Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2016 Subaru Forester

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2016 Subaru Forester 4-door SUV

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

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard lane departure warning

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 2014-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2014 model year.

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 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.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, 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 CEN1303
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 10
Left toepan (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 4
Lower instrument panel (cm) 2

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1303
Head
HIC-15 127
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) no data
Extension bending moment (Nm) no data
Maximum Nij 0.00
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 1.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.35
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.3
Right 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 50
Right 47

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2014-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2014 model year.

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

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

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger's survival space was not maintained 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.

Despite extensive intrusion of the door hinge pillar and dashboard, risk of injury was moderate and limited to the right lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CN15006
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 29
Footrest (cm) 24
Right toepan (cm) 17
Center toepan (cm) 11
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 15
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 26
Upper dash (cm) 23
Right lower dash (cm) 21

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CN15006
Head
HIC-15 77
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 3.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 10
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 1
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.56
Right 0.86
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.0
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 129
Right 73

Driver injury measures

Test ID CN15006
Head
HIC-15 44
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.34
Right 0.24
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 55
Right 35

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2014-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test 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 VTF1301
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 2
Center (cm) 3
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) -2
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) -5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1301
Head
HIC-15 223
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 30
Maximum Nij 0.37
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.5
Femur force - right (kN) 1.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 3
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.48
Maximum tibia index - right 0.49
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.4
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 63
Right 50

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2014-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test 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 VTS1224
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1224
Head HIC-15 186
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 39
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 37
Average deflection (mm) 30
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.97
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.67
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.1
Combined force (kN) 2.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 85
A-P moment (Nm) -31

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1224
Head HIC-15 75
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 42
Lateral force (kN) 2.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 22
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.28
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.48
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 1.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 20
A-P moment (Nm) 75

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2014-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,352 lbs
Peak force16,585 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.95

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power cloth seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power cloth seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 23
Distance below top of head (mm) -2
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 14.5
Head contact time (ms) 58
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 347

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)

  • 2.5i Premium trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
  • 2.5i Limited trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
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 Some glare

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

The low beams created some glare.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 2.5i Premium trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
  • 2.5i Limited trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 89.7 m 8.9%
Straightaway left edge 41.0 m 8.9%
250m radius right curve, right edge 46.7 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 40.8 m 16.5%
150m radius right curve, right edge 47.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 38.0 m 12.9%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 178.8 m
Straightaway left edge 162.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 63.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • 2.5i Premium trim
  • 2.5i Limited trim
  • 2.0XT Premium trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
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 Some glare

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

The low beams created some glare.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 2.5i Premium trim
  • 2.5i Limited trim
  • 2.0XT Premium trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 89.7 m 8.9%
Straightaway left edge 41.0 m 8.9%
250m radius right curve, right edge 47.2 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 40.0 m 1.2%
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 35.9 m 0.8%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 178.8 m
Straightaway left edge 162.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 63.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • 2.5i Touring trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
  • 2.0XT Touring trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
Low-beam headlight typeHID reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
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 inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 2.5i Touring trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
  • 2.0XT Touring trim equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package
Low-beam headlight type HID reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 58.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 38.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.2 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.0 m None
150m radius right curve, left edge 52.9 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 38.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 160.5 m
Straightaway left edge 147.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 63.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 51.0 m

Trim level(s)

  • 2.5i Touring trim
  • 2.0XT Touring trim
Low-beam headlight typeHID reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
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 inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp right curve and inadequate on the gradual right and both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 2.5i Touring trim
  • 2.0XT Touring trim
Low-beam headlight type HID reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 58.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 38.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.4 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 36.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 48.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 39.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 160.5 m
Straightaway left edge 147.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 63.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 51.0 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional EyeSight

Package name

  • Optional EyeSight

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2014-16 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

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-17 models built before February 2017

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim2.5i Premium
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 and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

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

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim2.5i Premium
Seat type cloth
1 2 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
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 48
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 49
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
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 Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 59
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 53
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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