The all‑new 2025 Subaru Forester has earned the highest possible rating, IIHS Top Safety Pick+, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This distinction is based on crash safety, crash avoidance and mitigation performance, and other key safety benchmarks. Subaru of America announced this achievement in December 2024.The recognition reflects Subaru’s commitment to safety, with the Forester leading the small SUV segment in lifetime IIHS awards. As of December 2024, Subaru Forester has received the Top Safety Pick award 18 times since 2007, more than any other small SUV, and Subaru, as a brand, has earned more Top Safety Pick+ awards than any other since 2013.
Updated IIHS Criteria and Forester Performance
The IIHS updated its evaluation criteria in 2024, raising the bar in several areas: side impact protection, pedestrian crash prevention, and moderate front overlap tests (with added rear-seat dummy to assess rear occupant protection). To qualify for Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must earn “Good” in both small overlap front tests and the updated side test, “Acceptable” or “Good” in the moderate overlap front evaluation, acceptable or good headlight performance across all trims, and at least acceptable performance in pedestrian front-crash avoidance tests.
The 2025 Forester met or exceeded all these stricter benchmarks: it scored “Good” in both driver‑side and passenger‑side small overlap front tests, “Good” in the updated side test, “Acceptable” in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, and “Good” for its pedestrian crash avoidance system. Its headlight systems, standard across trims, also earned ratings of acceptable or better. This clean sweep allowed Subaru to secure the Top Safety Pick+ award for the 2025 Forester.
Safety Features and Technology
Beyond raw crash performance, the Forester’s safety architecture and driver-assist technology play a key role in its success. All trims include Subaru’s award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, which incorporates adaptive cruise control with lane centering and steering-responsive LED headlights. These advanced headlights provide enhanced visibility around curves and in low-light conditions and contributed to the strong overall safety evaluation.
In addition to EyeSight, the Forester offers a comprehensive suite of active safety systems as standard or available features: Reverse Automatic Braking, Blind‑Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Emergency Stop Assist. All Forester models come with Subaru’s Symmetrical All‑Wheel Drive system, providing consistent traction and stability, even in unsteady conditions.
Design, Trim Levels, and Pricing
The redesigned 2025 Forester features a sleeker exterior and a quieter, more refined cabin than previous generations. It is available in five trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring. The starting MSRP was announced at approximately $29,695 (some outlets list $29,995, likely due to trim or pricing updates), with availability confirmed nationwide at Subaru retailers in late 2024.
The press release makes clear that the Wilderness trim, while part of the Forester lineup, does not qualify for the Top Safety Pick+ award, as testing was conducted based on other trims.
Subaru’s Enduring Safety Legacy
Subaru’s long‑standing emphasis on safety underlies the Forester’s recognition. Since 2007, the Forester has earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick award every year—more than any other small SUV. Furthermore, Subaru has accumulated the most Top Safety Pick+ awards of any brand since the program’s expansion in 2013.
Industry-wide, the 2025 Forester stands out among compact SUVs. In comparisons with competitors such as the Honda CR‑V and Toyota RAV4, Subaru outperformed some rivals by earning “Good” ratings where others only achieved “Acceptable,” particularly in crash prevention tests involving pedestrians.
Broader Award Context
Subaru achieved multiple IIHS safety recognition in 2025. While the Solterra earned Top Safety Pick+ status, the Forester (including the hybrid variant) and the larger Ascent received Top Safety Pick honors. The Forester’s award in 2025 marks its 19th consecutive year receiving an IIHS safety award (Top Safety Pick or above) as of March 2025
The announcement underscores Subaru’s unwavering focus on safety—both in vehicle engineering and technology features. The 2025 Forester’s outstanding crashworthiness, advanced pedestrian protection, refined interior and exterior design, industry-leading driver-assist systems, and strong crash-prevention performance collectively contributed to its Top Safety Pick+ award. With consistent accolades stretching back nearly two decades, Subaru continues to position the Forester as a trusted, safety-first option within the compact SUV market.
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