year, all Subaru vehicles (this includes manual transmission) are equipped with standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology." This is a first for the automaker.
Yes, It's A Big Deal
Subaru's new technology has paved the way for this achievement. They recently developed EyeSight compatibility for their manual transmission vehicles, which was the final piece of the puzzle. This innovative step has made it possible for EyeSight to be standard on every Subaru model.
The first Subaru manual transmission vehicle to get EyeSight was the new 2023 BRZ sport coupe. How did they make it work? You can read my report here.
The next and final vehicle to get EyeSight and manual transmission compatibility was the 2024 WRX TR and the new 2025 WRX tS trim level. Find out more in my report here.
The Manual Has Been Dropping Like Flies
Subaru first dropped the manual transmission on the Forester, Outback, and Legacy, which then had standard EyeSight. The Crosstrek and Impreza were next to get the manual gearbox dropped from their lineup, and then they had standard EyeSight, too. But they weren't done yet.
You Can't Drop The Manual In Your Sports Cars
The BRZ and WRX were the last two Subaru models without standard EyeSight. Subaru wasn't about to drop the manual shifter in its sports cars. It would be like having cake with no ice cream.
Starting with the 2024 model year, every Subaru vehicle in its lineup has standard EyeSight driver-assist safety technology on all trim levels.
Subaru says, "While retaining its high performance in collision avoidance, collision damage mitigation, and reducing the driver's workload, the new EyeSight system is now combined with control tailored to manual transmission vehicles' driving and operating characteristics. This allows the system to operate in a wide range of real-world situations, providing a high level of driving enjoyment and peace of mind."
So, how good is EyeSight driver assist safety technology, and why do you need it?
The new generation EyeSight includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with 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.
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.
Subaru Never Lost Sight Of Its Goal
Subaru was committed to making EyeSight with automatic emergency braking a standard feature across all its car lines. Subaru states, "Through these efforts, we aim to achieve zero fatal road accidents in 2030." Find out more from my report here.
Subaru Corporation says this involves zero fatal road accidents among Subaru vehicle occupants and people involved in collisions with Subaru vehicles, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Subaru also wants every one of its vehicles to achieve the highest safety scores, and EyeSight is a crucial technology. Subaru has confirmed that it has developed the technology to make this happen. As a result, the entire Subaru lineup of cars and SUVs will earn the highest safety ratings, the automaker's primary goal.
Subaru was quiet about its achievement, but now you know.
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I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News reporter 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