Subaru reports sales of the 2022 Subaru Forester fell again in September. Here's why Forester dropped again and what’s next for new car shoppers.
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The 2022 Subaru Forester sales have now fallen eight months in a row. Subaru of America (SOA) reported September sales, and the 2022 Subaru Forester sales dropped again. The last month Forester saw an increase in sales was January to start the new year. With ongoing car shortages, here is what's going on now and how it affects customers looking for a new Forester compact SUV.
The 2022 Forester compact SUV was down 9.8 percent compared with September 2021, with 10,254 models delivered to customers compared with 11,366 in September 2021. Forester is down 40.0 percent for the first nine months of 2022, still the most of any all-wheel-drive SUV in SOA's lineup. Forester has 79,405 total sales in 2022 compared with 132,254 in 2021, which was the top-selling model for SOA.
How does Forester compare with Outback and Crosstrek sales?
The Crosstrek left Forester in the dust in 2022 and had its best month. Crosstrek is SOA's best-selling model, with 16,092 subcompact SUVs delivered to customers in September. That's a 35.6 percent increase over September 2021 sales (11,864). Crosstrek stays the best-selling all-wheel-drive model for SOA, with 115,344 models delivered to customers through the first nine months. Crosstrek is one of the few models with a sales increase in 2022, up 14.1 percent.
The 2022 Subaru Outback stays second in the lineup in sales through the first nine months of 2022 and increased 20.0 percent in September. SOA delivered 8,497 Outback models to customers in September, compared with September 2021 (7,087). Outback has 105,404 models sold to customers in 2022, a decrease of 14.3 percent compared with 2021.
The 2022 Outback model sales are down because the newly-remodeled 2023 Outback trims have just begun rolling off the assembly lines in Lafayette, Indiana. New models are expected to arrive early this fall.
Why has Forester dropped so much this year?
Demand for the Forester compact SUV is high, but many customers are unwilling to wait for the vehicle. A source close to Subaru told us that the Forester wait times remain longer than any other model in Subaru of America's all-wheel-drive lineup. This summer, the source said he has two 2022 Forester compact SUVs on order for customers, and it will likely be six months to get delivery from when they placed the order.
When will the new Forester inventory improve?
Subaru's recent financial report says the Japanese automaker's export total of new Forester and other models manufactured in Japan increased 30.4 percent in August, the first increase in three months.
When will the 2023 Forester be available for U.S. customers?
Subaru Corporation has just made an assembly line change from the 2022 Forester model to the 2023 model change. Subaru says the 2023 Forester won't arrive in the U.S. until December, so delivery is still two months away.
What is the price of the 2023 Forester?
All 2023 Forester trim levels increased by $550 in price, including destination and delivery. 2023 Forester comes in six trim levels; The Base Forester starts at $27,620, Premium ($30,620), Sport ($32,190), Limited ($34,300), Wilderness ($35,245), and Touring ($37,720). Pricing includes dealer fees ($1,225).
The 2023 Forester is a carry-over model and will not get any new upgrades over the outgoing model. The Forester is scheduled to get a complete remodel in 2024.
Before the 2023 models arrive, the Forester drops further behind and is now down 40.0 percent for the year. Subaru Corporation expects more new models for customers next year. Check out the report below for more details.
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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: Subaru USA
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