Top Safety Pick + Top Safety Pick criteria

2021 Subaru Forester

small SUV / 4-door SUV

2021 Subaru Forester 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use
+

Other available safety features

  • Standard daytime running lights
  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning
  • Standard lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Subaru as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN1813
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Footrest (cm) 6
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm) 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Upper dash (cm) 3
Lower instrument panel (cm) 2

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1813
Head
HIC-15 316
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.78
Right 0.46
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.9
Right 2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 64
Right 71

How the driver-side small overlap front test is conducted

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Subaru as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1829
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Footrest (cm) 4
Right toepan (cm) 2
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 2
Right lower dash (cm) 2

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1829
Head
HIC-15 105
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.45
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 41
Right 38

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1829
Head
HIC-15 69
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.37
Right 0.53
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 33
Right 50

How the passenger-side small overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Subaru as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1825
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 5
Center (cm) 7
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 0
Rearward (cm) 0
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1825
Head
HIC-15 270
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.28
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.8
Femur force - right (kN) 0.8
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.33
Maximum tibia index - right 0.40
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.8
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 100
Right 42

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Subaru Forester 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head approached the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and a moderate risk of injury to the chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2113
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 5
Center (cm) 5
Right (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) -1
Right (cm) -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 0
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2113
Head
HIC-15 183
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.48
Right 0.37
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 77
Right 55

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2113
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.9
Compression (kN) 0.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 43
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 3.6
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.2
Right femur compression 0.2

How the updated moderate overlap front test is conducted

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Subaru as part of side crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1823
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -17.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1823
Head HIC-15 65
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 32
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.18
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.66
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.6
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.7
Combined force (kN) 2.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 86
A-P moment (Nm) 48

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1823
Head HIC-15 96
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 39
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 23
Average deflection (mm) 17
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.06
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.16
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.9
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.7
Combined force (kN) 2.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 89
A-P moment (Nm) 56

How the side crash test is conducted

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Subaru Forester 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection
The dummy's head contacted the C-pillar hard, through the side curtain airbag. The head protection is inadequate.

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

The dummy's head contacted the C-pillar through the side curtain airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2102
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2102
Head
HIC-15 107
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 23
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 34
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.44
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.64
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.8

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2102
Head
HIC-15 544
Peak gs at hard contact 81
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 1.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 56
Lateral force (kN) 2.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 32
Average deflection (mm) 26
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.79
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.41
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.8

How the side crash test is conducted

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Subaru Forester 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight 3,416 lbs
Peak force 17,392 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio 5.09

How the roof strength test is conducted

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 12
Distance below top of head (mm) -12
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 9.1
Head contact time (ms) 55
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 242

How the head restraint & seat test is conducted
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 128.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 56.7 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 81.8 m 13.2%
250m radius left curve, left edge 55.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 67.8 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 55.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 151.8 m
Straightaway left edge 151.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 86.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 77.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 70.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.6 m

How headlights are evaluated

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard EyeSight Driver-Assist System

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-21 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

How front crash prevention is evaluated

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard EyeSight Driver-Assist System

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-21 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 6 mph. A warning was issued 3.3 seconds before impact.

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration Long enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 52 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 72 dB
Difference between background and signal 19.8 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 55 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 72 dB
Difference between background and signal 16.7 dB
Dominant audio frequency 590 Hz

How seat belt reminders are evaluated

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim base
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor, a single lower anchor and the ability to borrow the second anchor from another position.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim base
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
G Good
A Acceptable
M Marginal
P Poor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
1 dedicated anchor and 1 that can be borrowed from seat 1
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 84
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 79
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 79
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes

How child seat anchors are evaluated