Subaru Forester Sales Drop 12% While Crosstrek Soars 47% In August
The Forester had a slow August but continues to perform strongly overall this year, largely thanks to the outgoing model's popularity
- Subaru sold 63,053 vehicles in August, an 11.8% increase from August 2023's 56,407 units.
- Year-to-date sales rose 6.4% to 437,198 units, compared to 410,888 at this time last year.
- Despite overall gains, WRX, Legacy, Impreza, BRZ, and Ascent sales have declined this year.
Subaru of America is celebrating its 25th consecutive month of yearly month-over-month sales growth and while some of its models are proving particularly popular, a handful have experienced sales declines, including the Forester.
Last month, the company shifted 63,053 new vehicles. This represents an 11.8% gain over August 2023, when 56,407 units were sold. Sales have been strong throughout the entire year, rising 6.4% to 437,198 over the same period last year.
Read: Old 2024 Subaru Forester Flies Off Dealer Lots
A key contributor to this growth is the Subaru Crosstrek. Sales spiked 46.5% in August with 20,396 examples finding new homes, a significant increase from the 13,920 delivered last August. Sales of the Crosstrek have proven strong all year and are up 13.8% to 115,214 units.
After months of declines, the BRZ sports coupe saw a glimmer of recovery with a 29.5% boost in August, reaching 347 units. Similarly, the Impreza surged by 43.6% to 3,166 units, and the Solterra also enjoyed a 54.9% increase, totaling 1,417 units. Things weren't so good for the Forester as sales dipped 12% to 13,456 units while Subaru continued to ramp up production to full capacity. Sales of the Legacy also collapsed 40.2% in August.
While the Forester had a rough August, it's been selling like hotcakes for much of the year, largely due to the outgoing model's popularity. Total sales for the January-August period hit 116,987 units, a huge 28.4% rise from the 91,108 examples sold last year. The only Subaru outpacing the Forester with sales growth this year is the Solterra, jumping 73.6% to 8,063 units. The Outback has enjoyed a smaller increase of 3.7%.
Subaru US Sales
| Model | Aug-24 | Aug-23 | % Chg | YTD-24 | YTD-24 | % Chg |
| Ascent | 4,630 | 4,860 | -4.7% | 36,805 | 42,282 | -12.9% |
| BRZ | 347 | 268 | 29.5% | 2,032 | 3,091 | -34.3% |
| Crosstrek | 20,396 | 13,920 | 46.5% | 115,214 | 101,291 | 13.8% |
| Forester | 13,456 | 15,294 | -12.1% | 116,987 | 91,108 | 28.4% |
| Impreza | 3,166 | 2,205 | 43.6% | 20,636 | 24,296 | -15.1% |
| Legacy | 1,654 | 2,765 | -40.2% | 12,903 | 16,895 | -23.6% |
| Outback | 16,435 | 14,503 | 13.3% | 112,342 | 108,336 | 3.7% |
| Solterra | 1,417 | 915 | 54.9% | 8,063 | 4,645 | 73.6% |
| WRX | 1,552 | 1,677 | -7.5% | 12,216 | 18,944 | -35.5% |
| TOTAL | 63,053 | 56,407 | 11.8% | 437,198 | 410,888 | 6.4% |
Interestingly, Subaru's two most performance-oriented models aren't doing very well this year. Demand for the rear-wheel drive BRZ has dropped 34.3%, while 35.5% fewer WRXs have been sold this year than last year. Despite this, the president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America, Jeff Walters, remains upbeat.
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"August marked our 25th consecutive month of growth thanks to Subaru retailers nationwide," he said. "Their dedication to being a trusted partner in the vehicle journey remains an important part of keeping our customers satisfied, whether it is for someone purchasing their first Subaru or returning for their next."
