Last week, when we brought you news about the release of the Subaru Stella in Japan, we told you that the company had a sales goal of 5,000 units per month.
This morning, Subaru issued a release stating that the Stella surpassed that goal in its first week on the market, with 5,438 orders as of June 20. 50.7 percent of the cars sold are in Stella Custom trim. 80 percent of those are Stella Custom R models, which feature the normally aspirated engine. The rest are Stella Custom RSes (above) with the supercharged 4-banger.
The remaining 49.3% of vehicles sold are the two grades of the friendly-faced standard Stella. Customers are touting the car's design, interior flexibility and comfort, fuel economy, and excellent visibility as reasons behind their purchases.
Time will tell if the torrid sales pace continures, but for now, the Subaru Stella looks like a bona fide hit in Japan.
[Source: Subaru Japan]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Scott @ Jun 22nd 2006 6:10PM
It's not practical for the highways, but for most of my Los Angeles surface street commute, something like this would be pretty handy.
risingsunofnihon @ Jun 22nd 2006 6:18PM
I haven't seen any of these on the road yet. Maybe I'll stop by a Subaru dealer later today to check one out. That is, if I can even find a Subaru dealer around here...
Tom Design @ Jun 22nd 2006 6:58PM
I like Subaru cars. They have dated drivetrains which, because of the AWD layout can't be stretched easily, making really cramped for room rear seats. They have 4-speed automatics.
My sister has just bought the WRX and it is a lot of fun in a tiny compartment! It's similar to the tight interior on my A4 wagon, but it moves a heck of a lot faster than the Audi. The Audi's interior is beyond reproach, if a boringly bland in the grey enamel option/grey leather. The WRX has some bizarre loose fabric on the seat covers, that I thought was a cheap car seat cover, and the general look is more "rally" than "oh, really!"
The utilitarian look of the Fit and similar Japanese econoboxes, built to be tall narrow and cheap for the downtown driving in Japan is not my idea of a passenger car. These are pragmatic B-box cars easily turned into take-out food delivery vans. Somehow, where the Fit design fails, there's just enough old school, quirky Subaru styling in here, to make me actually like this economy B-box.
For the most part, Subaru styling has gone Toyota boring; the day of the beautiful SVX and edgy Subaru Brats is gone. Now, we have to endure a morphed-from-the-last-gen-Corolla looking Impreza. The Legend model doesn't stand out from a 2005 Honda, LaCrosse, Camry, or Altima.
But, at least Subaru had a prominent, oval, grill opening filled with their funky global chrome ornament. It was the way you identified the Subaru, seeing that funky chrome "broach" like emblem.
The grill show here is such a direct ripoff of the new Ford company's three bar grill, even in stealing their blue oval shape, that I was shocked! Subaru, shame on you!
emulous1974 @ Jun 22nd 2006 7:25PM
As Subaru of America has decided to see how high they can raise Subaru into a near-luxury/luxury-sport company, they continue to loose the dynamics and customers that made them successful in the U.S.
It's not like I don't think Subaru has the ability to move upmarket. I've owned an '01 2.5RS and currently own an '05 Legacy GT Wagon. I think they need to also get back to offering "cheap" cars. The Stella and R2 would be a great way to show Americans how Subarus are still tough and to bring in a younger generation that will want to buy Subaru's for the rest of their lives.
As Subaru continues to forget the low end of the market in the U.S. they will not be successful in creating their brand into a Major brand IMO.
They were very successful introducing the WRX to the U.S. and bringing a sport compact market upstream and sell for prices no one imagined possible. By not offering a stick shift in the turbo legacy wagon or providing a more powerful engine in the Spec B or a wagon version of it, they are pissing off those of us that grew up with the Imprezas in the 90's and the WRX and want to move upmarket ourselves and stay with Subaru.
Subaru of America seriously needs a new plan.
Uncle Richie @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:53PM
Nah!
SOA (Subaru of America) has it all right - 'scuse the face of the B9 and not that I sure wouldn't like to replace the SVXs (2) that I foolishly sold. but...
You won't find cars with the same content, performance and quality for near the same amount of money.
The impreza needs to be re designed in a bad way to make it more contemporary and this little guy to go against vehicles like th Honda Fit would be great. And that 5 speed GT Wagon available in Canada - espectialy if they would "spec. B" it, would be another nice way to take share from Audi and leave buyers with enought money left to redo the kitchen.
Todd Overman @ Jul 10th 2006 5:51PM
I hope that if this Subie does become a player in the U.S. that they won't call it "Stella." What if I want to drive one?
Toby @ Jul 23rd 2006 12:51AM
Does Subie actually build this or are they getting them from Suzuki. Looks like a Wagon R with different Head lights. Lots of companies buy mini cars from Suzuki.
show cars @ Oct 6th 2006 3:19PM
A perfect car for family's weekend