Automakers are raising destination fees to make extra profit. See how much Subaru increased its 2022 Forester, 2022 Outback, and 2022 Crosstrek fees and how it compares with other car brands.
Every automaker adds destination charges to a new vehicle's sticker price, but which car brands have the highest costs? A recent Automotive News report (by subscription) reveals the car brands that have the highest delivery and destination fees. The company formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, and now Stellantis, has the highest fees of any brand in America. Subaru raised its destination and delivery fees for the 2022 Forester, 2022 Outback, and 2022 Crosstrek, but not as much as some car brands.
Where does Subaru rank with other U.S. automakers? The chart below shows Subaru has kept their fees the lowest of any automaker from 2017 through the 2021 model change except for one brand, BMW. Subaru's average fee is $996 for its 2021 model year average on all vehicles. Stellantis charges the most at $1,573 per vehicle in its lineup.
photo credit: Automotive News
The chart reveals Subaru has increased its fees 18 percent in five years compared with Ford and Porsche, who have raised fees the most at 29 percent. The average industry fee is $1,220 and has risen 12 percent since 2017. Kelly Blue Book says destination charges have gone up faster than inflation.
Automotive News says, "The surge has come as consumers pay record-high transaction prices for new vehicles, yet it's largely invisible because many brands omit shipping fees from advertised prices and bury them in fine print on their websites."
photo credit: Competition Subaru
Can customers negotiate destination and delivery fees?
Unfortunately, destination and delivery fees are non-negotiable. They are added to the final price of every vehicle. Consumer Reports says the fees are not included in advertising and often take buyers by surprise.
CR calls for rules requiring automakers to include destination charges in their advertised and online prices, not just in the footnotes. But until the changes are made, new car shoppers should be aware that the fees are included in the final price.
When Subaru Report via Torque News gives pricing on any new Subaru model, we always include destination fees in our reports, so customers know the actual price.
While fees have gone up $75.00 for the 2022 models, the Subaru website reveals Subaru SUVs are consistently among the lowest in their categories. The 2022 Subaru Outback wagon/SUV ($1125), 2022 Subaru Forester ($1125), and 2022 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV ($1125) have the lowest destination fees.
You Might Also Like: The Best-Ranked Snow And All-Weather Tires For Your New Subaru AWD This Winter
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.
Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.
Leave your comments below, share the article with friends and tweet it out to your followers!
Photo credit: Competition Subaru