Subaru outsold Volkswagen. Again.

Subaru outsold Volkswagen. Again.

Doug DeMuro on the issues keeping Volkswagen from hitting it’s insane sales goal:

So, Volkswagen problem number one: this brand still does not make a credible midsize sport-utility vehicle. Folks, I don’t know how to stress this enough. The Ford Explorer, which is widely regarded as the first hugely successful “family car” SUV, debuted for the 1991 model year. It came out twenty-five years ago. Next year, the very first Explorers will be eligible for collector vehicle plates. And despite the Explorer’s popularity, and the ensuing rise of the SUV, and rivals from every brand between Mitsubishi and Hyundai, Volkswagen is still taking a “wait-and-see” approach to this segment. You have to wonder if the Germans are holed up in an office in Wolfsburg, staring out the window, dark suits on, telling each other that “really, the midsize SUV is just a passing fad.”

I hate midsize SUVs, but I love the GTI. Sometimes, you’ve got to pay to play.