Fans Want a WRX/STI Hatch; Why Isn’t Subaru Listening

I think the number of people addicted to hatchbacks is either misunderstood, or overrated. I personally dislike hatchbacks so I'll admit I'm biased, but all of the people I know prefer the sedan. I'd have no problem if Subaru made both a hatch and a sedan. The problem I see is everyone else in this category of car only offers a hatch, which makes Subaru the only option for those folks.

Agree!! Bring back the hatchback

I did not buy a new suby this year. Turbo, awd, hatch/wagon are what we need. Went with an alltrack last month with HUGE savings.

That's funny! You think you know STI fans, HA, that's laughable!! I own an 05 STI, have for years now. I cringed harder seeing a hatch STI introduced in 08, with no sedan, than I did anything else that year. I was friggin ecstatic when they announced that they would not be doing a hatch anymore in 2010. Hatchbacks are for teenyboppers who want to haul around a bunch of their friends and junk they possess, or people that have less refined taste. In other words, they're eye sores. An older gentleman, such as myself, knows such refinements. Let me put it this way, you'll never see a GTR in hatch form. Nissan knows where to keep it's hatches, where to keep it's performance cars. I think Subaru finally knows that now too. Next time, don't put words in a true enthusiast's mouth. "Too soon junior!"

I don't think it's so much the hatch bodystyle as it is the lack of updates to the engine and powertrain. When Subaru had previously offered the STi in hatch format, sales weren't that great either, and didn't increase until they went back to the sedan bodystyle. I think it's a small, but vocal group of enthusiasts that are clamoring for a return to the hatch body, whereas the sales numbers would point to the fact that the sedan is by far the preferred model.

However, Subaru is doing itself a disservice by soldiering on with basically the same engine and powertrain they've been using since entering the North American market. The competition has surpassed the STi at this point, and it won't be until the total revamp of the platform that sales will become energized again. I know personally I held off on buying an STi for my last car purchase simply because of the antiquated engine. When I'm in the market again in a couple of years I'm hoping Subaru will have a more compelling offering.

The age and era of ppl buying that price range of car, have kids now. They need the space for the stroller for the other 5 days of the week. The enjoyable part of the car is experienced without the kids in the car. They could lower there price, or come back out with their hatch option. The space difference might not be overly significant, but it could easily "make of brake" the decision when space isn't sacrifices le, but you done want a limp car/minivan either. Any other wagon is in a whole nother class of car.

A majority of that same crowd is probably complaining about manuals disappearing but won't buy a new car because they don't want to pay the price of depreciation.

People are not buying the STI now for a few simple reasons, I know because I am one of those buyers. I will not buy a 15+ year old engine that is lucky to get 20mpg out of a 4cyl. I will 100% be buying a new STI once the next generation comes out. That being said I will never buy a first year of a new generation car, I will wait 2 years. So Subaru waiting so long to bring the STI up to date with a new engine is what is causing the lag in sales. If the next generation comes out in 2020, I will be getting a 2022 likely. I can wait since I own multiple cars, and don't need a new one now. I think as a car buyer you should never put yourself in the spot where you need to buy a car if you can because needing one may force you to get something you may not want. Btw I could careless about a hatchback, I actually prefer the sedan.

Yeah that and their sub par engine internals

Good job cropping out the original photo credit!

Sedans have become ridiculously impractical with their tiny trunk openings. I wouldn't have one if it was given to me. Hatches and wagons are versatile and there are some darn good choices out there.

Did you guys just wakeup? Subaru has stated MANY times that they wanted to concentrate efforts on the redesign of the WRX, for 2015, on one body style and get it right, instead of splitting effort and funding on two body styles.
A hatch is scheduled to arrive in the 2020 model year.

I personally dont like the hatch back, but I think the newer body style is ugly and doesn't really look sporty.

Let's be honest, Subaru hasn't done anything that the fringe has wanted in a long time. LGT, the Baja, legacy wagon, outback sedan, the brat, turbo xt, xt6, svx, all awesome cars from what used to be an awesome company. My wife sells Subarus and I have a 3.6r with the last year of the 5 speed auto because CVT... I would never buy a new Subaru, they ruined the wrx, ruined it. Completely, anyone that actually likes the new body style had no sense of what a car company should be doing. Why be original when the for fusion/lancer look sells. They only care about the bottom line and the majority which only want large cars and SUVs. Mark my words, Subaru will only continue pandering to the majority with shit cars. Oh and they have an SUV coming out, of course they do...

Have you ever compared the back of the hatch with the sedan one? Do it and you'll understand why the hatch has been so popular ;-) True to say that the actual sedan, issued for MY 2014, is so generic and bad looking... Subaru, take some bits of advice from Mazda, who can also build good looking, modern and reliable cars!
True to say that the engine is so out-dated that it becomes indecent from Subaru daring to offer such a mill, compared with the competition.
I'll wait until the next Tokyo Motor Show where the "Viziv Performance Concept" should tell us a bit more about the revamped model due for 2020. If it comes with the new SGP, DIT powerplant, 4WD, hatch and design, I'll order it.
If not, I won't be a Subaru fan anymore. So sad, after about 30 years of loyalty...

Man, so depressing. Subaru created a new market when they finally blessed the USA with the WRX.... only then to kill off the hatch. Then knocked another one out of the park with the Forester XT, basically creating the sporty small SUV market. Yes the forester xt was a small SUV back then.

So now the Forester XT is larger, higher, handles more poorly, and the less said about the CVT the better. The CrossTrek is very close in size to the 2004 FXT, but is quite disappointing in the engine department. Nor can you get a WRX wagon anymore.

So no you can get a Honda Civic Type R, Focus RS, Golf R, or a BMW X1 and get decent handling, small, speed, and sporty. Subaru seems to just be ignoring the markets they created.

Subaru is straight up failing with no sti hatchback. I will never buy a sedan from them, ever! They have lost touch and don’t have their finger on the pulse of the USA hatch scene anymore. Guess I will have to take my money else where to those that know what’s up. RS and Type R just to name a couple. Too bad...

No mas subaru

This may be partially true but I'm gonna guess the new Honda, Focus RS and new Hyuandai have something to do with it. We aren't getting the horsepower increase we should to keep up with competition.

I love my WRX 5 door. I'm getting close to replacing it and, although I want so much to stay with Subaru for performance AWD 5 door / wagon, I'm probably going to buy a Volvo V60. Subaru... outside of the WRX, your cars are boring. I'd love to stay with Subaru but Subaru is forcing me to leave.... and I've been waiting a few years already, having sent numerous emails asking for the return of the 5 door WRX / STI and still no sign they are listening.

I agree with the author of this post! I sold my 02 bugeye a year ago and ended up w/ a Mazda as Subaru has stopped making the Hatchback. I would definitely sell the Mazda for a WRX hatch if they started making them again! Come on Subaru!

Having had a focus hatch I wouldn’t waste my hard earned cash on an RS - that said Subie - if u want my money its going toward a hatch - hope it’s yours or it’s going elsewhere