2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ Awards: Why the 2026 Forester and Outback Still Lead the Segment
April 17 2026,
Safety ratings matter — especially when you're choosing a vehicle for the people who ride with you every day. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) raised the bar for 2026, introducing tougher crash test requirements that many vehicles in the segment struggled to meet. The 2026 Subaru Forester and 2026 Subaru Outback cleared those new hurdles and earned IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ status, continuing a record in crash safety that few rivals can match in this class.
What changed for 2026 is worth paying attention to. The IIHS now requires a "Good" rating in its updated moderate overlap front crash test to qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK+. This updated test adds a rear-seat test dummy to the evaluation — a significant shift, since earlier testing focused primarily on the driver's position. For families in Vaughan and across Ontario who regularly carry rear-seat passengers, this update makes the 2026 TSP+ designation more meaningful than it has been in previous years.
At a Glance: 2026 Safety Credentials
|
Feature |
2026 Subaru Forester |
2026 Subaru Outback |
|
IIHS Award |
TOP SAFETY PICK+ |
TOP SAFETY PICK+ |
|
Moderate Overlap (Updated) |
Good |
Good |
|
Rear-Seat Dummy Test |
Passes 2026 criteria |
Passes 2026 criteria |
|
EyeSight Standard |
Yes — all trims |
Yes — all trims |
|
Consecutive TSP Years (Forester) |
20 |
— |
What the Updated Moderate Overlap Test Actually Measures
The moderate overlap front crash test simulates a collision where the front corner of a vehicle strikes another car or a fixed object — one of the most common crash types on the road. In past versions of this test, engineers focused on driver-side protection. The 2026 update adds a rear-seat occupant dummy specifically to evaluate how well the vehicle protects a passenger sitting behind the driver during this type of impact.
Earning a "Good" rating under these more demanding criteria — rather than just under the older standard — is what separates a genuine safety achievement from a recycled one. Both the Forester and Outback cleared this threshold across all their variants, including Wilderness editions and, in the Forester's case, the Hybrid as well.
Key points from the 2026 IIHS evaluation:
- The updated moderate overlap test now evaluates rear-seat passenger protection using an added rear-seat dummy
- Both vehicles must achieve a "Good" rating in this test to qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK+
- The 2026 criteria also include more thorough vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian crash prevention assessments
- The Forester has earned a TSP designation for 20 consecutive years
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology: Standard on Every Trim
Passive crash protection is one part of the safety picture. The other is what happens before a collision ever occurs. Every 2026 Forester and Outback comes equipped with Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology as standard equipment across the full lineup.
On the Forester, EyeSight includes pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, adaptive cruise control with vehicle hold, lane centring assist, lane keep assist and sway warning, emergency stop assist, automatic emergency steering, and lead vehicle start alert.
The 2026 Outback builds on this with the latest-generation EyeSight, which adds three forward-facing cameras and newly incorporated radar sensors for additional coverage. The Outback's system includes front pre-collision braking using the front radar, along with Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection on select trims — a first for any Subaru. If the driver becomes unresponsive while Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control is active, this system can change lanes to pull the vehicle safely toward the shoulder, activate hazard lamps, contact emergency services, and unlock the doors for first responders.
EyeSight features on the 2026 Outback also include:
- Vibrating haptic steering wheel warning for faster driver alerts
- Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Highway Active Lane Change Assist
- Pre-Curve Speed Control to reduce speed before corners when cruise control is active
- Highway Hands-Free Assist on select trims, up to 135 km/h
How the Two Models Compare for Different Buyers
Both vehicles earn the same IIHS designation, but they serve different needs. The Forester is a compact SUV with a taller, more upright cabin profile, 220 mm of ground clearance, and standard Symmetrical Full-time AWD — making it a practical choice for buyers in Ontario who want confident traction year-round and strong rear-seat protection based on the new IIHS criteria.
The Outback is larger, sits on a longer wheelbase, and offers more passenger space along with additional powertrain options including a turbocharged 2.4-litre SUBARU BOXER engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque on XT and Wilderness trims. Its latest-generation EyeSight adds features not found on the Forester, including the radar-assisted front crash prevention and the hands-free highway assist capability on higher trims.
Which Model Is Right for You?
The choice between these two comes down to what you prioritize in daily use and weekend driving. Buyers who want a manoeuvrable, space-efficient SUV with exceptional visibility and the full 20-year TSP track record will find the Forester hard to beat at its size and price point. Buyers who want more room, more powertrain choice, and the most advanced EyeSight system Subaru currently offers will be better served by the Outback.
Both vehicles offer confirmed IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ status under the toughest evaluation criteria the organization has ever applied — and that distinction carries weight for anyone putting rear-seat passengers in their vehicle regularly.
Explore Both Models at Subaru of Maple
The 2026 Subaru Forester and Outback are available now. If you're weighing your options and want to see how each vehicle fits your day-to-day needs — from the school run in Vaughan to longer drives across Ontario — the team at Subaru of Maple can walk you through a side-by-side comparison. Book a test drive and experience both models firsthand at our Vaughan location.
