2009

• 5-star highest crashworthiness safety rating, Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP), 2009

2008

• Women on Wheels Women’s Car of the Year Awards – Mom’s Taxi Award
• 5-star highest crashworthiness safety rating, Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP), 2008
• Top Safety Pick award in the 2008 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests – the only small car to be awarded this highest rating
• 5-star highest safety rating, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• International Engine of the Year Award (2.0-2.5 litre category)
• Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay award for low emissions and reduced greenhouse gasses, USA

2007

• Car Magazine Top 12, Best Compact SUV, 5th year running

2006

• International Engine of the Year Award (2.0 – 2.5 litre category)
• Car Magazine Top 12, Best Compact SUV, 4th year running
• Car and Driver USA- Best Compact SUV 200
• Car and Driver Magazine's Best Small SUV, USA

2005

• JD Power-Best Compact SUV, South Africa
• Car Magazine Top 12, Best Compact SUV, 3rd year running
• 5-star highest crashworthiness safety rating, Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP), 2004
• Car and Driver Magazine's Best Small SUV, USA

2004

• Top 4x4, 4x4 Australia magazine, Australia
• Car Magazine Top 12, Best Compact SUV, 2nd year running
• Top SUV, carsales.com.au, Australia
• Country Car of the Year, Queensland, Australia
• High-level achievement in Customer Satisfaction, JD Powers, Germany
• Outstanding rating by SA’s, PMR, South Africa
• Recreational Car of the Year, Queensland, Australia
• Winner, Sports Utility Vehicle, Total Economy Run, South Africa
• Car and Driver Magazine's Best Small SUV, USA
• Golden Arrow Award, PMR, South Africa
• High –level achievement in Customer Satisfaction, JD Powers, Germany

2003

• Car Magazine Top 12, Best Pick - Compact SUV
• Five Star Forester is safest compact 4WD, Australian New Car Assessment Programme, Australia
• Number One SUV in, Cambio Magazine, Italy
• Named Best Compact SUV, Canada
• Achieved best ever crashworthiness test, Australian New Car Assessment Programme, Australia
• Awarded Highest Rating in crash test, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, United States
• Best Compact SUV by Queensland, Canada
• Named Best Recreational Four Wheel Drive, TSN, Australia
• Best New SUV, Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, Canada
• First at Customer Satisfaction Survey, Auto Week, Netherlands
• Awarded highest rating in crash test IIHS, United States
• New Forester won the 2003 RJC Special Award

2002

• Car Magazine Top 12, Best Pick - Compact SUV
• Best Recreational, NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAASA, RACW, RACT, Australia
• Special Award, Automotive Researchers’ & Journalists’ Conference, Japan
• Best Recreational, Australia
• High ratings Low Speed Crash Test, NRMA, Australia
• Top rated in frontal crash (IIHS)

2001

• Winner Sports Utility Vehicle, Total Economy Run, South Africa
• Best Cars Awards, National Roads & Motorists’ Association Limited, Australia
• Outstanding Recreational Vehicle, Queensland Car of the Year, Australia
• Australia's Best Recreational AWD Vehicle

2000

• Tow Sports Utility Vehicle of the year, South Africa
• Australia's Best Recreational AWD Vehicle
• Best All-Wheel Drive, Australia
• Top of the list Sports Utility Vehicle JD Powers/Top Gear UK Customer Satisfaction Survey

1999

• Best buy SUV second consecutive year

1996

• 24 Hour World Speed Record Indianapolis