Can Subaru Build Enough? Demand For The New More Powerful Crosstrek Sport Skyrockets

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport arrives with a bigger engine and an even bigger clamoring for the subcompact SUV. Can Subaru build enough?

If you want a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport with the 2.5-liter engine, you may have to wait. Demand for the new Crosstrek with more power has caught Subaru retailers by surprise. A report from Automotive News (by subscription) says the new Crosstrek Sport is now the hottest model in the Subaru stable, and it’s selling better than expected.

The only complaint with the Crosstrek was that it was underpowered, and Subaru Corporation listened to customers and retailers. The automaker brought the Sport and Limited trims with a 2.5-liter direct-injection Boxer engine with 30 more horsepower than the 2.0-liter engine the small SUV had since its launch in 2012. It paid off big for the Japanese automaker as interest in the new 2021 Crosstrek has skyrocketed.

The reports say the Crosstrek was the hot model before the 2021 models year arrived, accounting for more than 25 percent of Subaru's sales in Canada. With the new 2021 Crosstrek Sport and Limited with the larger 2.5-liter engine, sales have increased to 28 percent.

Ted Lalka, vice-president of marketing and product management for Subaru Canada, says they estimated the new Crosstrek Sport would increase to about 35 percent of total sales. Lalka says retailer orders suggest demand will be much higher than the original planning estimate. “Right now we’re seeing about 50 percent take from dealers for the 2.5-liter models. I think it’ll probably stay about 50 percent for the foreseeable future.”

Demand for the new Crosstrek is also high in the U.S., with retailers seeing the Crosstrek models fly off their lots as soon as they get them. Even before the new 2021 models arrived, Crosstrek was the hardest to find car in North America.

Why is the new Crosstrek so popular?

The Crosstrek offers a younger demographic, a subcompact SUV with standard all-wheel-drive, a taller ride height (8.7-inches of ground clearance), fuel-efficiency, off-pavement performance (dual-function X-Mode), and the best industry safety crash scores and ratings.

Subaru hit the mark offering the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport and Limited trims with the 2.5-liter engine. The Crosstrek was underpowered and now comes with the power to match its other strong qualities. Now the question is, can Subaru build enough of them?

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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