Top Safety Pick

2025 Subaru Forester

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles other than the Wilderness trim

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Standard system
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use	+

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention
Optional rear automatic braking

Key

Good
Acceptable
Marginal
Poor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Subaru Forester Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 Forester conducted by Subaru. These ratings do not apply to the Wilderness trim of the Forester.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall driver-side 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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2408
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Footrest (cm)	9
Left toepan (cm)	5
Brake pedal (cm)	3
Parking brake (cm)	0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Upper dash (cm)	3
Lower instrument panel (cm)	3

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2408
Head
HIC-15	137
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)	19
Maximum Nij	0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm)	15
Femur (kN)
Left	0.4
Right	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	2
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.88
Right	0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.9
Right	1.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	40
Right	37

Passenger-side

Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Subaru Forester Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 Forester conducted by Subaru. These ratings do not apply to the Wilderness trim of the Forester.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall passenger-side 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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2410
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Footrest (cm)	6
Right toepan (cm)	4
Center toepan (cm)	3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Upper dash (cm)	3
Right lower dash (cm)	3

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2410
Head
HIC-15	89
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.3
Extension bending moment (Nm)	13
Maximum Nij	0.13
Chest maximum compression (mm)	14
Femur (kN)
Left	0.4
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.39
Right	0.28
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.6
Right	1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	58
Right	41

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2410
Head
HIC-15	77
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm)	7
Maximum Nij	0.13
Chest maximum compression (mm)	15
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.27
Right	0.38
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.2
Right	1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	25
Right	51

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Subaru Forester 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2025 model year. These ratings do not apply to the Wilderness trim of the Forester.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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 remained a safe distance from the front seatback.

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF2452
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	6
Left (cm)	9
Center (cm)	12
Right (cm)	7
Brake pedal (cm)	5
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	2
Rearward (cm)	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF2452
Head
HIC-15	131
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)	16
Maximum Nij	0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm)	27
Femur (kN)
Left	1.0
Right	0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.69
Right	0.45
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.0
Right	1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	71
Right	81

Test ID	CEF2452
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion	no contact
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.6
Compression (kN)	0.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion	no contact
Chest
Chest index	41
Shoulder belt tension (kN)	4.4
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression	0.2
Right femur compression	0.2

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Subaru Forester Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 Forester conducted by Subaru. These ratings do not apply to the Wilderness trim of the Forester.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2415
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-17.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2415
Head
HIC-15	103
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Compression (kN)	0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	22
Lateral force (kN)	0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	26
Average deflection (mm)	24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.66
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.31
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	4.0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2415
Head
HIC-15	193
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.4
Compression (kN)	0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	48
Lateral force (kN)	2.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	34
Average deflection (mm)	24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.42
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.48
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	2.6

About the side crash test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

Base trim
Premium trim
Sport trim
Limited trim
Touring trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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:

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 fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. 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 sharp left curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Base trim Premium trim Sport trim Limited trim Touring trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2025 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	120.3 m	None
Straightaway left edge	67.7 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	90.6 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	77.2 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	75.5 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.7 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	136.9 m
Straightaway left edge	124.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	83.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	86.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	73.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	63.6 m

Trim level(s)

Wilderness trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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:

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 never exceeded glare limits.

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

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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Wilderness trim
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	100.9 m	None
Straightaway left edge	61.5 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	90.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	58.8 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	71.7 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.3 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	140.0 m
Straightaway left edge	130.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	88.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	89.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	75.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	70.4 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

Rating applies to 2025 models

System details

standard EyeSight

of the following trim lines: Base trim, Premium trim, Sport trim, Limited trim, Touring trim

Overall evaluation

Passenger car target

Test run	Speed reduction	Timely warning?
31 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
31 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
37 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
37 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
43 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
43 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided

Motorcycle target

Test run	Speed reduction	Timely warning?
31 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
31 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
37 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
37 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
43 mph/target centered	38 mph
43 mph/target off-center	37 mph

Semitrailer

Only warning is tested with the semitrailer.

Test run	Timely warning?
31 mph/target centered
37 mph/target centered
43 mph/target centered

Rating applies to 2023-25 models

System details

standard EyeSight

of the following trim lines: Wilderness trim

Overall evaluation

Passenger car target

Test run	Speed reduction	Timely warning?
31 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
31 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
37 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
37 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
43 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
43 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided

Motorcycle target

Test run	Speed reduction	Timely warning?
31 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
31 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
37 mph/target centered	Collision avoided
37 mph/target off-center	Collision avoided
43 mph/target centered	32 mph
43 mph/target off-center	29 mph

Semitrailer

Only warning is tested with the semitrailer.

Test run	Timely warning?
31 mph/target centered
37 mph/target centered
43 mph/target centered

About the front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

Rating applies to 2025 models

System details

standard EyeSight

of the following trim lines: Base trim, Premium trim, Sport trim, Limited trim, Touring trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Includes high-beam assist credit

Crossing child — day

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

Crossing adult — night

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult — night

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 12 mph.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 3.2 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph and a warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

System details

standard EyeSight

of the following trim lines: Wilderness trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Includes high-beam assist credit

Crossing child — day

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

Crossing adult — night

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult — night

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle failed to slow.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 3.4 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 1 mph and a warning was issued 2.7 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2025 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2025 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation	+ extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim	Base
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
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

Position	Rating
1
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
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
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

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	13
Clearance angle (degrees)	80
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	13
Clearance angle (degrees)	81
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Yes

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	14
Clearance angle (degrees)	64
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
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Yes

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	14
Clearance angle (degrees)	82
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	10
Clearance angle (degrees)	84
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Yes

About the child seat anchor evaluation

Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h	56 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h	68 dB
Difference between background and signal	12.6 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h	60 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h	68 dB
Difference between background and signal	9.0 dB
Dominant audio frequency	1175 Hz