2024 Forester Only Small SUV to Earn Top Rating in Latest IIHS Front Crash Prevention Test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is known for conducting crash tests on models and rating them. Their tests are often more challenging than those conducted by the Federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSA). As manufacturers developed technologies designed to prevent collisions, like Subaru’s EyeSight® system, IIHS started testing them for effectiveness. After looking at accident impact data, IIHS has changed its tests to reflect what is happening in the real world. Thus, they recently updated their Front Crash Prevention Test and then tested ten compact crossovers to see how they measured up. Of the models tested, only the 2024 Subaru Forester received their top rating for crash prevention. Subaru of Plano gives you the details. 

The IIHS Test

The original vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluation was developed when the technology was still in its infancy. As a result, the performance requirements only addressed low-speed crashes of 12 and 25 mph. However, by 2022, all tested vehicles were earning the top rating of superior, prompting the need for an updated test. The new test includes impacts at higher speeds of 31, 37, and 43 mph (50, 60, and 70 km per hour). Additionally, IIHS introduced new targets to simulate real-world scenarios, including a simulated motorcycle and an actual semi-trailer. The motorcycle tests were conducted both when the motorcycle was in the center of the lane and offset to one side to test the accuracy of the sensors. 

In the tests, an engineer drives the car toward the targets at the specified speeds and depends solely on the crash prevention systems to stop the vehicle. For the passenger car bag and simulated motorcycle and rider models, the test vehicle will impact the target if it fails to stop. For the semi-trailer, the driver will steer out of the lane at the last moment to avoid impact. 

Evaluations and Ratings

Vehicles are evaluated positively if they issue warnings 2.1 seconds before impact and by how much they reduce speed by the time of impact. IIHS likely initiated the test with compact crossover because it is the most popular vehicle category in the U.S. and most of the vehicles tested are their respective brand’s best-selling models. Here is how the models were rated:

2023-24 Subaru Forester Good

2023-24 Honda CR-V Acceptable

2023-24 Toyota RAV4 Acceptable

2023-24 Ford Escape Marginal

2023-24 Hyundai Tucson Marginal

2023-24 Jeep Compass Marginal

2023-24 Chevrolet Equinox Poor

2023-24 Mazda CX-5 Poor

2023-24 Mitsubishi Outlander Poor

2023-24 Volkswagen Taos Poor

Alone in receiving a “Good,” which is IIHS’s top rating, the Forester’s forward collision warning alerts also came earlier than the required 2.1 seconds before the projected time of impact in all impact tests. It also successfully avoided impact with the passenger car target at every test speed and also avoided hitting the motorcycle target at 31 and 37 mph, and slowed by an average of 30 mph before impacting the motorcycle target in the 43 mph tests. 

The Honda CR-V’s Acceptable rating resulted from failing to slow consistently in the motorcycle 43 mph trials. The Marginal-rated Escape avoided the car and trailer at 31 mpg but didn’t seem to recognize the motorcycle at all. The four poor-rated vehicles failed multiple tests. 

The Best Gets Better

It is worth pointing out that these tests were conducted on the 2024 Forester, which is at the last of its design cycle. The new 2025 Forester is just reaching the Subaru of Plano inventory now, features improved EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology that includes updated software and a wider view from the camera and sensors. The changes are specifically designed to react faster and identify cyclists and pedestrians more quickly at intersections.

The next time you see a Subaru advertisement touting its safety, you know that IIHS backs up its claims. If you want such safety consciousness built into your car, check out the new models at Subaru of Plano.