Subaru Price Increases

Subaru Price Hikes

Subaru, following the trend of many auto manufacturers, is raising the prices of its vehicle lineup. These changes, effective from June, will see increases ranging from $750 to a whopping $2,055, depending on the particular model and trim level. This revelation came from Planet Subaru, a dealership in Massachusetts, which gave a detailed breakdown on this pricing shift, and Subaru has confirmed these adjustments publicly.

The Subaru Ascent, made in America, has been hit with the largest increase, seeing prices bumped up between $1,085 and $2,055. On the sports car front, the BRZ and WRX, both imported from Japan, will each surge by $2,000. The compact Impreza and Crosstrek will each see a $750 hike, while the soon-to-be-phased-out Legacy sedan will jump by $1,600. Other favorites like the Forester are due for increases between $1,075 and $1,600, and the outgoing Outback is looking at a $1,715 to $1,820 escalation.

Solterra Stays Level

The exception in this wave of price hikes is Subaru’s electric crossover, the Solterra. At least for now, it dodges any increase. The question on many minds is whether the increases result from growing production and transportation costs or if there’s more at play, like the recent tariffs impacting imported automobiles.

Market Conditions

In Subaru’s official communications, the company explained its price increase strategy as an alignment with “current market conditions.” The emphasis was on maintaining a good value for customers while accounting for heightened costs. Despite speculation, Subaru is firm that these changes are unrelated to tariffs or the country of origin of manufacture.

Yet, the timing of these hikes is suspect. It closely follows the introduction of a 25% tariff by former President Trump on imported vehicles. This tariff has affected numerous brands, not just Subaru. Ford, for instance, has raised prices on models like the Maverick, Bronco Sport, and Mustang Mach-E citing tariffs as a contributing factor. According to Planet Subaru, the recent price bumps aren’t enough to offset those tariffs, indicating possible future increases if trade conditions don’t improve by 2025.

Summary

The auto industry is seeing a ripple effect, with luxury brands like Ferrari and Aston Martin also planning increases, while giant General Motors vows to maintain current prices despite an anticipated $4 to $5 billion loss from tariffs.

Subaru seems intent on keeping its price adjustments somewhat under the radar to avoid political backlash. This strategy aligns with retail giants like Walmart, who’ve been cautious in attributing price increases to tariffs following criticism from the previous administration.

For those considering a new Subaru, it’s advised to act swiftly. Current prices won’t last long, and anyone looking to drive home an affordable WRX, Outback, or Forester might benefit from heading to dealers before June kicks in with the new pricing.