​​2026 Forester, Ascent, and Outback Earn IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ Award​ 

Branding image experts will tell you that your brand should be known for a single thing in consumers’ minds. For Subaru, that could be its commitment to all-wheel drive. It could also be known for its top ranking in Consumer Reports’ “Who Makes the Best Cars” listing. But let neither overshadow Subaru’s dedication to safety. This has been the automotive brand with the most consistent TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And that claim continues, as Ewing Subaru of Plano is proud to announce that the 2026 Forester, Ascent, and Outback have all earned IIHS’s highest designation, the TOP SAFETY PICK + (TSP+) award. 

It’s worth noting that the model isn’t simply passing the same tests each year. IIHS regularly adds new tests and ramps up the judging criteria to reach its top designation. For 2026, they added a new vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test. It includes test runs at 31, 37, and 43 mph (50, 60, and 70 kilometers per hour). It also evaluates multiple vehicle types, including an average passenger car, a motorcycle target, and a semitrailer.    

“Earning IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards for 2026, given the enhanced testing criteria, is a defining achievement for Subaru,” said Jeff Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “The awards reflect our ongoing commitment to safety and to delivering vehicles our customers trust to protect them and their passengers in everyday driving.” 

Models that receive an “Acceptable” rating for a revised pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation can still be a Top Safety Pick. However, in the case of the Subaru models, all three received a “Good” rating (their highest) for all Crashworthiness, Crash Avoidance & Mitigation, and Seat Belt & Child Restraint categories.  

“Improving crash avoidance is key to achieving our 30×30 vision of reducing U.S. crash deaths by 30% by 2030,” says IIHS President David Harkey. “Stronger structures and better seat belts save lives, but the safest crash is the one that never happens.” 

All three models come standard with the award-winning Subaru EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. The system includes advanced active safety features such as Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, plus additional Driver Assist and visibility technologies, including Emergency Stop Assist, Pre-collision Brake Assist, and more. 

To pursue a car that is as dedicated to protecting you as you are to enjoying it, test drive a new Forester in any of its six trim levels at Ewing Subaru of Plano.