Which Subaru models perform the best in sales during the new vehicle shortages? Subaru now has five winners and two surprise losers.
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With new 2022 Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek models nonexistent on U.S. retailers' lots, which models are customers ordering the most? A look at the August Subaru of America (SOA) report is revealing.
SOA reports a sales increase in August, with a few surprises. Subaru has five models that are up in sales over the same period last year and three models that are down. The Subaru Ascent, Crosstrek, Impreza, and WRX are up, and the Forester, Outback, and Legacy are down.
What's going on with Forester and Outback?
There is strong demand for the 2022 Subaru Forester compact SUV and 2022 Outback midsize SUV, but both models were down in August and down for the year.
Subaru of America reports it's the second time this year that sales are up, and they recorded their best monthly sales for August 2022. The Camden, N.J. automaker says 50,126 vehicle sales, a 1.5 percent increase in August, compared with August 2021 (49,373).
"Subaru is pleased to have exceeded our August 2021 sales results and recorded our best monthly result thus far in 2022, despite ongoing supply chain challenges," said Jeff Walters, Senior Vice President of Sales.
photo credit: Schumacher Subaru
The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is a big reason Subaru saw a sales increase last month. The 2022 Subaru WRX, 2022 Subaru BRZ, and 2022 Subaru Impreza also helped.
Subaru winners
The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is the top performer in August and 2022. The Crosstrek is smokin' hot, with 15,126 subcompact SUVs delivered to customers in August. That's a 30.5 percent increase over August 2021 sales (11,587).
Crosstrek is now the best-selling all-wheel-drive model for SOA, with 99,252 models delivered to customers through the first eight months. Crosstrek is one of the few models with a sales increase in 2022, up 11.3 percent.
The 2022 Subaru Ascent sales are up again in August, increasing by 4.1 percent, with 5,638 3-Row SUVs delivered to customers compared with 5,418 in August 2021. The Ascent is up 5.7 percent year to date, with 41,058 3-Row SUVs sold to families in the first eight months of 2022.
The 2022 Subaru Impreza compact sedan and hatchback saw another significant increase in sales, up 168 percent compared to August 2021.
Both WRX and BRZ are new-generation models, which gives them an advantage. The Crosstrek and Impreza are fuel-efficient models, and it's likely why they are both up in sales. The Ascent is also fuel-efficient for a midsize 3-Row SUV as customers look for a bigger model for their family hauler.
The next-generation WRX was up 5.0 percent, with 2,304 performance sedans delivered to customers compared with 2,194 sedans sold in August 2021. Due to the model change, the all-new 2022 BRZ was up with 308 sport coupes sold compared to zero models in August 2021.
Two Subaru losers
Subaru Outback drops to second place in the lineup
The 2022 Subaru Outback drops to second in the lineup in sales through the first eight months of 2022 and decreased 23.2 percent in August. SOA delivered 10,928 Outback models to customers in August, compared with August 2021 (14,219). Outback has 96,907 models sold to customers in 2022, a decrease of 16.4 percent compared with 2021.
The 2022 Outback model sales are down because the remodeled 2023 Outback trims have just begun rolling off the assembly lines in Lafayette, Indiana. New models are expected to arrive early this fall.
Forester falls further behind
The refreshed 2022 Subaru Forester stays third in SOA's lineup and continues to fall behind. The Forester dropped 17.4 percent, with 10,477 compact SUVs delivered to customers in August compared with 12,688 models sold in August 2021. 69,151 Forester SUVs have been sold through the first eight months of 2022, a drop of 42.8 percent compared with 2021.
Why are Forester and Outback down for the year?
The Forester is the biggest surprise in the lineup as its been Subaru's best-selling model around the globe. And that could be the problem as the wait times for delivery are now stretching to five months.
The Subaru Outback is another surprise as it's been Subaru of America's best-selling model. And wait times for customers are two months long.
Subaru of America is up in sales volume in August, and the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV, 2022 Subaru Ascent, and 2022 Subaru Impreza are the only models up through the first eight months of 2022. They are all going against the downward trend.
There are many surprises in this challenging time for new car shoppers, and nothing is normal.
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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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