​​14 Subaru Models Chosen by IIHS and Consumer Reports as Best Cars for Teens​

When you are looking for a new or used car for your first-time driver, there is no better place to start than to look at the safest and most reliable cars over the past 10 years. When doing that research, you will undoubtedly find that Subaru offers some of the best choices for younger drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports.  

Best and Most Reliable Brand for 2025 

Subaru has been named the 2025 Best Overall Automotive Brand and 2025 Most Reliable Brand by Consumer Reports. This means that the brand’s new vehicles are expected to be some of the best on the market in terms of reliability, cost to maintain, safety, technology, and more.  

Fourteen Subaru Vehicles Are Great for Teen Drivers 

Furthermore, the IIHS and Consumer Reports jointly announced that 14 new and used Subaru models are among the best of the best for teen drivers to keep them safe as they learn how to drive saying, “This list is designed to help buyers narrow their search to vehicles that can help drivers avoid crashes and also protect vehicle occupants in the event that a crash does occur,” said Jennifer Stockburger, Director of Operations at Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. “That combination increases the odds of keeping new drivers safe as they gain experience.” 

How The Groups Evaluate Cars for Teens 

As an ongoing collaboration since 2020, both Consumer Reports and IIHS look at vehicle cost, size, reliability, handling in emergency situations, braking performance, and overall safety ratings. This year, both companies named 14 new and used Subaru models as the best for teen drivers.  

Breaking Down the Lists 

When it came to used cars, Consumer Reports and IIHS broke the rankings down into “Best” and “Good”. You will notice that older cars appear on the “Good” list because, while they have good safety and reliability ratings, they are older and don’t have the latest safety features, such as automatic emergency braking. However, all of the models listed have the top “Good” rating in IIHS crash testing.  

The Lists 

New Vehicles: 2025 Model Year  

• Subaru Ascent 

• Subaru Forester (excluding Wilderness trim) 

• Subaru Solterra 

Used Vehicles: Best Choice  

• Subaru Ascent (2021 or newer) 

• Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (2019) 

• Subaru Forester (2019 or newer) 

• Subaru Legacy (2020 or newer) 

• Subaru Outback (2020 or newer) 

Used Vehicles: Good Choice 

• Subaru Crosstrek (2014 or newer) 

• Subaru Forester (2014-2018) 

• Subaru Impreza sedan or 5-door (2014 or newer) 

• Subaru Legacy (2015-2019) 

• Subaru Outback (2015-2019) 

A Word from Subaru 

“Subaru of America is proud to have fourteen of our vehicles recommended as safe and affordable options for younger drivers by IIHS and Consumer Reports this year,” said Jeff Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Safety is at the core of what we do at Subaru. Being recognized by IIHS and Consumer Reports as a top choice for teen drivers reinforces our ongoing commitment to building vehicles families can trust.” 

The Safest Cars for More Than a Decade 

Over the past 13 years, Subaru vehicles have received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ award 74 times. This shows that Subaru not only prioritizes engineering and building cars at a modest price for customers but also produces vehicles that will continue to keep occupants safe for years to come.  

Ewing Subaru of Plano Has Your Next Vehicle Waiting for You 

Ewing Subaru of Plano offers all of the vehicles on the joint IIHS and Consumer Reports list for new and used cars, so come down and test drive some of the best and safest cars you will ever drive.  

Why Choose Ewing Subaru of Plano 

At Ewing Subaru of Plano, we have some of the best deals on new and used vehicles. With hundreds of vehicles to choose from, our sales team and finance department will work hard to get you the best price. Our service department will work tirelessly to ensure your vehicle is in the best possible shape to keep your travels safe and enjoyable.  

We look forward to serving you soon!