By G+ May 15 2018 - 7:48am

Will Subaru Drop WRX/STI, Impreza, Legacy For All-SUV Lineup Like Ford?

While Ford may be going with an all-SUV lineup, Don’t look for Subaru to follow suit.

Subaru may be bringing a new Ascent 3-Row SUV to the U.S. and Canadian markets, and a new Crosstrek Hybrid later this year, but don’t look for them to drop the WRX/STI, Impreza and Legacy sedans. Ford announced it would drop passenger cars in favor of an all-SUV and truck lineup, and it may make sense for the U.S. automaker.

It’s different for Subaru who has created a niche market for fuel-efficient, all-wheel-drive vehicles that include its WRX/STI performance cars, Impreza compact and Legacy sedan. While they aren’t SUVs and Crossovers like their top three selling vehicles, Outback, Forester and Crosstrek, they are all-wheel-drive, all-weather, capable which sets them apart from Ford’s cars.

Subaru sees their car sales drop

Subaru is seeing their sedan sales drop with the 2018 WRX/STI (-8.2 percent), Impreza (-16.3 percent), and Legacy (-13.9 percent) YTD in 2018, but the Japanese automaker may be quietly licking their chops as those Ford compact car and sedan buyers will be looking at other brands. Subaru could stand to benefit as those shoppers look at the WRX/STI, Impreza and Legacy all-wheel-drive models.

The Legacy is the only sedan on the market to come standard with AWD, Impreza also comes in a hatchback body style, and WRX/STI is their flagship performance sedan with a cult-like following. It’s unlikely Subaru Corporation will drop these models that have accounted for 46,871 units in the first quarter of 2018.

Subaru has always been an automaker that goes against the grain of what other carmakers are doing. Regardless of body style, they will continue to offer a lineup of all-wheel-drive vehicles, that are powered by fuel-efficient boxer engines, have safety as their core value, and offer Symmetrical all-wheel-drive as standard on every vehicle. While Subaru has not confirmed it, they won’t likely drop the WRX/STI, Impreza or Legacy in favor of an all-SUV lineup like Ford.

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Photo credit: Subaru