The New Subaru Outback Drops To Third Place For The First Time In Months

New 2023 Outback sales increased in February, but the newly-upgraded Outback finished the month behind the older 2023 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV and Forester compact SUV that both returned as carryover models with no changes or upgrades.

Outback was the third top performer in February.

The newly upgraded 2023 Subaru Outback midsize SUV increased 5.5 percent in February, with 9,108 models sold compared with 8,637 in February 2022. Even with the increase, the Outback drops to third place in the lineup. But, the Outback is up 1.9 percent in the first two months of 2023.

Forester is now the second-best-selling model.

In February, the 2023 Subaru Forester compact SUV finished second in SOA's lineup. However, Forester continued its slide and dropped 10.9 percent, with 10,030 models sold compared with 11,255 in February 2022. Forester drops 18.7 percent in the first two months.

Outback is still behind the Crosstrek.

The hot Crosstrek started the year hot, and in February, the subcompact SUV gets red hot. The 2023 Crosstrek was SOA's overall sales leader again. In addition, Crosstrek was the top performer by volume, achieving its best February ever with 14,816 vehicle sales, surpassing its previous record set in February 2022 (14,476).

The Crosstrek also had a record month in January to start the year. The hot Crosstrek is up 14.7 percent for the first two months of the year, the most of any Subaru nameplate.

It's up and down for the Outback

The 2023 Outback midsize SUV that received new upgrades should be ahead of the 2023 Crosstrek and older Forester in sales volume. There are two reasons why Outback falls to third. First, the Crosstrek and Forester are less expensive, and second, they are more fuel efficient than the Outback midsize SUV. With new vehicles getting more expensive and interest rates rising, Outback sales have dropped.

The newly-upgraded Outback should be the hot model in Subaru of America's all-wheel-drive lineup with its new improvements and the outdoor-themed Outback Wilderness trim level. But the midsize SUV sales are up and down.

The 2024 Outback could be a game-changer. Subaru of America announced the 2024 Outback model changes and pricing recently. Check out the 2024 Outback's new upgrades and pricing changes here.

For the 2024 model year, the Outback will be available in nine trim levels. The Base is priced at $30,190, Premium ($32,490), Onyx Edition ($37,400), Limited ($37,090), Touring ($41,640), Onyx Edition XT ($40,655), Wilderness ($41,255), Limited XT ($41,490), and Touring XT ($44,090). In addition, destination and delivery fees are included in the price above ($1,295).

Will the 2023 Subaru Outback return as the top-selling model in Subaru of America's lineup in 2023? The new 2024 Outback upgrades could change its outlook. Stay tuned.

You Might Also Like: The 2024 Subaru Outback Pricing, Model Guide, and Its Most Significant New Upgrade

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