Subaru WRX sales more than doubled in September 2026, helping drive stronger showroom performance across much of the automaker’s lineup. The return of the base-model WRX for the 2026 model year came as Subaru’s Forester also posted record September sales.
Subaru WRX Sales Surge in September
Subaru sold 1,703 WRX models in September 2026, up 166.1 percent from the 640 units sold during the same month in 2025. The increase may be tied to the return of the base model, which was discontinued for the 2025 model year.
The entry-level 2026 WRX starts at $32,495, more than $5,000 below its starting price for the 2025 model year. It is also $240 cheaper than the equivalent base model from 2024.
Despite having fewer luxury and technology features than more expensive WRX trims, the base model uses a turbocharged 271-horsepower engine, a six-speed manual gearbox and Symmetrical all-wheel drive.
Forester Sets September Sales Record
The Forester remained Subaru’s most popular vehicle, with 15,989 units sold in September 2026. That figure represented a 45.9 percent increase over September 2025 and marked a new September sales record for the model.
The available hybrid powertrain and the newly redesigned Wilderness model may have contributed to the Forester’s performance. Subaru is also set to combine the two with the launch of the Wilderness hybrid later this year, creating the automaker’s first gas-electric off-road model.
Most Subaru Models Posted Sales Gains
The stronger September performance extended beyond the WRX and Forester. Subaru’s Ascent sales increased about 16 percent in September 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, while the BRZ sports coupe posted a 20 percent improvement.
The Outback also recorded a modest gain, with 12,651 units sold in September, up 1.1 percent from September 2025.
Only the Impreza, Solterra and Legacy posted sales declines during the month. The arrival of the Uncharted and Trailseeker EVs this year more than compensated for those losses.
Subaru Year-to-Date Sales Still Trail 2025
Despite the strong September results, Subaru’s year-to-date sales remain below last year’s pace. Through September 30, 2026, the automaker had sold 475,878 vehicles, compared with 483,037 units during the first nine months of 2025.
The September gains across much of the lineup give Subaru a stronger finish to the third quarter, while its year-to-date sales remain below the comparable period in 2025.
