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More Details On 9 Small SUVs That Fail New IIHS Test And One That Excels

Why is the 2024 Subaru Forester standing tall above the other small SUVs? The IIHS says the Subaru Forester is the best in its new vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test. Here's why.
2024 Subaru Forester

Subaru of America announced that the 2024 Subaru Forester received the highest possible rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its new, tougher vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test. This news does not surprise me because I've extensively covered the automakers' commitment to safety. 

Subaru says, "As part of its ongoing efforts to improve vehicle safety, IIHS introduced the new vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test to address the higher-speed crashes that occur at higher speeds and those in which the struck vehicle is a motorcycle or large truck. To assess current model performance, the IIHS tested ten small SUVs, including the 2024 Subaru Forester." 

Check Out The 10 Small SUVs 

I've listed the ratings of the ten small SUVs recently tested by the IIHS, from best to worst. All models are 2023-2024 model year vehicles. As you can see, the Subaru Forester is the only small SUV to earn the top "Good" rating in the updated test.

"This is a vital update to one of our most successful test programs," IIHS President David Harkey said. "The vast majority of new vehicles now come with automatic emergency braking, and our research shows the technology prevents as many as half of all front-to-rear crashes. This new, tougher evaluation targets some of the most dangerous front-to-rear crashes that are still happening."

Good Models

Acceptable Models

  • Honda CR-V - Acceptable
  • Toyota RAV4 - Acceptable

Marginal Models

  • Ford Escape - Marginal
  • Hyundai Tucson - Marginal
  • Jeep Compass - Marginal

Poor Models

  • Chevrolet Equinox - Poor
  • Mazda CX-5 - Poor
  • Mitsubishi Outlander - Poor
  • Volkswagen Taos - Poor

"We are thrilled that the Forester shined in this new tougher test," said Jeff Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc. "Our top priority with Forester, and all our models, is to provide customers with vehicles meeting the highest standards in safety."

Subaru And Forester Have A Long History Of Safety

The Subaru Forester has been an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK for 17 years running (2007-2023)

Subaru says it has received more IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards than any other brand since 2013 (as of April 2024).

Does Eyesight Reduce Accidents?

A study conducted in Japan by the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA) found that Subaru vehicles equipped with EyeSight had fewer accidents than non-equipped vehicles.

Significant reduction in accidents

The ITARDA investigation found that Subaru vehicles equipped with the EyeSight safety system had an 80 percent decrease in rear-end collisions between cars and 50 percent fewer pedestrian accidents. There was a 60 percent decrease overall in all driver accidents. This study was conducted with EyeSight-equipped Subaru vehicles from 2010 to 2014 in Japan in over 10,000 surveyed accidents.

It's Not All Good News For Subaru

I recently covered the IIHS Top Safety Pick awards for 2024. Only four Subaru models make the cut and earn Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards.

The Subaru Ascent is the only Top Safety Pick+ winner this year, and Subaru now has only three Top Safety Pick winners. The 2024 Subaru Outback, 2024 Subaru Impreza, and 2024 Subaru Solterra are Top Safety Pick winners. 

That's a significant drop from last year's nine vehicles with the highest Top Safety Pick+ awards.

The IIHS Raises The Bar

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. So, Subaru still has some work to do. 

In this year's round of tests, the 2024 Subaru Forester stands tall above the other small SUVs. The IIHS says the Forester is the best small SUV in its new vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test. 

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK 

Is safety a factor for you when considering a new small SUV purchase? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this new small SUV safety story. See you tomorrow for my latest report.

Watch Small SUV crash avoidance systems struggle in new test - IIHS News

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News and Subaru reporter since 2012. I've invested over 30 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 X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

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photo credit: Subaru

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