The Wait For Your New Subaru Crosstrek And Forester Is Now A Lot Shorter

Subaru announced it has more than doubled its 2023 Crosstrek and 2023 Forester exports. See what it means for U.S. customers.

Subaru's export of the new 2023 Crosstrek subcompact SUV and 2023 Forester compact SUV jumped 122.1 percent to 40,271 models, according to a new report from Subaru Corporation. That's good news for U.S. customers who ordered a new model and are waiting for their new Crosstrek and Forester to arrive from the factory.

Crosstrek and Forester are manufactured at the Subaru factory in Gunma, Japan. Subaru says it's the second consecutive month of increased exports of the new models to the U.S. market. Subaru also announced production at the Japan factory increased 195.3 percent last month, the sixth consecutive month of increase.

An image from Kyodo News shows hundreds of new Subaru Crosstrek and Forester models waiting to be shipped from Japan.

A report from Kyodo News says Japanese automakers earned extra profits by waiting for the yen to fall against the dollar in September. The widening interest rate differentials between Japan and the U.S. boost automakers' profits earned overseas when repatriated. The Japanese automakers denied their decision to increase exports was based on the Japanese currency's depreciation.

The Crosstrek is the hot model

Subaru of America (SOA) is the Japanese automaker's largest market, selling nearly 70 percent of its vehicles. The hot Subaru Crosstrek is SOA's number-one-selling vehicle in America, outselling the Outback by 9,940 model sales, and the subcompact SUV is 35,939 model sales ahead of the Forester in the first nine months of 2022.

photo credit: Schumacher Subaru

Why is the Crosstrek in demand?

Customers are looking for affordable models that offer utility, have all-wheel-drive, with all-weather, all-terrain performance, and are fuel efficient. The Crosstrek provides all four.

What is the Crosstrek fuel mileage?

2023 Crosstrek 2.0-liter CVT models achieve EPA-estimated fuel economy of 28/33 city/highway and 30 combined mpg. The 6-speed manual models are rated 22/29 city/highway and 25 combined mpg. The 2.5-liter Boxer engine achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27/34 city/highway and 29 combined mpg.

photo credit: Schumacher Subaru

Crosstrek comes with all-weather, all-terrain performance

The Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV rides higher with extra ground clearance (8.7-inches) than other small SUVs, and all trim levels come standard with Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive.

The Sport and Limited trims also have a new dual-function X-Mode for added off-pavement capabilities. The new system has settings for Snow and Dirt mode to the new Deep Snow/Deep Mud Mode and is best for sand where traction is compromised.

What is the price of the 2023 Crosstrek?

The 2023 Crosstrek is arriving now with a new Special Edition trim level. All trim levels get a $600 price increase (including destination and delivery fees), but it remains a good value for small SUV shoppers.

The 2023 Crosstrek base trim is priced from $24,870, Premium, ($26,020), Special Edition ($27,970), Sport ($29,220), Limited ($30,720) and Crosstrek Hybrid ($38,070). Prices include destination and delivery fees ($1,225).

Should customers wait for the 2024 Crosstrek?

Customers in the U.S. will see the all-new next-generation 2024 Crosstrek in late 2023 or early 2024. A rugged 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness is also coming, but it will arrive later. So waiting is not a good option for customers who can't wait for over a year for the all-new model.

But it's good news for customers who have ordered a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek or 2023 Forester. You won't have to wait as long now as Subaru reports production and exports of the new all-wheel-drive models have increased.

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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