27-05-2025
Your Next Subaru Just Got Pricier: What the Hikes Mean for Buyers`
Subaru is joining a growing list of automakers raising prices. Starting in June, nearly every Subaru model will see a price increase, with hikes ranging from $750 to $2,055 depending on the model and trim. Planet Subaru, a Subaru dealer in Massachusetts, broke the news in a detailed pricing update, and the company later confirmed the changes in a statement to the press.
The largest increase affects the American-made Subaru Ascent, with trims rising by $1,085 to $2,055. Subaru's two performance-oriented Japanese imports, the BRZ and WRX, are each climbing by a flat $2,000. The compact Impreza and Crosstrek will each cost $750 more, and the soon-to-be-discontinued Legacy sedan will jump by $1,600. Other popular models like the Forester will see bumps between $1,075 and $1,600, while the outgoing Outback is increasing by $1,715 to $1,820.
Subaru's electric crossover, the Solterra, is the lone vehicle in the lineup not receiving a price increase, at least for now. While many automakers cite rising production and shipping costs for price increases, the magnitude of these changes has prompted speculation that tariffs are a driving factor, even if Subaru won't say so directly.
Subaru's official line is that the price hikes are simply a response to "current market conditions." In a statement to the media, the company said it was adjusting pricing "to offset increased costs while maintaining a solid value proposition for our customers." The automaker emphasized that its pricing "is not based on the country of origin of its products."
Still, the timing is hard to ignore. The increases come just months after former President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, impacting many foreign and domestic brands. Subaru isn't alone in raising prices - Ford recently hiked prices on the Mexican-made Maverick, Bronco Sport, and Mustang Mach-E, acknowledging that tariffs were partly responsible. According to Planet Subaru, the increases "are insufficient to cover the costs of the tariffs," and more hikes may be on the way later in 2025 if the trade landscape doesn't improve.
The industrywide ripple effects are already clear. Ferrari and Aston Martin have said they'll raise prices to handle tariffs, while General Motors has pledged not to pass costs along to buyers, even though it expects to lose $4 to $5 billion because of them.
As for Subaru, the strategy seems to be to raise prices without drawing political ire. The company's refusal to name tariffs directly mirrors recent caution from major retailers like Walmart, which faced criticism from Trump for blaming higher prices on the levies.
For shoppers, this means the window for lower Subaru prices is closing quickly. If you're in the market for a new WRX, Outback, or Forester, it might be worth locking in a deal before June, before another round of increases hits the lot.
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