The Subaru WRX is Seeing a Huge Spike in Sales. Here's Why

The Subaru WRX is enjoying a major sales rebound in the U.S. just as the model seemed to be losing momentum, thanks to a repositioned lineup, the return of a more affordable entry point and another critical factor.

Subaru sold 1,233 WRXs in the United States in June. While that figure looks small next to the 16,288 Foresters and moved in the same month, it marks a massive 252.3 percent jump (nearly a fourfold increase) over the 350 WRXs sold in June a year earlier. Through the first half of the year, sales of the sports sedan climbed 10.5 percent, rising from 6,431 to 7,108 cars.

The Return of the Base Trim

The driving force behind much of that gain is the reintroduction of the base entry-level model, which returned to the lineup starting at $32,495. This undercuts the cheapest version from the previous model year by $5,255.

While onlookers naturally pointed to the lower price tag as the primary catalyst, Subaru notes that the massive year-over-year percentage jump is also a reflection of a heavily supply-constrained period in 2025.

"We’re encouraged by the feedback we’ve heard from consumers about 2026," Aaron Cole, Product Communications Manager for Subaru of America, Inc., told us. "This year, we repositioned the price of the WRX lineup and brought back a base trim level starting at $32,495 MSRP USD, offering great value."

Cole added that the dramatic sales spike involves more than just a lower barrier to entry. "As you might imagine, the sales increase is a little more complicated than ‘lower price, higher volume,’" Cole explained. "This time last summer, WRX volume was very supply-constrained due to planned production shifts in Japan. We had extremely low inventory numbers in Q2 and Q3 of 2025, and supply only approached normal close to Q4 2025."

With inventory pipeline issues sorted and a repositioned pricing strategy, the brand is highly optimistic about the sports sedan's trajectory. "We’re looking forward to a great year this year for WRX," Cole said.

The return of the base model has found a ready audience, especially among enthusiasts who plan to modify their vehicles with aftermarket parts and prefer not to pay a premium for factory equipment they intend to swap out anyway.

Price Adjustments Across the Lineup

The savings aren't just limited to the entry-level model; significant price adjustments extend across the rest of the 2026 WRX range:

• WRX Premium: Starts at $33,995, representing a $3,755 saving compared to the previous year.
• WRX Limited: Available from $38,995, down $3,685 year-over-year.
• WRX GT (CVT only): Reduced by $2,710 to a starting price of $44,995.
• WRX tS: The most performance-focused variant also sees a $2,710 reduction, starting at $44,995.