The New Subaru Forester Is Still Down But Not Out - What’s Next

The 2023 Subaru Forester is making a comeback. The compact SUV has been down all year in sales, but it comes roaring back in November. Check out its impressive results last month.

The Subaru Forester compact SUV is still down 28.6 percent for the year but led all models in the lineup with the most significant percentage of sales increase (+147.7 percent). Forester had 9,211 sales in November compared with 3,719 in November 2021. Forester remains third in the lineup with 100,570 sales for the year, but the compact SUV is still one of the most popular models for Subaru of America.

photo credit: Schumacher Subaru

How does the Forester compare with the Outback and Crosstrek?

The Subaru Outback midsize SUV is down 6.7 percent for the year but was up 44.2 percent in November, leading all models with 15,069 vehicles delivered to customers compared with 10,454 model sales in November 2021. The Outback remains second in the lineup, with 132,465 models sold for the year.

The Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV is up 20.1 percent for the year and leads all models in the lineup year to date. Crosstrek had the third largest percentage of sales increase (+100.7 percent). Crosstrek had 12,672 sales in November compared with 6,314 in November 2021. Crosstrek leads the lineup with 141,651 sales for the year.

photo credit: Schumacher Subaru

What’s next for the Forester?

When will the next-generation Subaru Forester be available for U.S. customers? The Subaru Forester compact SUV received a complete remodel for 2019. If Subaru stays with its five-year life cycle, the all-new sixth-generation Subaru Forester will arrive as a 2024 model.

The 2022 Forester received a “refresh,” and the 2023 Forester arrives now and is a carry-over model with no upgrades. The current Forester is in its fifth generation, and the sixth generation will come with a new exterior, interior, and possible engine upgrades.

If everything goes as expected, the compact SUV will be redesigned in the second half of 2023 and be available as a 2024 model. The anticipated 2024 Forester release date in the U.S. is about one year away, in the Fall of 2023.

What upgrades will the 2024 Forester have?

Subaru is tight-lipped about future product plans, and they have made no announcements about the 2024 Forester. Planet Subaru says the next-generation Forester will get new exterior styling, interior, infotainment, and safety features.

Should customers wait for the 2024 Forester or buy the 2023 model?

Customers waiting for the 2024 Subaru Forester should know it’s not sure it will get a complete redesign with a new exterior, interior, and possible engine upgrades.

The global supply chain and microchip shortages have recently delayed the introduction of other next-generation Subaru redesigns. The Impreza compact sedan, hatchback, and Crosstrek subcompact SUV were redesigned reliably on a five-year schedule and recently went seven and six years, respectively, without introducing an all-new model.

Forester inventory is improving

Subaru Corporation announced last month that production at its Gunma plant in Japan, where they manufacture the 2023 Subaru Forester was up 65.3 percent in October, the seventh consecutive month of increase. This is the most significant increase at its Japanese plant all year and will affect backorders and customers buying a new model this month.

Subaru of America still has the tightest new car inventory among car brands in the U.S., but things are improving. Customers who order a new all-wheel-drive 2023 Subaru Forester will get their new vehicle sooner.

Before the next-generation Subaru Forester compact SUV is announced, the 2023 model year Forester gets the most significant increase in sales.

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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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Photo credit: Schumacher Subaru