Subaru has already sold as many cars in 2015 as they did in all of 2011, according to the company.
Last month, Subaru recorded its 16th-consecutive month of increasing sales, selling more than 44,000 cars in the U.S. The Forester and Outback were Subaru’s best-selling models.
In 2011, Subaru sold 266,989 cars according to the automaker. At the end of June 2015, they had already sold 272,418.
Emerging out of the recession, Subaru’s growing pace could easily be described as meteoric. The small Japanese company outsold Volkswagen in the U.S. last year, and so far the company is on pace to sell more than 500,000 cars in the states this year.
According to Michael McHale, director of communications for Subaru, the company is targeting 545,000 U.S. sales this year, which is partially limited due to production capacity.
Subaru’s portfolio in the U.S. is relatively small compared their sales. The Impreza-based XV Crosstrek, WRX, Forester and Impreza are imported from Japan and Subaru builds the Legacy and Outback in Indiana. Subaru will build the Impreza in Indiana next year. The BRZ is jointly produced with Toyota.
The company is widely expected to announce a three-row crossover soon, and Subaru recently announced it would sell the Levorg in Australia because we can’t have nice things.
Considering that Subaru is more or less an afterthought in many parts of the country, this growth is impressive. If you’re going to kill it with sales, the northeast, mountain west and northwest are pretty good places to do it. Also, another damning of the enthusiasts; as soon as Subaru dropped all its rally/X games marketing and went after the non-enthusiast market with their “Love” campaign, they started selling.
“damning of the enthusiasts”
Surest recipe for success!
The timing of this success is nothing if uncanny.
“Love” sells – who’d a thunk it.
At my job, orange Crosstreks are cropping up like weeds.
Once all the rent-a-cars clear out, my Malibu (with one other owned by a secretary) are outnumbered by them. :-)
I’ve driven many outbacks and foresters. They’re nothing impressive and historically get crappy gas mileage. I don’t understand the appeal.
Gas mileage is up dramatically across the whole lineup. I think that, more than marketing, is driving sales. They have also improved the interiors quite a bit, to the point where they are at least average. The cars have been getting better looking as well. It is a pretty solid lineup across the board.
I think their interior quality high point was some time in the mid to late 1990s, but then again that applies to just about all Japanese car makers.
They’ve definitely stepped up to the plate in terms of improving fuel economy, very impressive.
I’m even willing to overlook their very recent reliability trouble in favor of the excellent packaging and utility of their vehicles, but I simply cannot get comfortable in a Subaru seat, and that precludes them from my consideration.
I cannot speak for the Subarus of the 90s, as such, but I have been in my parents’ top-spec 2015 Outback 3.6.
And the interior is damn near as nice as my new Volvo … and Volvos have *really* nice interiors.
If their seats don’t suit you, that is a dealbreaker, for sure … but it doesn’t seem to be a common experience.
“but it doesn’t seem to be a common experience”
Oh but it is. Their seat cushions are perversely short IMO, and the Subie forums themselves are alight with taller people who are frustrated that the car they otherwise love in every way is such a literal pain to drive.
+1 on the Outback’s unusually short front seat cushions. I rented one to drive from Boston Logan to Bar Harbor, and while it wasn’t torture, it got uncomfortable having pressure exerted against the backs of my thighs.
On the other hand, I recently bought two Foresters for my company after a very careful inspection of the seating position, and actually find those seats to be very comfortable.
I have to admit I find it odd that the flagship model falls short of the less expensive one in this key area.
“Oh but it is. Their seat cushions are perversely short IMO, and the Subie forums themselves are alight with taller people who are frustrated that the car they otherwise love in every way is such a literal pain to drive.”
Of course they’re short, it’s a lady’s car. 5’6 women fit them perfectly. The complaints of the 6 foot plus guy whose interest in the car begins and ends with sleeping with its 5’6 owner should be taken with a large grain of salt.
Here’s why I like my Forester:
– Much better packaged than anything else in the class. The interior space is midsize CUV even though the exterior is compact.
– An AWD system that doesn’t fall on its face when confronted with actual slippery conditions.
– Good driving dynamics given the height and front-heaviness of the vehicle.
– Light weight (although fuel economy still sucks).
– The turbo engine is a bit laggy but gives nice shove once in the powerband.
– Excellent visibility and ergonomics.
– Terrific value at the price I paid.
Here’s what I don’t like:
– Interior quality (both materials and rattly assembly).
– Fuel economy.
– Joke of a radio.
That’s it.
The Outback is really the only wagon available for a family daily driver for under $30k. Back when we bought our 2008 Outback, the materials were noticeably better than the Accord or Camry of that era (that was during their low points, IMO) and seemed to be put together almost as well. But what a terrific value – I got the base model for $18500 and 0% financing. The AWD penalty is there, but it’s not that bad. I get 29MPG highway and 21MPG city.
And no repairs for 90K miles other than swapping out the console clock that died within the first 2 weeks.
Regarding interior packaging, how is it better than a CRV or Rav4? Both those eke out a bit more interior and cargo room, the Rav4 tops the class with 38.4 cu ft with the seats up, that’s crazy.
However, both the Rav and CRV give up 2 inches of ground clearance to the Subie, which is huge. Additionally, the CRV in particular has a weak sauce AWD system, the Rav4 at least has a center differential locking feature that does a hard 50/50 split up to 26 mph. Long term, my money would be on the Rav 4 being the most reliable of the bunch with a conventional Aisin automatic and Camry 2.5 I4. CRV would be on equal footing with the Rav with the old 5spd auto and port injected K24, the new CVT+DI combo gives me pause.
If I was in the market for a car in this class, it’d come down to the comfier CRV vs more capable (and stick shift available) Forester. The Rav 4’s interior is offensively cheap IMO, even in Limited trim, and the ride with 18 inch wheels is awfully crashy.
Sorry — should have said that. The ground clearance is part of the packaging miracle. Also, the RAV4 and CR-V are also very well packaged. Compare them to other contenders like the Cherokee, Escape, or Tiguan and you’ll see where I’m coming from.
I’m getting used to the unimpressive stereo in my new Crosstrek hybrid, but the rattles are getting on my nerves. Fuel economy has been about what I was led to expect — not great for a hybrid, but very good for a vehicle with AWD and a ton of ground clearance. The interior materials may not be top grade but the overall layout is simple bordering on elegant, the ergonomics are excellent, and visibility is great even with the tiny back window.
I would definitely appreciate more power for merging and the ride and the CVT/hybrid combination are not as smooth as I would like, but overall the driving dynamics are fine. Will I ever pay back the hybrid premium? Not unless gas prices skyrocket. But learning hypermiling tricks keeps me entertained, so for me it’s worth it. To each his own.
The cargo area of the Crosstrek Hybrid is pretty impressive – I assume that the battery pack is occupying the (former) spare tire area?
My daughter just bought a new Impreza. Huge improvement over the previous model. The interior is very nice for a car that starts under 20 grand-with AWD-and the switch gear is the nicest I’ve ever operated. They’re sweating the small stuff, and when it’s small stuff that people touch every time they drive, people notice.
The appeal is great gas mileage for AWD, highest resale value, very few recalls, etc.
Subaru is what Volvo was in the 80’s.
Exactly my impression. Volvo before it tried pandering to enthusiasts.
Hmm, I think Volvos were significantly more expensive than Subarus are now, taken in the context of the marketplace and competitors. And like I mentioned elsewhere, boy if only Subaru had Volvo seats…
Yes, Volvos were more expensive in context. That only makes Subarus all the more impressive today.
Couldn’t have said it better. The naturally aspirated Forester *is* today’s Volvo 240. Boxy, unimaginably practical, just enough weird/different engineering to be a bit less boring, and mostly very durable but with a few well-known mechanical issues.
I would have been willing to pay more, though, if my Forester had come with Volvo interior quality and seats.
@Volt 230:
If you mean Subaru is selling cars based upon consumers’ irrational fear of dying in one, I agree.
“Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive” means nothing to a soccer mom, except that she won’t die going to the grocery store for milk and bread in a blizzard, because that’s what people do.
TTAC is that sales of all AWD cars have gone up. It’s become the must-have feature, because, you know, stuff could happen. People want to purchase as much life margin as they can – as though they actually could. The upward trend in end-of-life health care costs reflect the same mentality which dominates western culture today.
The “They Lived” ads are proof of Subaru’s genius strategy – scare consumers into buying our products (which could also kill them, ironically).
Seriously, I understand the effectiveness of Subaru’s AWD, but it comes at a cost – higher vehicle price, lower fuel economy (also due to their slavish dedication to the lumpy boxer engine), and expensive repairs. No thanks.
Just buy snow tires for your FWD car.
I’d note that the boxer doesn’t *seem* to be problematic.
I view the Outback and my XC70 as basically The Same Sort Of Thing; the specs on both exterior and interior are the same, and the 3.6 engine is close enough to my T6 in power.
The Outback 3.6 gets significantly better (20/27 vs 16/24) EPA numbers than my Volvo.
Not great, no. But if you want great fuel economy you don’t buy a big 6 cylinder station wagon, do you?
(I mean, definitely blame AWD some, no arguing about that.
Me, I intend to do some muddy logging road driving, and snow tires + FWD … just aren’t the same thing, you know?
I was thinking “marginal improvement over the Corolla’s ability to handle terrain, without having to deal with 10mpg in the SuperDuty”.)
“I’d note that the boxer doesn’t *seem* to be problematic.”
Nothing terrible, no, but it comes with its own compromises.
It’s more complex than a four cylinder needs to be, with two banks of O2 sensors, and the heads and plugs aren’t right up top where you can get to them.
Putting the exhaust manifolds on the sides instead of the tops puts them right next to the CV boots, which get cooked and crack about twice as soon as they ought to.
On top of that they’re getting a track record for burning oil.
Given the choice, would anyone not take Toyota’s bulletproof I4 as found in 5 million Ravs and Camrys instead?
>>Just buy snow tires for your FWD car.
That’s how I see it too, but the decision isn’t as easy for me anymore.
Nowadays, you have to buy TPMS for your winter wheel and tire package, which adds to the price. On a friend’s Lexus, the TPMS needed to be sync’d by a dealer (encryption perhaps?) and that’s an additional and not insignificant charge. Fortunately, on my Acura TSX Wagon, all it took was driving around a bit.
And then you should store your other tires properly, lest they dry out. Sometimes, I feel AWD would save me a bit of fuss.
In the snow and cold you still need winters: AWD doesn’t help at all when braking, which is my primary concern in winter driving.
This
For some reason people are only worried about not being stuck. They have no fear of plowing through an intersection because their car wouldn’t stop.
>> AWD doesn’t help at all when braking
Absolutely agree. But AWD still has a place in the snow hierarchy.
1. AWD + winter tires (for first responders in heavy snow)
2. FWD + winter tires (heavy snow)
3. AWD + all seasons (some snow, and you have the option to stay home if it gets too heavy).
4. FWD + all seasons (no more than 3-4 inches of snow).
5. RWD (are you nuts?)
My parents went through the TPMS syncing thing on their 2009 RX350. Luckily my brother is a professional auto diagnostics guy by trade so it was a 2 minute job for him to set them up. On RX350s, there is a hidden button under the dash that you can program (using dealer/mechanic scan tools) to remember 2 separate sets of up to 5 sensors. So after you pay to do the programming once, all that needs to be done when you swap wheels from there on out is the push of a button.
Your Acura, and newer Hondas use indirect TPMS, which doesn’t use actual sensors/transmitters attached to the valve stems of the wheels, but rather infers the tire pressure by extrapolating wheel diameter from the ABS wheel speed sensor signal. There is likewise a button to calibrate the tires to a user specified desired pressure (read: diameter).
I really hope direct TPMS goes the way of the dodo and indirect TPMS takes over mainstream autos.
I very much disagree. Sensors have have become cheap, and direct systems alert you way faster than indirect. You have way more time to react.
@gtemnykh
Thanks! The depth of knowledge of the B&B continues to impress me.
GTEM,
Thanks for the info., never heard of nor have I ever encountered an “indirect” TPMS system. Then again, maybe I have come across one and never even realized it!! I will have to do some reading on it, my first impression based on your description: reliable.
I’ve damaged several tpms sensors on customer vehicles when mounting low profile tires. I’ve also seen countless people break their sensor’s stem when the inapropriate steal cap binds to the galv stem.
I’m 100% with SCE. If traveling on snow is a necessity, I will take a FWD with Blizzaks over any AWD.
I just swapped a “junkyard” advertised as “low mileage” engine in a Forester. It is much less expensive to swap an engine than to replace head gaskets plus peripherals plus machine work. Some people don’t mind gambling. I would of sold it as-is and purchased a proper 4 cylinder. :-P
EAF, my brother just recently went the junkyard route for a customer that drove a bit too long with a blown HG on their Outback. He checked the junkyard motor for any signs of a failed head gasket before installing it of course, but there were no guarantees. Living in central PA he’s worked on quite a few Subarus and has learned the pattern failures by heart at this point, and has go-to aftermarket parts for the headgasket issue that seem to last (Felpro). Despite their pretty serious issues, I know for a fact that he much prefers to wrench on them than used up Audis that some of his Russian friends insist on driving, even with the fact that German cars are typically less rusty.
Bingo. I’ve go no room store tires, and no time for those changeovers. With mandatory TPMS buying a set of secondary wheels becomes a major pain. My area had over 9 feet of snow last winter and I live in a hilly area with a steep driveway. Anything with FWD is simply off the list. It’s too bad as an Accord or Camry XSE might otherwise work.
In my experience, AWD with all seasons still sucks badly in a foot of snow. I don’t consider it a replacement for snow tires.
“5. RWD (are you nuts?)”
Apparently. I’ve driven a Charger and Challenger in the previous few winters with snowfalls of 60+ inches and did fine. With snow tires, they tracked very well and never got stuck.
“The upward trend in end-of-life health care costs reflect the same mentality which dominates western culture today.”
You’ll get there. You’ll show for your appointments.
“You’ll get there. You’ll show for your appointments.”
And some days (in the North) you’ll need AWD to get there. :-)
Knew someone who knew someone who died on the way to the grocery store in a blizzard. After the bread and milk ran out, she turned to…well, bad way to go.
What’s irrational about it? Car crashes remain one of the leading causes of death. Regardless of the AWD issue, most Subaru models have top scores on both NHTSA and IIHS crash tests. Some collisions can’t be avoided and I’m happy to pay extra for a higher survival margin.
Agreed. As the survivor of two fairly serious car accidents and the resulting long term injuries I’m happy that better engineering makes it less likely to be injured if I have another one.
Which I sincerely hope I do not.
“Car crashes remain one of the leading causes of death.”
21,000 out of 2.6 million per year, which is to say 1 in 125, is an awfully long way from leading.
You don’t know what you are talking about. Maybe you are residing in a warmer area and don’t have to deal with heavy snow fall every year.
FWD with snow tires are OK only if the winter is mild. But in colder climates, there are situation they just fail when there is snow and ice:
1) At traffic stops. When the light turns from red to green, a FWD car without snow tires will typically spin its front wheels and swirl sideways, thus creating a smooth slippery icy concave there. Your FWD with snow tire may fail, because of this. It’s dangerous if you are turning left, if your car suddenly gain traction 3s later than expected.
2) At intersections. If there were deep tracks on the other road (the one perpendicular to yours) and that track exceed your cars clearance, then you can be stuck if you are slow (due to stop sign). But if you have AWD, there is no such issue because your rear wheels will still be pushing. My previous Honda Civic with new snow tires got stuck 3 times like this. So, yeah, I know.
I own a 2011 Outback and recently spent some time with a 2015. It’s a definite improvement. To me, the 2015 feels more like a Volvo than my 2011. Subaru is going after the former Volvo/Saab customers for sure.
Those 2015 Outbacks are everywhere though. Not worth trading in my 2011 for, but if you’re in the market it’s a good choice.
That’s true. I know of three people who’ve traded in XC90s for the new Outback.
I’ll amplify my above remarks to concur.
I just got (in February) a lightly-used 2015 XC70 T6.
My parents just got (last month) a new 2015 Outback 3.6, of whatever the top spec is.
They’re … pretty darn comparable [size, capacity, interior quality, electronics UX], and the Outback is significantly cheaper, for more features.
I think the Volvo’s a bit faster, but … I was already looking real hard at an Outback before I found the perfect Volvo used.
If not for that, I’d probably be driving one now.
Now if Subies sold as well outside of North America and Australia, management wouldn’t be agonizing over whether to build new factories or extend the existing ones. There’s much to worry about when the majority of customers live in such few markets. Because if something goes wrong, there aren’t many other places to soak up factory output. China refused a Subaru factory years ago as well.
At present, they have to keep the below-average interiors or sales would really take off here before they had the capacity to make more.
I own an older Subaru, and cannot fathom the new ones as being in the least bit desirable (WRX/STI excepted). Obviously, a view not shared by the drones populating the waiting room when I go in for service. Never met a lively one in five years, unlike a decade ago. Maybe they all go kayaking on weekends, but I doubt it.
The alternative lifestyle folk I’ve never seen, in a Forester or otherwise. Sensible-shoe types, conservative middle-class with enough money to pay for the inevitable repairs when approached by the friendly service-writers who whisper in their ears, so as to not upset the equilibrium of the other customers. Seems to work.
Inflated self-image much?
You are the segment Subaru gladly abandoned in order to sell cars and make money.
“the drones populating the waiting room”
Scorn not us drones unless you wish to distill, bottle and transport your own amber solace.
“Scorn not us drones unless you wish to distill, bottle and transport your own amber solace.”
Distilled from “Sour Grapes”?
That’s a cue for me to get off to work… :-)
Here in NH–and really New England in general–they’re all over the place. My neighbor has 3 of them! I don’t think they’re all that great. My brother had a 2013 Impreza. Traded it for a Silverado after less than a year. Kinda cheaply made and compared to a pickup doesn’t get much better mileage nor any better in snow. Actually, coming from a Ridgeline he was disappointed at it’s performance in the white stuff. But for many, many people who don’t want a truck–just 4WD, Subaru is it! Like stated before, they’re mostly conservative, salt-of-the-earth types worried about hitting a freak snow squal.
Where’s that class-action lawsuit re. excessive oil consumption at?
Alas boring sells (not directed at the WRX, but basically all of the quirkiness that was Subaru has been removed from the products).
My wife was stunned when she saw a 2015 Forrester at Costco and how much it has bloated out from her 2006 model.
I don’t get the hate for the previous generation interiors or cars in general. I owned a 2006 WRX Limited wagon for 6 years and 130,000 trouble-free miles. Not a single thing went wrong with that car and I had a Cobb Accessport tune at 15,000 miles!
The Limited’s interior included heated leather heated leather seats, sun/moonroof, all weather package, etc. The radio sucked and did not come with an AUX input, but the interior was really a no-nonsense place to be with just the right amount of quality touches (soft touch dash and door cards, leather seats, etc).
Don’t get me wrong, I like a nice interior having owned a 2002 B5 S4 a few years prior to that (AMS tuned with Intrax suspension bits), but the interior in my WRX held up very well and did not develop and squeaks, rattles, etc.
I agree with you. I too don’t understand why the new hard plastic, thin carpet interiors are a luxurious improvement. I like the interior in my 2007 Impreza way more than the 2011. The 2012+ interior is nothing but hard plastic everywhere. However they are selling tons more cars than before, so the market has spoken. Can’t say I get it, but to each their own. I too am one of those people Subaru has abandoned. Too bad.
How sad is it for Volkswagen, 2nd largest automaker in the world, gets outsold by freakin’ SUBARU in the 2nd largest auto market in the world?
I had a 2013 Impreza, really liked the car except for one thing, it burned oil, about a quart per 1000 miles. The remedy was having the dealer put in a new shortblock, with much of the wiring disconnected, accessories removed, engine removed, both cylinder heads removed, etc. then reassembled with the new short block. Ish, and no thanks on a brand new car. Had to trade the car in anyway because kid #2 was on the way, and the rear facing seat didn’t fit behind me.
My wife still has a 2013 Forester with a manual transmission (also uses oil). Love that car, and it’s one of the only mini-utes available with AWD and a manual transmission. Kicks butt in the winter.
I walked by a co-worker’s 2011 Forester as he started it up one day recently – the 10 seconds of clatter from the boxer made me thank the stars that I didn’t purchase one – I was considering one…
My 2013 has been noisy on initial startup since new with no apparent ill effects.
What causes that? Oil draining from the lifters?
That sound just gives me “the willies”.
When my 1990 Escort GT started doing it, it got worse over time, then a valve lifter failed – luckily, I got it replaced under warranty.
The thing hurting Volkswagen right now is the lack of AWD. AWD is what is driving Subaru’s success right now. The Golf SportWagen 4 motion and Alltrak cannot get here soon enoough.
A really bad winter and expensive gas this time last year has done wonders for Subaru sales. The remodel looks good too. The CVT, well I’m not sold on that yet.