Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

IIHS Safety Awards: Subaru Scores Triple Win

Subaru’s WRX, a small car, and the Legacy and Outback, both midsize cars, recently earned Top Safety Pick+ awards.

October 29, 2022
IIHS Safety Awards: Subaru Scores Triple Win

The 2023 Subaru Outback and two sister vehicles recently snagged Top Safety Pick+ awards.

Photo: IIHS

2 min to read


The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recognized three Subaru vehicles with its highest safety accolade. The 2022 WRX, 2023 Legacy, and the 2023 Outback, all recently rolled away with Top Safety Pick+ awards.

The WRX, a small car, and the Legacy and Outback, both midsize cars, mastered six crashworthiness tests — capturing good scores in each evaluation. These included the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.

Ad Loading...

But the rigorous criterion for garnering “plus” status doesn’t end there. Vehicles must also be available with a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. Moreover, good or acceptable headlights must be standard across all trims.

The trio of Subarus met IIHS’ exacting standards.

The redesigned WRX offers an optional front crash prevention system that earns superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. The updated Legacy and Outback do even better — both come with standard front crash prevention systems that earn superior ratings in the two required tests.

As for headlights, the WRX’s Limited and GT trims come with curve-adaptive LED projector headlights that earn a good rating, while the static LED projectors that come with the Base and Premium trims are rated acceptable. IIHS notes that this marks an improvement over the 2021 model, which was passed over for the “plus” because lower trims were equipped with poor-rated halogens.

Finally, both the updated Legacy and Outback earned good-rated headlights across all trim, giving Subaru everything it needed to score a triple win for the most coveted safety award in the industry.

More Safety

A black square with white color font text
SafetyJuly 2, 2026

From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets

From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.

Read More →
IIHS HLDI text overlaid on the trunks of pick up trucks.
Safetyby Chris BrownJuly 2, 2026

IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?

Read More →
A blue and white Automotive Fleet podcast logo
SafetyJuly 1, 2026

Reducing Risk by Eliminating Phone Use Behind the Wheel

Hosted with the cofounder of Lifesaver Mobile, this episode addresses phone use behind the wheel and how to design a driving environment that actually helps prevents accidents.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two people sit across from each other at a desk during a business meeting. One person, wearing a white shirt, has their hands folded while the other gestures with a pen toward documents clipped to a clipboard. Additional paperwork and a calculator are visible on the table, suggesting a discussion involving contracts, finances, or administrative paperwork. Sunlight filters through window blinds in the background, creating a professional office setting.
SponsoredJuly 1, 2026

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)

Part Two: Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Continue learning more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab

Read More →
An Automotive Fleet podcast thumbnail
SafetyJune 26, 2026

How 5-Second Telematics Data Is Changing Fleet Safety

This episode connects with Steve Santostasi of Ford Pro and covers how a few seconds of data can make a difference in fleet safety.

Read More →
Ambulance and damaged car at a crash scene on a rainy roadway, illustrating workplace transportation risks and the growing focus on road safety management for fleets.
SafetyJune 16, 2026

Managing Road Risk at Scale: Why Fleet Safety Needs a Data-Driven Framework

Insights from the FIA Road and Driver Safety Indexes reveal how to manage road risk on a larger scale.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Close-up of a Jeep Wrangler front grille and headlight with text noting Stellantis’ recall of 1.3 million Jeep vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk tied to power steering wiring.
Safetyby StaffJune 10, 2026

Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk

Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.

Read More →
Road signs pointing to “Safe” and “Risky” beside a glowing AI network graphic, illustrating the role of artificial intelligence in driver safety, coaching, training, and risk management.
SafetyJune 10, 2026

Coaching Is Not Training, Even When AI Is Doing It

AI-powered safety platforms can detect risky behaviors and deliver immediate feedback. But effective driver development still requires a foundation of training followed by coaching that reinforces those skills.

Read More →
Driver resting in a vehicle seat, illustrating the dangers of fatigue and the importance of driver wellness, rest, and alertness for safe fleet and roadway operations.
Safetyby Judie NuskeyJune 9, 2026

How Emotions Behind the Wheel Can Affect Fleet Safety

During National Safety Month, fleets are encouraged to look beyond distracted driving and recognize how stress, fatigue, and emotional well-being influence driver performance and crash risk.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and red Automotive Fleet graphic calling for nominations for the fleet safety award.
Safetyby Faith HowellJune 4, 2026

Nominations Open for 2026 Fleet Safety Award

Nominations have officially opened for the 2026 Fleet Safety Award Winner.

Read More →