The latest ANCAP safety ratings have been released, with a mix of new and familiar SUVs put to the test. The results show strong performances from Polestar and Subaru, while Hyundai’s new compact SUV, the Inster, fell short of the top rating.
Polestar 4 Strengthens Line-Up with Five Stars
The Polestar 4 has earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating, equalling the second-highest Adult Occupant Protection score under current criteria with 92%. Full points were awarded for driver protection in side impact and oblique pole crash tests, as well as for child occupant protection in frontal and side impacts.
Equipped with a comprehensive suite of collision avoidance technologies, the Polestar 4 performed strongly across tests involving pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other vehicles.
“Establishing a solid product line-up, this five-star rating now sees the Polestar 2, Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 all carry the top level of safety,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg.
Subaru Forester Extends Safety Reputation
Popular with families and fleet buyers, the new-generation Subaru Forester has also secured a five-star rating. The SUV performed well across all areas, with standout scores of 91% for Child Occupant Protection and 86% for Vulnerable Road User Protection.
Maximum points were awarded for driver protection in side impact, oblique pole, and full-width crash tests, though Weak chest protection was noted for the second-row adult passenger in the full-width test.
“The new-generation Subaru Forester extends the model’s impressive safety lineage, achieving five-star safety with strong performance across the board,” Ms Hoorweg said.
Hyundai Inster Falls Short with Four Stars
In contrast, the compact Hyundai Inster received a four-star safety rating. While its collision avoidance systems performed well, its crash protection attributes limited its score.
Adult Occupant Protection just reached the four-star threshold at 70%. Marginal chest protection was recorded across several crash tests, and in one case the driver’s airbag failed to fully prevent head contact with the steering wheel. In the side impact test, the driver’s door unlatched and chest protection for the child dummy was rated Poor.
Despite these results, the Inster achieved an 83% score for Child Occupant Protection and 69% for Safety Assist.
“The Hyundai Inster enters a highly-competitive segment, and while some may suggest safety isn’t important for the smaller end of the market, in fact the opposite is true,” Ms Hoorweg said. “Smaller vehicles, by physical size, are at a disadvantage out on the road, so having a well-rounded level of structural safety as well as the ability to avoid a crash is critical.”
Key Results at a Glance
- Polestar 4 – Adult Occupant: 92%, Child Occupant: 87%, VRU: 81%, Safety Assist: 79% → 5 stars (2025)
- Subaru Forester – Adult Occupant: 83%, Child Occupant: 91%, VRU: 86%, Safety Assist: 75% → 5 stars (2024)
- Hyundai Inster – Adult Occupant: 70%, Child Occupant: 83%, VRU: 70%, Safety Assist: 69% → 4 stars (2025)
