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As it rolls into April, the time has come for automotive manufacturers to, for the most part, willingly reveal their sales results from the initial quarter to the public. Subaru, in particular, saw a satisfactory performance in Q1, primarily due to the substantial number of WRX high-performance sedans it managed to distribute over the past three months. Not a bad feat for a fresh automobile that faced severe criticism online upon its unveiling last year.
The sales of the WRX by Subaru tallied up to 7,609 units in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting a staggering 1,200% surge in comparison to the corresponding period in the previous year. A perceptive observation made by a Reddit user indicated that this spike in transactions officially positions Subaru ahead in WRX sales, surpassing the total number of GR Corollas that Toyota intends to manufacture for the U.S. market throughout the entire 2023 model year.
For reference, a Toyota spokesperson informed The Drive that the company managed to sell nearly 1,300 units of the GR Corolla in Q1.
via Toyota
Toyota is slated to produce merely 6,600 units of its latest hot hatch for the U.S. market this year. Of this amount, 5,100 units—comprising roughly three-quarters of all vehicles—will be the base model with various additional options. The more exclusive Circuit Edition variant will make up just 1,500 units.
As for the global market, they will only have access to 2,000 GR Corollas to divide amongst themselves. To summarize, the grand total worldwide reaches 8,600 units, with 6,600 units designated solely for the U.S. market.
Priced at $36,995 for the base Core option, the GR Corolla presents itself as an attractive deal. Nonetheless, it remains dearer than the initial cost of $30,100 for the WRX, and due to its restricted production for the 2023 model year, certain dealers have been inflating the prices of this petite three-cylinder hatch model significantly.
Eager enthusiasts may undoubtedly desire the GR Corolla. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to sell fewer performance-oriented vehicles when compared to standard variants—similar to the juxtaposition of Volkswagen Golf and Golf R, or Honda Civic and Civic Type R. The GR Corolla can be tailored towards slightly higher performance capabilities and pricing, potentially aligning it more with the now-discontinued WRX STI.
It doesn’t take a genius to discern that vehicles with greater production capacity and accessibility will outsell their more limited counterparts. Nevertheless, the scenario of Subaru’s less aggressive sedan surpassing the GR Corolla in sales isn’t necessarily a predicament. It simply poses a challenge for those unable to acquire the Toyota rally hatch they dream of.
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