Subaru’s Hottest Model Is Like A Fine Wine - It's Getting Better With Age

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek needs remodeling, and the new model will arrive later this year with new upgrades. The second-generation subcompact SUV is on its last legs before the next-generation model arrives, and it's not cooling off. Crosstrek continues its impressive sales run into the new year, and the old model improves with age.

The hot Crosstrek starts the year where it left off. The 2023 Crosstrek surprised everyone and was the overall sales leader and best-selling model in 2022. To start 2023, Crosstrek is more impressive and achieved its best January ever with 12,706 vehicle sales, surpassing its previous record set in January 2021 (10,431).

photo credit: Schumacher Subaru

The 2023 Crosstrek, in its last year of production before it gets completely remodeled, is not only setting new records, the small SUV is the number one selling model in Subaru of America's all-wheel-drive lineup. The hot Crosstrek was the top performer by volume again and led all other models to start the year.

Typically in the last year of its production life cycle, a vehicle's sales drop considerably as customers wait for the next-generation models to arrive. But Crosstrek keeps on trekking and defies conventional logic.

photo credit: Lancaster Subaru

The newly-upgraded 2023 Subaru Outback can't keep up with the Crosstrek and finished second in the SOA's lineup in January. And the race wasn't close. The Outback midsize SUV dropped 1.1 percent, with 10,414 models sold to start the year, staying the second best-selling model in the lineup. Outback had 10,527 sales in January 2022.

The 2023 Forester compact SUV, also in the last year before it gets a remodel, is slowing down and dropped 25.3 percent with 10,114 models sold and starts the year as the third best-selling model in the lineup. Forester had 13,531 models delivered to customers in January 2022.

Small SUV customers aren't waiting for the next-generation Crosstrek because the hatchback is positioned well in price and fuel mileage and offers the utility of an SUV. Crosstrek comes standard with all-wheel-drive and now provides the larger 2.5-liter engine for outdoor enthusiasts.

When Subaru brought the new Sport and Limited trim levels with the 2.5-liter engine upgrade, sales shot through the roof, and the Crosstrek has not slowed down to start the year.

What's next for the hot Crosstrek?

"We're looking forward to another exciting year of offering consumers the safest and most fun-to-drive vehicles on the market, including our all-new 2024 Crosstrek, which makes its debut next week at the Chicago Auto Show," said Tom Doll, President, and CEO, Subaru of America.

The remodeled 2024 Subaru Crosstrek makes its U.S. debut in Chicago on February 9. The reveal will be streaming live, and Subaru of America says the new Crosstrek will get upgraded power, advanced technology, and enhanced safety. Stay tuned as we'll bring you the latest updates and information on the U.S.-specification Crosstrek when they are revealed next week.

Before the all-new third-generation 2024, Subaru Crosstrek arrives, the old second-generation Crosstrek is getting better with age. The small SUV keeps on trekking.

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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: main image Schumacher Subaru