Subaru says Forester logs 8,000 JDM orders in first month, 4x expectations

Fri, 21 Dec 2012

The 2014 Subaru Forester is not on sale yet here in the US, but it has been on sale in Japan since the middle of last month. In that time, Subaru says that the 8,149 customer orders it has received have more than quadrupled the original expectation of just 2,000 units.

To go along with these impressive orders so far, Subaru has also provided a breakdown of exactly what initial customers are ordering, and based on the numbers provided, it would appear that early customers are choosing well-equipped models. This includes almost 90 percent of all models being ordered with the new Subaru EyeSight system, and while close to two-thirds of the Forester models are equipped with the base 2.0-liter engine, the turbocharged Forester 2.0XT is the most popular individual trim level accounting for almost 40 percent of the orders out of four available trim levels. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues as more Foresters hit dealers, but this is definitely a good sign for the compact crossover right out of the gate.

There's a brief press release after the jump that gives a full breakdown of customer orders so far in Japan.

Show full PR text

All-New Subaru Forester Orders in Japan Exceed 8,000 in First Month
- Sales More Than Quadruple Monthly Target -

Tokyo, December 18, 2012 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that the orders for the all-new Forester in Japan have reached 8,149 units as of December 16 in just one month after its launch on November 13. This breaks the monthly sales target of 2,000 units by more than fourfold.

Breakdown of the orders:
1. Trim

2.0i 2.2%
2.0i-L 8.7%
2.0i-L EyeSight 32.5%
2.0i-S EyeSight 18.0%
2.0XT 2.5%
2.0XT EyeSight 36.1%

2. Engine

Naturally aspired 61.4%
Direct injected turbocharged ("DIT") 38.6%

3. EyeSight

EyeSight-equipped 86.6%

4. Exterior Color

Satin White Pearl 27.0%
Crystal Black Silica 24.9%
Ice Silver Metallic 19.3%
Deep Sea Blue Pearl 9.1%
Dark Gray Metallic 7.0%
Venetian Red Pearl 6.9%
Deep Cherry Pearl 2.9%
Burnished Bronze Metallic 2.9%

Customer reviews on the fourth generation Forester include:

Fun to drive with improved driving performance
Feels secure with the EyeSight driver-assist system
Easy to drive with the right size and good visibility
Impressive versatility

As shown in the strong demand and positive customer feedback, Subaru's latest SUV is making a great start with its overall enhancement in drivability, safety and versatility.

By Jeffrey N. Ross