by Subaru WRX Sales Surge 148% After Price Cuts
After significant price reductions, Subaru WRX sales have surged nearly 150%. The model starts at $32,495 and is equipped with a 2.4-liter turbo engine producing 271 hp. Overall Subaru sales rose by 10.6%, driven by the Crosstrek and Forester models.
The Honda Prelude continues to outpace the Subaru BRZ: in May, 318 hybrid Prelude coupes were sold, while their traditional competitor, the Subaru BRZ, found just 255 buyers.
Record Growth for the WRX
Fortunately for Subaru’s sports models, not all was bad: WRX sales soared by 147.9% to 1,195 units. The company didn’t mention this under-the-radar sedan in its sales report, but such growth is not surprising given the significant price cuts and the return of the base trim.
Thanks to these changes, the 2026 Subaru WRX starts at $32,495, which is $5,255 less than last year’s model. Subaru also reduced the price of the WRX Premium by $3,755 and the WRX Limited by $3,685. Even the WRX GT and WRX tS received a $2,710 discount.
Overall Subaru Performance
Excluding sports models, Subaru’s total sales in May rose by 10.4% to 57,748 units. This was largely driven by high demand for the Crosstrek and Forester.
Subaru noted that the Crosstrek achieved its best-ever May sales figures, while hybrid sales set a new monthly record. The Japanese automaker also reported its best-ever monthly EV sales at 3,094 units.
Electric Vehicles and Other Models
Although Solterra sales fell by 39.8%, this decline was more than offset by the new Trailseeker and Uncharted models. Notably, the latter EV even outsold the aforementioned WRX.
Status of Other Models
As for the rest of the lineup, the situation was not very encouraging, and it’s not just about the Outback. Sales of the aging Ascent continued to decline, while the Impreza dropped by 35.8%. The “zombie” Legacy found 90 buyers, but sales are expected to quickly fizzle out, as a quick search shows fewer than 100 new units remain in stock.
Subaru US Sales for May
| Model | May 26 | May 25 | % Change | YTD 26 | YTD 25 | % Change |
| Ascent | 3,293 | 3,547 | -7.2% | 15,940 | 18,384 | -13.3% |
| BRZ | 255 | 326 | -21.8% | 1,341 | 1,459 | -8.1% |
| Crosstrek | 17,409 | 15,793 | 10.2% | 71,573 | 74,340 | -3.7% |
| Forester | 19,577 | 15,434 | 26.8% | 91,566 | 84,629 | 8.2% |
| Impreza | 1,577 | 2,457 | -35.8% | 6,933 | 12,923 | -46.4% |
| Legacy | 90 | 1,793 | -94.9% | 2,125 | 9,469 | -77.6% |
| Outback | 11,258 | 11,214 | 0.4% | 48,884 | 62,649 | -21.9% |
| Solterra | 750 | 1,246 | -39.8% | 4,919 | 5,326 | -7.6% |
| Trailseeker | 1,074 | 0 | 0% | 1,483 | 0 | 0% |
| Uncharted | 1,270 | 0 | 0% | 1,792 | 0 | 0% |
| WRX | 1,195 | 482 | 147.9% | 5,875 | 6,081 | -3.4% |
| TOTAL | 57,748 | 52,292 | 10.4% | 252,431 | 275,260 | -8.3% |
Interestingly, Subaru’s strategy of cutting WRX prices proved extremely effective, demonstrating that even in the sports car segment, buyer price sensitivity remains high. At the same time, the success of the new electric models Trailseeker and Uncharted indicates that the company is gradually finding its niche in the EV market, despite the drop in Solterra sales. The overall sales picture shows that Subaru is betting on crossovers and hybrids, which provide the bulk of sales volume, while traditional sedans and older models are gradually losing popularity.
