Subaru Safety: Is Their Lineup Worth Your Time?

Sandy B
Dec 20, 2020

Subaru is a well-recognized and loved brand. If you are looking into buying a Subaru, you need all of the information you can get, including information on the car’s safety rating. Consider the Subaru Impreza, for example, and how safe this car may be on the road.

How safe is the 2020 Subaru Impreza?

The 2020 Subaru Impreza received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and the highest score of “Good” from the IIHS. Combine this with a 4.36-star owner rating and a 4.3/5 expert review rating from Vehicle History, and it appears to be a solid vehicle for most needs.

Silver 2020 Subaru Impreza In Motion

These figures look good, but what’s the real story? To find out, we’ll break down those ratings, look at crash reports, and find out what the Impreza’s safety features are to give you the info you need. Much of this transfers to other Subaru vehicles as well.

2020 Subaru Crash Test Rating

Crash tests are gold when it comes to understanding how safe a car is. Organizations beat up these vehicles in various collisions to determine just how safe they are. That’s going to give you the insight you need when buying a Subaru. Here’s how the Impreza did.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Test Results

Overall, the IIHS believes the 2020 Subaru Impreza is a solid performer. It received the highest possible score of “Good” for all areas of crashworthiness. This includes passenger and driver-side overlap risks, roof strength, and side impact.

One downgrade comes in the crash avoidance and mitigation testing in the area of headlights. While the standard headlights are solid, some of the trim options only rated “Marginal.” The car received “Superior” ratings in front crash prevention with other vehicles and cars.

It also received a solid rating for the ease of use of the LATCH child seat anchors system.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Test Results

As one of the best performing vehicles we’ve seen in NHTSA testing, the Impreza is a standout. It has an overall five-star rating and an overall front crash rating of five stars. In side crash testing, the car also performed well, receiving a full five-star rating across the board.

The hard part for many vehicles is the rollover testing. The 2020 Subaru Impreza hit a solid five stars here, getting a low 9.5% risk of rollover. That’s much lower than most of its competitors and good news for you as the driver.

2020 Subaru Available Safety Tech

Subaru has worked to increase the amount and type of safety features on board its vehicles. The use of technology, such as radar, sensors and cameras, can significantly reduce the overall risk of being in an accident. The car watches out for you, giving you peace of mind.

Most of Subaru’s safety features fit under the Subaru EyeSight suite of technology. The company claims it has reduced the rate of rear-end crashes with injuries using this technology by as much as 85%.

Here are some of the available safety features on board many 2020 Subaru models.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Car Adaptive Cruise Control

This feature is excellent for those who are on the roadway at high speeds using cruise control. You set the distance you want to remain away from the driver in front of you. The car automatically maintains that distance, slowing down if the car in front of you does.

Lane Keep Assist and Sway Warning

If you get tired behind the wheel, you may start to drift outside of your marked lanes. If that happens, the car’s sensors pick up on it. They can alert you when you move outside of the lanes. In some cases, such as if you’re near the edge of the road, it will steer you back into the lane.

Pre-Collision Throttle Management

One of the nice features that Subaru offers that others do not is this feature. If the technology detects something in front of you, it works to reduce power to the engine. In doing so, it helps to reduce the amount of force that could lead to extensive frontal impact damage.

Pre-Collision Braking

When it comes to minimizing risks, there is no better way to do it than emergency braking features. When the car believes you’re about to strike another object, it applies the brake if you fail to yield to the warnings. This can help avoid collisions with other cars or people.

Here’s What Other People Also Ask

You may have some key questions about your Subaru vehicle. Here are some common questions asked.

Are Subaru vehicles expensive to maintain?

Most cars can be expensive to maintain, but the Subaru is not excessively so. Typically, drivers will pay more for higher-end features. If you have more luxury built into these vehicles, then you may pay a bit more for the repairs.

Are Subaru vehicles unreliable?

There are various reasons why some believe this. Generally, there have been some problems with in-car technology on the Legacy and the Outback. Some people also worry about the quality of the components in these vehicles and how long they last.

What are common problems with Subaru vehicles?

You will find problems with any vehicle. Some of the noted concerns relate to the air conditioning system’s function and the head gaskets wearing down easily. You may also have some concerns with the efficiency of the engine and the overall powertrain function in some models.

How long will a Subaru last?

This depends on how much maintenance you put into it. Some owners of the Outback have noted these vehicles last 150,000 miles or longer. Impreza vehicles may last just as long as this or longer depending on the model year you decide to buy.

avatar Sandy B
Sandy B. has written for The New York Times, Cleveland Magazine, and many online publications. She long-ago ditched the minivan life for the off-roading Ford Explorer (and hoping to restore a Shelby Mustang!)
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