Subaru scrapping longest-running model line next year after company announces ‘new era’ in latest blow for sedans
By Ben Shimkus,
2024-09-11
AFTER more than 25 years in the American vehicle market and six generations of remodels, Subaru announced it would discontinue one of its most iconic lineups.
Subaru launched the all-wheel-drive sedan in the US vehicle market in 1989, but the car will go the way of the dodo in 2025.
The Subaru Legacy, pictured above, is one of several sedans getting the axe Subaru Multiple new Subarus sit outside a dealership Getty Subaru’s Legacy has been an iconic, decades-old lineup for the brand Subaru
The Japanese automaker announced in April that it would discontinue the Legacy sedan in the spring of 2025.
The car carries an essential history for the off-road-inspired brand.
Legacy was the first model built on American soil after Subaru opened the vehicle’s Indiana assembly plant in 1989.
Initially, the boxy, angular sedan competed with other popular mid-size imports from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.
“The first-generation Legacy began a new era for Subaru,” the company said in the statement.
It directly competed with the best-selling Camry, Accord, and, eventually, the Altima.
Subaru also produced a station wagon sedan for families looking for more storage and a hatch trunk.
But the brand pulled the station wagon after the lineup’s 2014 redesign.
Ultimately, the Legacy sold 1.3 million copies in the US. It remains one of the cheaper new vehicle options in its outgoing year, with a $24,895 base price.
“Though the Legacy is the longest-running Subaru model line, its discontinuation reflects market shifts from passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers and Subaru’s transition to electrified and fully electric vehicles,” Subaru said in its April statement.
The company said it was shifting its focus to battery-electric powertrains and hoped eight EV models would reach American dealerships by 2028.
Subaru’s only EV in showrooms is the Solterra crossover SUV, a near mirror image of Toyota’s only EV, the bZ4X.
“The Legacy has played a very important part in the history of Subaru of America, but the market demand for mid-size sedans has diminished,” a spokesperson for Subaru told The U.S. Sun.
“Subaru of America’s lineup continues to evolve to meet our customers’ needs.”
SEDAN SLASH
Several brands with American showrooms are killing off their sedans and zeroing in on the SUV and crossover market.
Nissan is facing a wave of speculation that two popular sedans will leave showrooms next year.
Anonymous internal representatives told Automotive News that the Versa and Altima sedans are in talks to end production.
Meanwhile, the Infiniti Q50, the luxury outfit of Nissan’s midsize sedan, also received the axe .
The Q50’s production will end in 2024.
Audi, the luxury brand under VW’s tutelage, announced it would discontinue the A4 sedan.
The company said it is refocusing sedan-buyers on the sportier A5.
Comments / 4
Add a Comment
James J. Rivera
09-14
I've been trading for about 5 years, but crypto trading is the ultimate thing. If you're trying to make money, trading with Henry Artem's trading strategy is the perfect solution for your needs. I earned 6btc from 2btc investment. You can contact him via Signal App at (HENRYARTEM.42) or whatsaqq @ ( )447495743426 for Crypto-related issues
Right is RIGHT
09-12
We love our Legacy. Not everyone wants an SUV or crossover.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
