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The New Outback Just Missed Subaru’s Top Model Spot By Only 100 Sales

The race for Subaru of America’s top sales spot was close between the 2022 Subaru Forester and the 2022 Subaru Outback. See how few models separated the two top all-wheel-drive vehicles.

Subaru of America (SOA) announced December and year-end sales for its lineup, and it was a tight race for the top sales spot in 2021. The refreshed 2022 Subaru Forester arrived in December and contributed to the compact SUVs sales surge.

SOA announced Forester had 13,930 sales in December, making it the number one nameplate for the month. The strong finish put the Forester in the top spot to finish 2021 with 154,723 models delivered to customers. But the Outback wasn't far behind.

2022 Subaru Outback, Outback Wilderness, features, specs, pricing
photo credit: Competition Subaru

The 2022 Subaru Outback has been leading Forester in total sales for the entire second half of 2021. Still, Outback had 12,643 model sales in December and finished the year with 154,623 models delivered to customers, just 100 units behind the Forester.

The Forester compact SUV was down 12.6 percent compared with 2020 sales for the year. The popular Outback midsize SUV finished the year up 0.9 percent compared with 2020.

2022 Subaru Outback, Outback Wilderness, features, specs, pricing
photo credit: Competition Subaru

The 2022 Outback has been one of the most popular models in Subaru of America’s all-wheel-drive lineup. The Outback has received numerous awards, and the Outback Wilderness is a sought-after new trim level with outdoor enthusiasts.

With the severe shortage of new vehicles because of the global microchip shortages, it’s hard to tell how many Outback and Outback Wilderness models would have been delivered to customers in 2021. Subaru retailers are selling the new rugged Wilderness models as fast as they get them from Subaru of Indiana Automotive.

The new models arrived in the fall of 2021 and have been a monumental success for the Camden, N.J. automaker. We don’t know how many Wilderness trims were sold, as SOA does not separate the rugged trim from the standard models.

What is the price of the 2022 Subaru Outback?

The 2022 Outback comes in eight trim levels; the base trim is priced from $27,845, Premium ($30,270), Limited ($34,720), Touring ($38,620), Onyx Edition XT ($36,270), new for 2022, Outback Wilderness ($38,120), Limited XT ($39,120), and Touring XT ($41,070). Pricing includes $1,125 destination and delivery fees.

What is coming for the 2023 Outback?

The 2023 Outback, in the fourth year of their life cycle, will get a refresh. Subaru typically gives its models a refresh with a new front fascia outside (headlights, bumper, hexagon grille), unique interior upgrades with fabric changes inside, and a new exterior color. The midsize SUV will also get new safety technology. New models should arrive in the late summer of 2022. Check out more details in the link below.

The race for Subaru of America’s top sales spot was close between the 2022 Subaru Forester and the 2022 Subaru Outback. The popular Outback midsize SUV was only 100 units behind to finish 2021.

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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: Subaru USA