Subaru Forester earns top rating in latest IIHS rear crash prevention test

by Subaru | July 19, 2024

•2024 Forester received highest possible rating of 'Superior'

•Test addresses costly repairs in low-speed collisions while backing up

•Forester features available Reverse Automatic Braking, an active safety feature that helps prevent rear-end collisions

Subaru of America, Inc. announced today the 2024 Subaru Forester received the highest possible rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for their latest rear crash prevention test for small SUVs. Of the eight small SUVs evaluated, Forester was one of only four that received a 'Superior' rating.

Jeff Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc.: 'Safety is at the heart of every Subaru vehicle, and I'm proud our Forester excelled in this test by the IIHS. Our vehicles are designed to not only keep occupants and nearby pedestrians safe but also to stay on the road longer and avoid costly repairs for our owners.'

IIHS first tested rear crash prevention systems in 2018 and has periodically added to its ratings since then. The rating scale includes 'Basic,' 'Advanced,' and 'Superior' ratings. Vehicles with only parking sensors that issue warnings, rear cross-traffic alerts, or both, earn a Basic rating. For vehicles with rear automatic emergency braking (AEB), their rating is determined by how their systems perform in three tests using a passenger vehicle target with different approach angles and one test using a bollard, which represents a pole or garage pillar.

The complete evaluation comprises 24 test runs conducted at 4 mph, with some scenarios weighted more heavily than others. Systems are scored based on the number of runs that either avoid the target or reduce speeds to slower than 1 mph before hitting it. Though the low-speed crashes that rear AEB addresses don't typically cause serious injuries, they can result in thousands of dollars in damage. Nearly 30% of collision claims in 2022 were for rear points of impact costing more than $4,000, according to figures from the IIHS-affiliated Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). In contrast, rear AEB costs as little as $600 as an optional feature on some vehicles.

David Aylor, Vice President of Active Safety, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: 'The rear AEB evaluation is designed to test how well these systems prevent the most common backing crashes. These are challenging scenarios in which a pole or another vehicle is behind you and off to the side. Meanwhile, you are backing up and sometimes turning at the same time.'

The Subaru Forester offers a suite of standard and available active safety features, including EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology; Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert; DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System; and Reverse Automatic Braking.

Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) is designed to help avoid collisions or reduce collision damage when reversing the vehicle. Using sonar sensors mounted in the rear bumper cover, the system can detect possible obstacles behind the vehicle. If an obstacle is detected in the reversing direction, RAB will notify the driver with a warning sound and may apply the vehicle's brakes to help prevent or minimize the impact.

The Subaru Forester delivers the optimal blend of SUV capability and car-like ride and handling with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, and Vehicle Dynamics Control. The standard 8.7 inches of ground clearance for Forester (9.2 inches for Forester Wilderness) is greater than that of many SUVs, yet the compact SUV maintains a comfortably low step-in height for both front and rear passenger entry. The Forester is available at Subaru retailers nationwide.

For more information about IIHS testing, please visit https://www.iihs.org/.

Photo credit: Subaru
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