Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2023 Subaru BRZ

small car / 2-door hatchback

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2023 Subaru BRZ 2-door hatchback
2022 Subaru BRZ shown

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

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

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional 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 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Subaru BRZ Premium 2-door

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 (formerly known as the Toyota 86) were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market.

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

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN2201
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Footrest (cm) 11
Left toepan (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 8
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
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 CEN2201
Head
HIC-15 99
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 6
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.44
Right 0.47
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.8
Right 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 125
Right 53

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Subaru BRZ Premium 2-door

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 (formerly known as the Toyota 86) were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 BRZ conducted by Subaru.

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 VTP2205
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 12
Footrest (cm) 9
Right toepan (cm) 4
Center toepan (cm) 3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 7
Right lower dash (cm) 5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2205
Head
HIC-15 295
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.30
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 4.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 5
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.44
Right 0.69
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.6
Right 2.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 55

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2205
Head
HIC-15 109
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.38
Right 0.23
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 2.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 34
Right 56

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Subaru BRZ Premium 2-door

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 (formerly known as the Toyota 86) were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 BRZ conducted by Subaru.

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 VTF2113
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 4
Right (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) 0
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF2113
Head
HIC-15 243
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.30
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.8
Femur force - right (kN) 0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.41
Maximum tibia index - right 0.79
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 53
Right 57

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Subaru BRZ Premium 2-door

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 (formerly known as the Toyota 86) were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 BRZ conducted by Subaru.

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 VTS2115
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2115
Head HIC-15 443
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 35
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 41
Average deflection (mm) 36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.77
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.78
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.2
Combined force (kN) 2.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 160
A-P moment (Nm) 87

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2115
Head HIC-15 128
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 39
Lateral force (kN) 1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 29
Average deflection (mm) 19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.60
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.40
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.5
Combined force (kN) 0.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.6
L-M moment (Nm) 96
A-P moment (Nm) 31

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2022-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited 2-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,869 lbs
Peak force16,314 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.69

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 24
Distance below top of head (mm) 31
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 14.7
Head contact time (ms) 67
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 27
Max neck tension (N) 554

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

Headlights

Ratings are given for 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Limited trim equipped with CVT package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED 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

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Limited trim equipped with CVT package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 146.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 74.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 74.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 69.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 63.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 152.5 m
Straightaway left edge 137.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 78.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 76.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 65.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • Limited trim equipped with Manual Transmission package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?No
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

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Limited trim equipped with Manual Transmission package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-23 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 146.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 74.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 74.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 69.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 63.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 152.5 m
Straightaway left edge 137.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 78.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 76.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 65.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • Premium trim equipped with CVT package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
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

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the gradual left curve and on the gradual right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premium trim equipped with CVT package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 143.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 76.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.6 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 151.6 m
Straightaway left edge 138.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 63.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.1 m

Trim level(s)

  • Premium trim equipped with Manual Transmission package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
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

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premium trim equipped with Manual Transmission package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-23 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 143.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 76.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.6 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 151.6 m
Straightaway left edge 138.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 63.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.1 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional EyeSight

Package name

  • Optional CVT

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2022-23 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • 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.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • optional EyeSight (Pre-Collisioni Braking System)

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2022-25 models equipped with CVT package

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph.

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 35 mph. A warning was issued 3.3 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong 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 64 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 73 dB
Difference between background and signal 9.2 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 64 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 74 dB
Difference between background and signal 9.3 dB
Dominant audio frequency 584 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLimited
Seat type suede

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

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLimited
Seat type suede
1 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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
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
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) 2-4
Force (lbs) 1
Clearance angle (degrees) 78
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 5
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 64
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 2
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation