Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2021 Subaru WRX

small car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2021 Subaru WRX 4-door sedan
2019 Subaru WRX 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 (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

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 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Subaru WRX Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru WRX was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Although the car shares some of its design elements with the Subaru Impreza, there are now sufficient differences for the WRX to be rated separately.

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.

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 CEN1418
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 10
Footrest (cm) 12
Left toepan (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 6
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1418
Head
HIC-15 116
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 6
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.64
Right 0.66
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.0
Right 2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 47
Right 77

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2018-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Subaru WRX Limited 4-door 4wd

The Subaru WRX was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Although the car shares some of its design elements with the Subaru Impreza, there are now sufficient differences for the WRX to be rated separately. Beginning with 2018 models, the passenger-side front-end structure, upper A-pillar, lower hinge pillar, and floor were reinforced to improve occupant protection in passenger-side small overlap crashes.

Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test 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 VTP1708
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 7
Right toepan (cm) 7
Center toepan (cm) 6
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 3
Right lower dash (cm) 3

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1708
Head
HIC-15 108
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 47
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.54
Right 0.55
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 36
Right 45

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1708
Head
HIC-15 101
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 34
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.59
Right 0.62
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 71
Right 54

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Subaru WRX Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru WRX was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Although the car shares some of its design elements with the Subaru Impreza, there are now sufficient differences for the WRX to be rated separately.

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

Action shot taken during the moderate overlap frontal crash test.

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

Small greasepaint marks on the side curtain airbag show that the dummy's head motion was well controlled as it moved forward into the frontal airbag and then back toward the seat during the crash.

Forces on the lower left leg were high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF1403
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 5
Left (cm) 3
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF1403
Head
HIC-15 373
Peak gs at hard contact 80
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.39
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.7
Femur force - right (kN) 1.6
Knee displacement - left (mm) 2
Knee displacement - right (mm) 3
Maximum tibia index - left 0.60
Maximum tibia index - right 0.56
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 5.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 67
Right 47

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2017-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Subaru WRX Premium 4-door 4wd

The Subaru WRX was redesigned for the 2015 model year. Although the car shares some of its design elements with the Subaru Impreza, there are now sufficient differences for the WRX to be rated separately. Beginning with 2017 models, the side curtain and side thorax airbags were modified to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes.

Two tests of the WRX were conducted, one of a 2015 model by the Institute and the other of a 2017 model by Subaru. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structure ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.

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 VTS1610 CES1404
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -13.0 -13.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1610
Head HIC-15 340
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.5
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 41
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 29
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.55
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.51
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 3.0
Combined force (kN) 4.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.1
L-M moment (Nm) 145
A-P moment (Nm) 75

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1610
Head HIC-15 252
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 34
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.80
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.48
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.8
Combined force (kN) 1.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0
L-M moment (Nm) 151
A-P moment (Nm) -32

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Subaru WRX Premium 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,420 lbs
Peak force17,641 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.16

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 22
Distance below top of head (mm) 0
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.5
Head contact time (ms) 57
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 379

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

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Limited trim equipped with Navigation with High Beam Assist 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 the right side of the road and fair on the left side. 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 the right side of the road and inadequate 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 straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Limited trim equipped with Navigation with High Beam Assist package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 98.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 52.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 70.9 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 67.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 55.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 128.8 m
Straightaway left edge 108.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 78.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 86.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 70.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 75.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • Limited trim
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 the right side of the road and fair on the left side. 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 the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 98.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 52.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 70.9 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 67.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 55.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 128.8 m
Straightaway left edge 108.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 78.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 86.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 70.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 75.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • Base trim
  • Premium trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
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 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 never exceeded glare limits.

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)
  • Base trim
  • Premium trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 84.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 31.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 43.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 34.9 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 36.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 31.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 162.0 m
Straightaway left edge 150.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 61.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 45.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.4 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional EyeSight Driver-Assist System

Package name

  • Optional EyeSight Driver-Assist System

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-21 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 Driver-Assist System

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2019-21 models of the following trim lines: Premium trim equipped with CVT package, Limited trim 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 24 mph.

Crossing adult

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

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 21 mph.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 32 mph. A warning was issued 2.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2017-21 models built after January 2017

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLimited
Seat type leather

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 trimLimited
Seat type leather
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
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
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
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 Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 1
Clearance angle (degrees) 73
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
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 Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
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) 1
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 1
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation