Subaru Consumer Reports Ratings
Subaru: 2026 Best Overall Automotive Brand
The Results Are In, According to Consumer Reports
View New Subaru InventoryConsumer Reports Ratings, Reviews & Accolades
It's easy to love a brand you can trust. According to Consumer Reports, Subaru is the Best Overall Automotive Brand for the second year in a row, based on reliability, safety, owner satisfaction, and road-test evaluations.
#1
2026 Best Overall Automotive Brand
9
Consumer Reports Recommended Subaru Models
Forester
2026 Top Compact SUV (Gas & Hybrid)
Crosstrek
2026 Top Subcompact SUV (Gas & Hybrid)
Subaru boasts nine Consumer Reports Recommended vehicles in its lineup: the Forester and Forester Hybrid, Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid, Outback, Ascent, Impreza, BRZ, and WRX. The Forester and Forester Hybrid were named Top Compact SUV, while the Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid were named Top Subcompact SUV, in Consumer Reports' 2026 Top Picks list.
CR's senior director of auto testing points to more than what shows up on a test drive: Subaru's models share proven parts that hold up to years of real-world use, and the brand's driver-assist systems perform well in emergency handling and braking tests.
How Subaru Scored Against 30 Other Brands
Consumer Reports rated 31 car brands on four factors — road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety — then combined them into a single Overall Score. Subaru came out on top.
Overall Score
82
#1 of 31 Brands Tested
Road-Test Score
88
Out of 100
Predicted Reliability
4/5
CR Owner Survey Rating
Owner Satisfaction
4/5
Would Buy Again
Subaru's 82 Overall Score placed it just ahead of BMW for the top spot, with Porsche, Honda, and Toyota rounding out the top five among all brands Consumer Reports tests.
Nine Consumer Reports Recommended Subaru Models
Five of the nine also carry Consumer Reports' 2026 Top Picks distinction, marked below.
Forester
Recommended & Top Pick
Forester Hybrid
Recommended & Top Pick
Crosstrek
Recommended & Top Pick
Crosstrek Hybrid
Recommended & Top Pick
Outback
Recommended & Top Pick
Ascent
Recommended
Impreza
Recommended
BRZ
Recommended
WRX
Recommended
What "Consumer Reports Recommended" Actually Means
Consumer Reports doesn't accept advertising and doesn't endorse specific brands or products — its ratings come from independently purchased test vehicles, owner surveys covering thousands of CR members, and standardized road tests run by its own engineers. A "Recommended" model has to perform well across the board on all four factors; a "Top Pick" goes further, standing out against every other vehicle in its class. That's the bar the Forester and Crosstrek both cleared.
Consumer Reports & Subaru: Common Questions
Consumer Reports bases its Overall Score on road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety. Subaru earned the top ranking among all tested brands for the second year in a row based on this combined score.
Nine Subaru models are currently Consumer Reports Recommended: the Forester and Forester Hybrid, Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid, Outback, Ascent, Impreza, BRZ, and WRX.
The Forester and Forester Hybrid were named Top Compact SUV, and the Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid were named Top Subcompact SUV, in Consumer Reports' 2026 Top Picks list.
No. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that does not endorse products or services. Its rankings are based on independent road tests, reliability surveys, owner satisfaction surveys, and safety assessments.
Consumer Reports combines average road-test scores, predicted reliability from owner surveys, predicted owner satisfaction, and safety assessments that include crash test results and whether crash-prevention technology comes standard.
Had a great experience with Hudson Subaru Service center.
— 2020 Subaru Forester Premium Owner | CARFAX Review
See Why Consumer Reports Ranks Subaru #1
Still deciding between:
- A Consumer Reports Top Pick Forester or Forester Hybrid
- A Consumer Reports Top Pick Crosstrek or Crosstrek Hybrid
- Any of Subaru's nine Consumer Reports Recommended models
- The #1 Best Overall Automotive Brand two years running
Subaru was named a Consumer Reports Best Overall Automotive Brand from 2025-2026. Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services. Rankings, scores, and Recommended/Top Pick designations reflect Consumer Reports' published data at time of publication and are subject to change. Visit consumerreports.org for the most current ratings.
* Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license. Not responsible for typographical errors. Documentation Fee of $949. **The arrival timeline is an estimate. It may vary due to circumstances beyond Subaru’s or the retailer’s control.
More Info
