SUBARU: Hot crossovers extend streak to 92 months

Subaru of America, bolstered by an expanded crossover lineup, followed its smallest monthly sales increase of the year in June -- 2.8 percent -- with its largest gain of the year in July, even as incentives fell.

Subaru sales rose 7.9 percent to 64,106 last month, just 435 units shy of December 2018's all-time monthly sales record of 64,541, the automaker said.

The brand saw another strong month from its mix of Outback, Forester, Crosstrek and Ascent crossovers, as well as the Legacy midsize sedan, which posted an increase of 25 percent to 3,244.

Subaru said it was the best July ever for the Outback midsize crossover. Production of the redesigned 2020 Outback and Legacy began Monday at Subaru's Indiana plant.

July's increase extends Subaru's streak of year-over-year sales gains to 92 months.

Subaru's U.S. sales total 403,631 through July, an increase of 5.6 percent.

Notable nameplates: Outback, up 14%; Forester, up 7.1%; Crosstrek, down 3%; Ascent, up 59%; Impreza, down 16%; Legacy, up 25%; WRX/WRX STI, down 14%; BRZ, down 44%.

Incentives: $1,473 per vehicle, down 9.1% from a year earlier, ALG says.

Average transaction price: $29,153, up 2.1% from a year earlier, according to ALG.

Did you know? The Legacy's increase of 25 percent in July marked the nameplate's first monthly gain since December 2016. In June, Legacy sales slipped just 0.1 percent, but in every month this year, the nameplate had posted double-digit declines of at least 13 percent, amid a broad industry decline in passenger-car demand.