Life After The STI - Will The Subaru WRX Ever Return To Dominance?

There is little for performance enthusiasts to get excited about with the 2023 Subaru WRX. I cover the WRX sales monthly, and here are the latest results. Sales of the WRX keep dropping, and in November, the sport-tuned sedan dropped most of any model in Subaru of America's lineup.

2023 Subaru WRX sales have dropped for five consecutive months. 

The 2023 Subaru WRX sales dropped 25.1 percent in July, WRX sales fell 27.2 percent in August, WRX sales dropped 2.7 percent in September, WRX sales decreased 14.7 percent in October, and November dropped again, making it five months in a row. 

The WRX drops the most of any model in SOA's lineup. 

The 2023 Subaru WRX sales dropped 37.3 percent in November, with 1,305 performance models delivered to customers compared with 2,080 sales in November 2022. The WRX is up 41.5 percent in the first eleven months after a fast start at the beginning of the year. SOA has sold 23,299 sport-tuned models this year.

Subaru misses the performance-tuned WRX STI. 

With the STi discontinued, the WRX is the only trim level left to keep the sedan alive. Can the WRX keep up the momentum Subaru had but seems to be losing?  

The WRX TR won't be enough to save it.

I wrote last month that fans are not excited about the 2024 Subaru WRX TR. The new model arrives in the first quarter of 2024, but performance enthusiasts want more. There is a solution to the WRX's slow descent. 

The WRX needs a new trim level.

A new WRX hatchback would revive the sport-tuned performance model and bring it back to relevance again. I have discussed this many times before, and it's the one WRX model that fans have asked for since Subaru dropped the 5-door hatch in 2015. After a 10-year hiatus, it's time for Subaru to bring it back.

The Dark Side Of The WRX And STI Subaru Doesn’t Want You To See via @SubaruReport @torquenewsauto photo @SmithtownSubaru#subaru #wrx #wrxsti #sti #subaruwrx #subarusti #stihttps://t.co/3usFkcw4EF pic.twitter.com/zoQsHHMNZD
— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) November 12, 2023

If Subaru Corporation would give fans a new WRX hatch with added horsepower, the WRX sales would skyrocket. The all-new 2024 WRX TR arrives sometime in the first quarter of 2024, but more is needed to save the performance sedan. Fans want a new hot 2025 Subaru WRX hatchback. It's the one model that would revive enthusiasm for the WRX again and return it to dominance. 

Your turn

Would a hot new WRX hatch get you excited? 

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru WRX story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to new Subaru models, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

My Must-Read Top Picks

• 2024 Subaru WRX Gets A Big Win From Consumer Reports
• The Sound Of Silence Will Be The Electric Subaru STI’s Death Knell
• 7 Reasons Why You Should Wait For The Next-Gen Subaru WRX STI

Check out the 2024 WRX TR | Off-Track Performance Drive YouTube video

I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ 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, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time - It’s called the “Subaru Report.” Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: main image Tucson Subaru