Subaru Forester celebrates turning 18 with best ever sales

 

The first generation Subaru Forester made its debut 18 years ago in Japan this month. The 2015 Subaru Forester celebrates with record sales. Is Forester still relevant today?

The first generation Subaru Forester rolled off the assembly line in Gunma Japan 18 years ago. The compact crossover has been manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries and sold under the Subaru brand since 1997. The third generation Forester was crowned Motor Trend's 2009 SUV of the Year, and the fourth generation Car Connection's Best Car To Buy 2014 and again Motor Trend's 2014 SUV of the Year. The 2015 Subaru Forester continues to roll with more success. 

First generation 1997-2002

Forester made its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995 as the Streega Concept and made its way to production in February 1997. The first Subaru Forester made its way to the U.S. in 1998 and was offered with all-wheel-drive, a 5-speed manual transmission and a 2.5-liter boxer engine producing 165 horsepower and 162 lb ft of torque. 

Second generation 2003-2008

The compact SUV rode on the Impreza platform but it featured a taller stance, higher H-point seating, and Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system. The second generation was introduced in 2003 at the Chicago Auto Show and came with a number of weight-reducing refinements like an aluminum hood, perforated roof rails and hydro-formed front sub frame. In 2004 the Forester XT turbo model was released.

Third generation 2009-2013

The third generation Forester launched in 2008 and made its North American debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that same year. Forester's wheelbase grew by 3.5 inches, with overall increases of 3.0 inches in length, 1.8 inches in width and 4.3 inches in height. The compact SUV also saw a redesigned exterior and received a sloping roof line and more cargo space.

Fourth generation 2014-present

The fourth generation Forester was introduced in 2014 and received a major redesign from the ground up. Subaru re-engineered the small SUV with the latest technology, and it’s the safest mid-size SUV on the planet. With the fourth generation model, Subaru stayed true to their core values of good visibility, cargo carrying ability and versatility. 

Demand for the 2015 Subaru Forester is strong and January was the best ever for the SUV. Subaru knows where their market niche is and they stayed true to their core values. They have done a great job of marketing to their key customers and Subaru reports up to 60 percent of buyers are new to the brand. Subaru reports 18th consecutive months of more than 10,000 Foresters sold since the redesign. The complete overhaul for the fourth generation Forester is paying off big for Subaru.

Subaru Canada: ALG's Best Mainstream Brand with Five Awards

(MISSISSAUGA) - Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) is thrilled to be named overall Best Mainstream Brand for 2015 and take home four Canadian Residual Value Segment Awards from ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data. The seventh annual ALG awards honoured 2015 vehicles predicted to hold their value better than any other vehicles in the segment. Winning the Best Mainstream Brand award means that Subaru holds its value better than all other mainstream brands in Canada.

"Subaru's commitment to performance, durability and safety are the key reasons why there is a progressive desirability for their products in the Canadian market," said Geoff Helby, Canadian regional director, ALG. "Subaru continues to expand its devotee base with compelling redesigns. Subdued fleet sales and incentives ensure that sales growth occurs by organic retail demand, which in turn enhances Subaru's used market brand image."

"Subaru is delighted to receive this outstanding recognition from ALG. To be named Best Mainstream Brand with best-in-class honours for four Subaru models is further proof of what Subaru owners already know - a Subaru is excellent value for the money," said Shiro Ohta, chairman, president, and CEO of Subaru Canada. "This adds yet another layer of confidence for Canadians considering Subaru ownership."

For the fifth consecutive year, the Subaru Outback received a Canadian Residual Value Award in the Mid-size Utility Vehicle - 2 Row segment. This is especially notable as ALG's Residual Value Awards have only been announced in Canada for the past seven years. 

 

"The Outback earns its fifth consecutive Residual Value Award as a unique entry from a brand that draws great loyalty from Canadians," said Helby. "The Outback's 2015 redesign offers a mix of standard all-wheel drive, great utility and interior refinement. Subaru has evolved its SUV alternative over the years, offering a more spacious interior while keeping the benefits of its adventure-inspired roots."

In the hotly contested Sports Car segment, the Subaru BRZ offers thrilling performance, Subaru dependability as well as a low entry price. These attributes help the BRZ proudly take home top honours as Best Sports Car for the third year in a row. 

"Subaru's rear-wheel-drive coupe is one of the most exciting things to happen to the Sports Car segment in a generation," remarked Helby. "Offering the thrill of a raw sporting experience with the quality of the Subaru brand, the BRZ is a great mix of excitement and value. Few cars can match its feeling of connectedness to the road, even at twice the price."

Since the awards' inception, the Subaru Impreza has remained a top pick for six of the past seven years, winning five consecutive segment awards from 2009 to 2013. The Impreza reclaims its top spot for 2015 as Best Compact Car.

"The Impreza's combination of all-wheel-drive capability, segment-competitive fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive attitude makes it one of the most complete vehicles in this hyper-competitive segment," said Helby. "Even relatively late in its lifecycle, the Impreza continues to provide a compelling value for the Canadian market, offering standard AWD in a segment where price is usually a large consideration."

Lastly, the 2015 Subaru Legacy was named Best Midsize Car.

"The all-new Legacy's mix of all-weather capability and Subaru reliability, along with a new dose of refinement, makes it an excellent choice for families," concluded Helby. 

 

 The annual ALG Canada Residual Value Awards recognize automakers' outstanding achievements for vehicles that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period for luxury brands and a four-year period for mainstream brands. Awards are given in 27 vehicle categories and also for the two brands with the highest overall predicted residual values among all mainstream and premium vehicles. This year's awards are based on 2015 model year vehicles.

One reason you’ll want to own a 2015 Subaru WRX in five years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2015 Subaru WRX picks up an award from KBB for the Best Resale Value in the Sporty Compact Car Category. What two sporty models did WRX beat?

 

The 2015 Subaru WRX performance sedan is a sporty car you will want to buy now own in five years. According to Kelly Blue Book (KBB), the new 2015 WRX will retain its value better than any other compact sports car. Subaru performance fans have known this as the iconic model has been a popular car with performance enthusiasts for decades. 

It’s starts with the WRX being the most affordable all-wheel-drive sports car on the market. Now it also earns an award from KBB as having the best resale value in its class. KBB says WRX will retain 64.2 percent of its value after 36 months and 49.4 percent after 60 months. WRX also gets the best MPG in its class at 21/28 city/highway.

VW and Honda score second and third place
 The runner up in second place was the 2015 Volkswagen GTI. KBB says the sporty two-door model will retain 59.0 percent of its value after 36 months and 46.2 percent after 60 months. The third place finisher is the 2015 Honda Civic Si sport coupe. KBB estimates the CivicSi will retain 59.0 percent of its value after 36 months and 45.0 percent after 60 months.
How are values determined?

KBB comes up with these values by reviewing statistical models built upon millions of transactions to come up with the results for consumers. Vehicles like the Subaru WRX that earn the highest five-year residual values, expressed as a percentage of their original Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), are selected for individual prestigious awards.

KBB impressed with WRX
Kelly Blue Book says WRX is a “terrific all-around value.” because of its bounty of standard equipment, exhilarating performance and value-for-money. They mention that the performance sedan is just as at home in the city as it is on the racetrack. Combined with a well-equipped starting price of $26,295 plus destination, KBB says “it's safe to say the Subaru WRX is the pocket rocket you can actually justify.”
These are all things performance enthusiasts already know and it’s why dealers can’t keep the 2015 Subaru WRX on their lots.

The Subaru Love Promise

We believe in making the world a better place. That's why we build fuel-efficient vehicles in eco-friendly plants. That's why, over the past 20 years, we've donated more than 50 million dollars to causes we all care about, and our employees have logged more than 28,000 volunteer hours.

And that's why we created the Subaru Love Promise. It's a pledge to do right by the communities in which we all live and work. We've signed it, and throughout the country, our retailers are doing the same. This is our promise to continue making a positive impact in the world and our neighborhoods.

Sport Subaru goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service and support causes that are important. 

Our Causes

It’s our aim to spread the Love Promise as far as possible. That’s why we work with a diverse range of organizations. Many of them fall under one of these areas of focus. 

Animals

Whether they live in our homes

or in the wild, Subaru is committed

to keeping all animals safe and healthy.

 

 

Environment

Loving the environment means 

more than loving the great outdoors.

It means working to preserve it.

 

 

Education

It’s our goal to make the

pursuit of knowledge 

available to as many minds

as possible.

 

 

Community

In a perfect world,

hunger would be history

and hope would be commonplace.

We believe a perfect world is possible.

 

 

Health

We should all have

a chance to lead a healthy life.

We’re aiming to give as many

 people that chance as we can. 

 

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