The Biggest Surprise This Year Involves Subaru's Top AWD Model

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This is just in! The year's biggest surprise involves Subaru of America's top-selling model. See why the hot Crosstrek is now the coldest.

Last year, I covered the Subaru Crosstrek and said it was the smokin' hot model in Subaru of America's (SOA) all-wheel-drive lineup. Now, through the first quarter of 2023, the Crosstrek subcompact SUV is the year's biggest surprise. It's now the coldest of all the models. 

All of SOA's models are up in percentage of increase over the first three months of 2023, except for the Crosstrek. The WRX is up 61.7%, BRZ 38.3%, Forester 33.9%, Impreza 20.0%, Outback 16.6%, Legacy 14.4%, and Ascent 1.9%. 

The Crosstrek is the only Subaru of America nameplate that is down in its percentage of increase through the first nine months of 2023. Crosstrek dropped 0.6% in the first three quarters. 

Here is why Crosstrek is the only model down this year. You can check my specific model story links for the complete information. 

The New Subaru Crosstrek Loses Ground For The 3rd Consecutive Month.

As Subaru changed the model to the all-new 2024 Crosstrek, sales of the subcompact SUV dropped again in September, as Crosstrek was down 17.1 percent. Subaru delivered 13,341 Crosstrek subcompact SUVs to customers in September compared with 16,092 in September 2022. 

The Crosstrek is now down 0.6 percent for the year's first nine months. Crosstrek is still second in the lineup behind Outback year to date, with 114,632 models sold in 2023.

My take on the Subaru Crosstrek.

I expect the Crosstrek will rebound as the next-generation models arrive, and the all-new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness comes this fall. Customers may find the Crosstrek hard to find, as I reported earlier. The new 2024 Crosstrek is affordable, fuel-efficient, and pound-for-pound it's the best subcompact SUV. 

Why You Won't See The Next-Gen Subaru Forester For Another Year

As I reported in July and August, the 2023 Subaru Forester compact SUV is again the number-one selling all-wheel-drive model for Subaru of America. Forester was the top performer by volume in September for the third month, with 15,237 vehicle sales and an increase of 49 percent over the same month in 2022.

The 15,237 Forester models delivered to customers compared with 10,254 in September 2022. Forester is now up 33.9 percent in the first nine months of 2023. Forester has 106,345 models sold in 2023 and remains in third place behind the Outback and Crosstrek.

The Subaru Outback Is Still Behind One Hot Model

The 2023 Subaru Outback midsize SUV is the second-place performer in the lineup, increasing an impressive 71.2 percent in September, with 14,545 models sold compared with 8,497 in September 2022. Outback is now up 16.6 percent in the first quarter of 2023. Outback still leads all other models this year, with 122,881 midsize SUVs delivered to customers in 2023.

The Subaru Ascent Sales Dive And What Will Revive It

The 2023 Subaru Ascent is the fourth best-selling SUV in the lineup, with 4,599 sales of the 3-Row SUVs in September. The Ascent sales dropped 7.4 percent compared with the 4,964 models sold in September 2022. The Ascent is up 1.9 percent in the first nine months, with 46,881 models sold in the first quarter.

Subaru Legacy Sales Jumped How Much?

The 2023 Subaru Legacy midsize sedan was up again in September and is the surprise model. The Legacy leaps an impressive 106.9 percent increase in sales, with 2,727 models delivered to customers in September compared with 1,318 sales in September 2022. The Legacy sedan is up 14.4 percent in the first nine months, with 19,622 models sold to customers in 2023. 

The New Subaru Impreza Outperforms The Hot Crosstrek

The Subaru Impreza compact hatchback increased in September after being down in August. SOA delivered 2,868 compact models to customers in September compared with 2,626 sales in September 2022. Impreza is now up 20.0 percent in the first quarter of 2023, with 27,164 compact models sold in 2023.

The New Subaru WRX TR - Lesson Not Learned

The 2023 Subaru WRX sales dropped 2.7 percent in September, with 1,630 performance models delivered to customers compared with 1,676 sales in September 2022. The WRX is up 61.7 percent in the first nine months after a fast start at the beginning of the year. SOA has sold 20,574 sport-tuned models this year.

The Solterra EV Hits A New Milestone. So, Why Is Subaru Unhappy? (click on the link to find out why)

The Solterra EV has back to back to back record months. In its tenth entire month of sales, the all-new 2023 Subaru Solterra EV broke the 1,000 sales mark for the first time. SOA delivered 1,118 compact electric SUVs to EV customers in September. In September, Solterra had its best sales month so far. SOA has delivered 5,763 Solterra all-electric models to customers in the first nine months of 2023.

The Subaru BRZ Is The Slowest-Seller, But It's Not Slow On The Track

The 2023 BRZ sports coupe is still the bottom dweller in SOA's lineup, with 270 sales in September, compared with 231 sport coupes delivered in September 2022. BRZ was up 16.9 percent in September and a 38.3 percent increase for the year, with 3,361 sport coupes delivered to customers.

Subaru of America is still looking for a star to break out. It could be the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. 

The year's biggest surprise involves Subaru of America's top-selling model, the Crosstrek subcompact SUV. The hot Crosstrek is now the coldest. I expect the next-generation 2024 Subaru Crosstrek to make a strong comeback. 

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru Crosstrek and other model stories. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

Here are a few of my top stories you may be interested in related to Subaru vehicles. 

You may find this YouTube video helpful: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review | A Smaller, Cheaper Subaru Outback

Denis Flierl - I have over twenty years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Subaru Report, All Subaru and WRX STI social media channels:  Also Facebook, Social Platform X, and Instagram. 

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time. 

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