Why The New Subaru Forester Jumped An Enormous 148 Percent In One Month

The Subaru Forester just broke an eight-month losing streak. The 2023 Forester compact SUV arrives now, and new model sales jumped nearly 150 percent in October. Subaru of America (SOA) reported October sales, and the recently-redesigned Forester sales are up for the first time since January.

SOA reports Forester compact SUV sales were up 148.0 percent in October, with 11,954 models delivered to customers compared with 4,820 in October 2021. With the massive jump, Forester is still down 33.4 percent for the first ten months of 2022, the most of any all-wheel-drive SUV in SOA's lineup.

Forester has 91,359 total sales in 2022 in ten months compared with 137,074 in 2021, when it was the top-selling model for SOA.

How does Forester compare with Outback and Crosstrek sales?

The hot 2022 Subaru Crosstrek was the top performer by volume again, with 13,635 subcompact SUVs delivered to customers, a 28.74 percent increase compared with the same period in 2021 (10,591).

The Subaru Outback stays second in the lineup in sales through the first ten months of 2022, with an impressive increase of 40.3 percent in October. SOA delivered 11,992 Outback models to customers in October, compared with the same period in 2021 (8,548). Outback has 117,396 models sold to customers in 2022, a decrease of 10.7 percent compared with 2021

With ongoing supply chain issues and new car shortages, what's going on now, and how does it affect customers looking for a 2023 Forester compact SUV?

Subaru Corporation announced its export of the 2023 Crosstrek subcompact SUV and 2023 Forester compact SUV, which jumped 122.1 percent to 40,271 models last month. Subaru says it's the second consecutive month of increased exports of the new models to the U.S. market. Subaru also announced production at the Japan factory where the Forester is manufactured increased 195.3 percent last month, the sixth consecutive month of increase.

That’s good news for Forester buyers. New Forester availability is improving for customers ordering a new Forester through Subaru of America's retailer pipeline.

What is the price of the 2023 Forester?

All 2023 Forester trim levels increased by $550 in price, including destination and delivery. The 2023 Forester comes in six trim levels; The Base Forester starts at $27,620, Premium ($30,620), Sport ($32,190), Limited ($34,300), Wilderness ($35,245), and Touring ($37,720). Pricing includes dealer fees ($1,225).

Note: The 2023 Forester is a carry-over model and will not get any new upgrades over the outgoing model.

Should customers wait for the 2024 Subaru Forester?

If you can wait, the Forester is scheduled to get a complete redesign for the 2024 model year. Planet Subaru says the remodeled Forester will get new exterior styling, interior, infotainment, safety features, and "maybe even a new gas engine with even better fuel economy."

When will customers see the next-generation 2024 Forester?

Planet Subaru says the expected release date is the fall of 2023. They also say the Forester will not get an all-electric powertrain. To meet ever-more-demanding emissions regulations, however, Planet Subaru will not be surprised to see Subaru lean on its engineering partner Toyota and offer a hybrid engine option for the all-new Forester similar to the Crosstrek Hybrid powertrain. Subaru has not confirmed any new information for the next-generation Forester.

As the 2023 models arrive, the Forester jumps in sales, and customers should see more of the new compact SUVs next year.

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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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