This year has been a wild rollercoaster ride for everyone, especially automakers and car dealerships. Shuttering the economy earlier this year put a damper on vehicle production and retailer sales. But with the increased availability of virtual car-buying and regions of the country returning to retail, car sales are slowly coming back. Many manufacturers are sharing their third-quarter progress, and the outlook is good for a strong return to normal. Subaru is seeing substantial rebounds too. In fact, the Subaru Outback is muscling its way to some of the automaker’s biggest sales numbers.

This hearty wagon may just close out the year with a bang. But you don’t want to make the mistake of calling it a comeback kid.

A slow start to the sales year across the board

The first half of this year was pretty dismal in terms of sales for nearly everyone. Even as Subaru makes headway in these final months, it’s still behind compared to 2019, by about 14.3 percent. Even popular models like the Forester and the Outback both saw considerable dips in sales earlier this year. But with a second straight month of 60,000+ total Subaru units sold, a rebound is inevitable.

A return to normal in recent months

As pandemic mitigation efforts began lifting in many areas of the country this summer, car buyers returned to buying new cars. And Subaru ramped up its Lafayette, Indiana, production line to roll off more Outback models. And it’s a good thing they did. The Subaru Outback has certainly seen a resurgence, especially over the last two months.

Subaru of America, Inc. officially shared numbers for total vehicle sales, with significant increases. September’s totals top 60,103 units, a whopping 16 percent increase from last September. And year-to-date data looks impressive too, with 436,560 units sold. 

The Subaru Outback puts up huge numbers for October

In taking a closer look at the official sales numbers, the Subaru Outback’s comeback is more than just promotional talk. For a second straight month, the Subaru Outback experienced the highest increase, of any model, with a total of 16,755 units, according to Torque News. That’s a 46 percent increase for October when compared to last year. Americans buying Outback models at this rate make the popular wagon Subaru’s top performer in volume sales alone. September was a big month too, with 17,023 units sold at about a 51 percent increase over September 2019.

Don’t mistake a Subaru Outback comeback with proven popularity

The Subaru Outback’s numbers are significant, sure. But you don’t want to make the mistake of calling it the comeback kid. It’s no secret that the Outback is America’s most popular wagon. It’s even 20 percent more desired than the second-place wagon, which also happens to be a Subaru, according to Autotrader. 

American car buyers continue to appreciate the ruggedness and off-pavement capability of the Subaru Outback. The reviewers and critics love its all-wheel drive and ground clearance. Families enjoy the room, in-cabin technology, and overall safety ratings. Adventure seekers and animal enthusiasts remain fiercely loyal to their beloved brand. So, while the recent sales numbers indicate a comeback, it’s generally understood that the Outback has always been a fan-favorite wagon.

If you are new to Subaru and want to see what all the buzz is about the Subaru Outback, test-drive one for yourself. Not much is new for 2021, except for the standard addition of steering-responsive headlights and rear-seat reminders, but there may not be much to improve on in the first place. There’s no question. The Subaru Outback is making a comeback, but don’t call it a comeback kid. It’s just getting back to its normal success and popularity.