The Surprising Rise of Subaru’s Sports Car
Subaru’s been quite the intriguing player in the automotive world lately, especially when it comes to their sporty offerings. While Subaru, along with many other carmakers, has been flexing some impressive sales numbers over the months, May 2025 threw a bit of a curveball. The brand shifted nearly 6,000 fewer cars than in May 2024, indicating a shift in consumer interest. But amidst this dip, the Subaru BRZ has gracefully bucked the trend, surprisingly thriving where others have faltered.
Winners and Losers
Hard figures from May reveal a divided landscape for Subaru’s performance models. The WRX, once a darling of the sporty sedan world, saw its demand dwindle by a staggering 71.2% compared to the previous year, with fewer than 500 units sold in May. This marks a year-over-year dip of 23.6%, the sharpest reduction within Subaru’s lineup. Contrarily, the BRZ took the limelight with an impressive 43.6% sales bump compared to the previous May, boasting a 24.6% increase year-over-year. Serving as a pleasant surprise alongside Subaru’s Solterra EV, which saw a 28.4% growth, the BRZ’s comeback is noteworthy.
To put the BRZ’s growth into perspective, Subaru sold only 227 units in May 2024. A 43.6% increase bumped this number to 326 in May 2025. So while it’s an exciting jump, the reality is it’s still a modest volume in the grand scheme—less than the total WRX units sold despite its plummet. Annually, the BRZ might push around 3,000 units, a number well shy of the likes of Porsche’s 911 dynasty, yet it adds a dash of exclusivity to the Subaru badge.
A Mixed Bag
Meanwhile, Subaru’s broader lineup experienced notable fluctuations. The Outback faced the stiffest decline in May, with sales falling by 32.1% as only 11,214 units were sold, striking a stark contrast to the 16,506 from the previous year. The Ascent didn’t fare much better, plunging 32.8% with 3,547 units sold compared to 5,277. Yet, not all were dwelled in shadows. The Crosstrek and Legacy stood out, each enjoying double-digit growth of 15.5% and 24.4% respectively, maintaining an upward trend in the year-to-date figures.
Final Thoughts
There’s an undeniable allure to the BRZ, a car rarer than even the storied Porsche 911, that captures the heart and imagination. Subaru’s overall sales figures for May, while a mixed bag, predominantly illustrate trouble for the WRX. Rumor mills hint at an upcoming STI, which might explain the WRX’s drop as potential buyers sit tight for the next big thing. Despite this, the rebound of sports car sales like the BRZ reminds skeptics that the thrill of the drive is far from dead. It’s a peculiar time for Subaru and its fans, a period of introspection as it navigates peaks and valleys in its storied lineup.
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