Sales of the Subaru WRX sports sedan in the U.S. experienced a sharp decline last year. Data shows that the model is going through its worst period in its entire history on the American market.
Record Drop in WRX Popularity
For the year 2025, Subaru sold 10,930 WRX cars in the United States. This is a full 41.2% less than in 2024, when 18,587 units were sold. If compared to 2023, the drop becomes even more dramatic: over two years, sales fell by 55.7% from 24,681 cars. Currently, there are no signs of a quick recovery in demand.
Subaru has not officially commented on the reasons for such a sharp decline in sales. However, experts believe that one of the key reasons could have been the manufacturer’s decision to remove the base Base trim from the lineup for the 2025 model year. This version, which previously started at $32,735, was popular among buyers looking for an affordable base for future tuning and modifications.
Subaru hasn’t explained why sales have fallen by such a significant extent, but likely contributing to the lower demand was its decision to kill off the entry-level Base trim for the 2025 model year.
New Pricing Structure and Its Impact
In 2025, the WRX lineup started with the Premium trim priced from $35,750. The price then increased to $40,130 for the Limited version, while the top-tier WRX tS and WRX GT modifications cost $45,705. At the same time, all cars are equipped with the same 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine producing 271 horsepower.
Such a change in pricing policy and trim structure likely deterred budget-conscious buyers who traditionally saw the WRX as an affordable and promising car for tuning. The absence of a budget model created a gap that some customers decided not to fill.
Subaru Sales in December and for the Year
Overall, the Subaru brand ended 2025 with a 3.6% decrease in sales compared to the previous year. 643,591 cars were sold versus 667,725 in 2024. This is not a catastrophic drop, but it reflects changes in the market where even established models face uncertainty.
Interestingly, sales of the Legacy sedan, production of which was discontinued in September, increased by 13.4%. This was one of two Subaru models that showed positive dynamics, and the only one to grow at a double-digit rate.
The Solterra Electric Crossover Also Loses Ground
Despite the problems, the WRX still sold better than the Subaru Solterra electric crossover. This model, which is a rebadged Toyota bZ4X, remains niche for the Japanese brand. In 2025, only 10,715 such cars were sold, which is 13.9% less than in 2024.
Against the backdrop of these declines, certain Subaru models showed good results. For example, Crosstrek sales increased by 5.5% to 191,724 units, and Forester demonstrated stability with a result of 175,070 cars sold. However, other important models such as the Impreza, Outback, BRZ, and Ascent also recorded a decrease in sales volumes.
The overall picture of Subaru sales indicates a difficult period for the brand, especially for its niche and sporty offerings. The market is constantly changing, and manufacturers have to look for new approaches to pricing and marketing to retain customers. The drop in WRX sales may be a signal that buyers are becoming increasingly sensitive to cost, even in the segment of emotional, sports cars. The future of the model will likely depend on Subaru’s ability to find a new balance between performance, equipment, and price that will satisfy both brand loyalists and new customers.