The Legacy’s Last Lap
Despite Subaru’s overall sales decline in 2025, the Legacy recorded a 13.4 percent increase, with deliveries reaching 22,212 units. The sales uptick is notable given that the final U.S.-market Legacy already rolled off the automaker’s Indiana plant last September, bringing its 36-year run in the American market to a close.
Introduced to Americans in 1989, the Legacy carved out a distinct position by offering all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option in the mass-market midsize segment. At the time, most rivals – including the Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Lumina – were front-wheel drive. Even today, the Honda Accord does not offer AWD, a feature that would arguably make sense given the wide range of weather conditions across the United States.
The Rise of the Crossover
One reason Subaru discontinued the Legacy appears to be tied to shifting market demand, as consumers have increasingly gravitated toward crossovers and SUVs over traditional sedans. The Outback, after all, is largely derived from the Legacy’s underpinnings but adds a higher ride height and more rugged styling—traits that better align with the automaker's outdoors-focused brand identity. In total, approximately 1.398 million Legacy units were produced at the Indiana plant, including 1,056,056 sedans and 342,938 wagons.
Beyond the Legacy, the Crosstrek was the only other Subaru model to post sales growth in 2025. The compact crossover achieved its best full-year result on record, with 191,724 units sold—an increase of 5.5 percent. The Forester ranked as the brand’s second-best-selling model, posting only a marginal decline of 0.3 percent, followed by the Outback, which recorded 157,716 units sold, down 6.6 percent year over year.
The Road Forward
Overall, the Japanese marque delivered 643,591 vehicles in 2025, representing a 3.6 percent decline compared to 2024. Subaru also reported December 2025 sales of 57,437 units, with the all-electric Subaru Solterra accounting for just 498 deliveries – a steep 57.3 percent drop compared to the same period the previous year. This decline mirrors a broader trend across the U.S. market following the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit last September.
While the Legacy has exited the U.S. lineup, Subaru is preparing to introduce new models this year, including two all-electric additions: the Trailseeker and the Uncharted. The Trailseeker is set to become the largest model in the brand's EV portfolio, while the Uncharted will slot into the compact electric crossover segment, where it will compete with vehicles such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Volvo EX30.
