Subaru drops prices on selected models
5 Jan, 2009
30 Comments 
Despite uncertain economic times, Subaru has reduced the cost on some of the most popular models in its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive range.
The price drop applies to certain variants in the Impreza, Liberty and Outback range with a minimum saving of $1500 across these models.
Nick Senior, Managing Director of Subaru Australia has said currency hedging has enabled the brand to pursue this aggressive tactical pricing policy.
“Obviously with the dramatic drop in the exchange rate of the Australian dollar versus the Yen, we will inevitably have to review prices in the future, but just now we are passing on our good fortune to our customers.”
The entry-point into the Impreza range is even more accessible with the Impreza R sedan and hatch reduced by $1500, now starting at $22,990 for manual variants.
Meanwhile both the Liberty 2.5i automatic sedan and wagon have been reduced by $2000 to $32,990 for the sedan and $34,990 for the wagon.
Finally, the Outback 2.5i automatic has also been reduced by $2000 to $36,990.
Revised Impreza R pricing:
Impreza R manual $22,990 (-$1500)
Impreza R SPORTSHIFT automatic $24,990 (-$1500)
Revised Liberty 2.5i pricing:
Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan $32,990 (-$2000)
Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic wagon $34,990 (-$2000)
Revised Outback 2.5i pricing:
Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic $36,990 (-$2000)
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January 5th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Proves that the smaller carmakers can respond decisively to exchange rate fluctuations compared to Toyota who are increasing their prices.
Vote:January 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
So the Liberty 2.5L auto is now $32,990, the same price as the manual?? Why haven’t they dropped the price of the manual ($32,990) down to $30,990?
Vote:January 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Why no movement on Forester? It’s one of the biggest markets (suv).
Vote:Perhaps they are already cutting it fine to compete.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
The no change on the Liberty and Outback manual price is that they probably don’t have any stock on hand because they don’t bring too many into Australia.
Vote:January 5th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Forester already dropped in price by $1500 when they released the new model last year. Previously it sold for $31,990. The new model was launched at $30,490.
Vote:January 5th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Must be overstocked on certain models. Cutting prices in the face of severe exchange rate depreciation is not a formula for long term profit. But raising prices to cover the exchange rate problem is not a recipe for volume sales.
Vote:The car industry is between a rock and a very hard place.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Apparently Subaru “locked in” their prices at the old lower exchange rate and therefore won’t be affected for ‘well into 2009′ (according to a Subaru spokesperson). This is how they’re able to lower prices. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Sell more while they continue to enjoy the lower exchange rate, to offset a potential sales decline when prices inevitably rise.
Vote:January 5th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
good on subaru!!!
Vote:January 6th, 2009 at 6:03 am
I already explained this!! No movement on Forester because it already dropped $1500 when the new model was launched last year! It’s currently $30,490 which is some $1500 less than it’s 3 main competitors.
Vote:January 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I wonder if they made the new Subaru Impreza look better than it does would they have had to reduce the price.. that is have they reduced toe price to try and shift slow moving stock that’s clogging up dealerships and dockyards?
Not that I particularly care because nearly every Impreza that’s been released since 03; makes my 02 [Bug Eyed] RS look even better.
Vote:January 6th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Forza, If their market share is nosediving, how come they have recoreded a YTD volome growth in a decliming market??
Please take your uninformed bias and place it where we can’t see it.
Vote:January 6th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Nothing interesting has had a price reduction, like the 3.0L variants or any turbo models.
Still the 2.5i auto Liberty represents excellent value as not long ago it also got standard leather interior, electric driver’s seats and MacIntosh stereo. It’s just that this particular model is against newer competition in the Accord Euro, regular Accord, Mazda 6, Mondeo, and Passat.
The entry level price reduction should bring new customers to the brand, which is where this price change will be most beneficial to Subaru I suspect.
Vote:January 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
KWICKS – I believe this article is wrong. According to the Subaru website, the Liberty manual is still $32,990 while the automatic is $34,990 (not $32,990, as the article states). The site does show the decrease in price of the Impreza, however. I don’t think the car is particularly good value. While it is reasonably equipped, the transmission is an old 4-speed while every single competitor now uses at least a 5-speed auto.
Vote:January 7th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
They need too if they want to sell these UGLY things!!!!!!!
Vote:January 8th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Foreskin M.
Nice abuse, particularly as you are still wrong yet again.
The whole market has tanked in the last qtr. Relative to the market Subaru has dropped less than the overall market, therefore has in fact gained market share for the last qtr.
Is that uninformed opinion of yours hurting yet? Or are you used to large things being shoved there?
Vote:January 9th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Forza, All the abuse in the world still doesn’t make you right.
So how do VFACTS numbers lie? Maybe the idiots guide to to broom broom cars that you read might not show it.
Sept – Dec the overall market declined some 3.9%.
Sept – Dec Subaru market share declined about 3.6%
Oh and BTW as a comparison Toyota (market leader) lost 4.1%
Only a child (or one with a child-like mentality) responds with childish abuse when shown to be wrong. You fit the profile perfectly. When does school go back? Time to grow up.
Vote:January 9th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Forza M…you are an idiot. Just a little summary on Subaru and their performance in 2008.
“Subaru has chalked up a milestone of 11 consecutive years of record sales, with 38,492 vehicles registered in a chaotic 12-month period in which many rivals grabbed reverse.
Subaru sales for 2008 were up 0.1 per cent with the Forester regaining its position as the country’s best-selling Compact SUV, with best-ever sales of 14,423 in 2008, up 14.9 per cent”
Fact is, Subaru made gains and increased profit in 2008 compared to other manufacturers.
Vote:January 9th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Forza M,
Vote:you are under arrest!!!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Forza, do you enjoy being a tool?
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Clearly you don’t understand the numbers. If you are that thick then there is no point trying to explain it to you.
Get your teacher to explain statistics and percentages to you when you get back to school.
And no it was YOU who started the abuse, I merely caught you out with a misinformed biased comment. Wrong again, funny that!
Vote:January 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
As I said just because YOU can’t understand the VFACTS numbers, doesn’t mean others can’t.
YOU ARE WRONG, and you are are too peess weak to admit it so START and continue with abuse.
Telling someone to shove their uninformed biased opinions is NOT abuse – you got caught out, live with it.
I have always had every confidence that my interpretation is correct, but just to appease you I ran it past a couple of scientists (you know the Doctor type), who confirmed it.
Anyway when YOU learn how to read VFACTS come back with something sensible, otherwise I’m over this pointless argument with a dropkick such as you.
Vote:January 14th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
bret all i can say mr brainiac is that your name has two t’s at the end not one. case closed arse bandit
Vote:January 16th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Forza was wrong and has nothing, so comes back with what? More abuse!
BTW everyone knows how to spell BRETT. But that is not my name, BRET is a nickname for another name.
And Forza is what? An X-box game? That shows some real intelligence – NOT.
Score 3 – 0 Forza is a loser. Game over.
Vote:January 16th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Forza has nothing but more abuse.
Ironic play on words totally lost on you hey? Still you’ll be off back to school after next week.
Vote:January 17th, 2009 at 10:58 am
[Your comment is awaiting moderation....I THINK NOT!]
WAS ON POLE!
*****PRIMO!******
The WORST WORST thing that you can do to resale is drop the prices.
Those wanting to trade up will feel the pinch by at least this amount its discounted.
The *ethical* thing to do would be to give the buyers extra kit, or free services etc.
Bad move subaru.
In a nutshell, they ONLY discount prices when they cannot sell them, forget all the bullshit excuses, thats the fact.
For mine subaru is a monkey brand, just like haonda was [who dropped a place in overall sales volume to NISSAN] WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY overpriced and underdone
END-OF-STORY!
Cheers
F-
Vote:January 18th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
How then does a “Monkey” brand design and build a series of cars all of which have achieved 5 star crash test safety ratings both here and overseas not to mention win a number of World Rally Championships..
Show me another similar size car to the Impreza which offers the safety and assurity of AWD as well as sport-shift auto; 6 airbags; ABS with EBD and VDC; cruise control; power windows; air conditioning for under $25k
Vote:January 18th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
A car for less than $25K which is fuglier than a new Impreza…. Dodge Caliber
Vote:January 21st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Ahh,,,,,,,,,,,,, now we know why Forza is such a loser, he favours Japan,s worst brand Nissan. Worst value worst quality worst everything.
Vote:February 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Forza, you must be a Car Advice employee to get away with such abusive, off topic comments that dont comply with the “Code of conduct”.
Vote:Kinda explains why this site is realy starting to turn into a bit of a joke.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Thomo, this is the third time i am responding to your guano because the other two times have been awaiting moderation. This probably proves i am not on the payroll.
But having said that let me make a comment on behalf of Caradvice. If you cant handle what people say, dont get on the website wood duck.
Vote:February 12th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Forza, if you can’t comply with the code of conduct, why bother posting crap that will only be deleted?
Just more off topic abuse from you!
Vote: