There are few more underrated pieces of automotive technology than audio-related equipment. We’ve all been there: you’ve forgotten to download your chosen playlist or podcast and are relying on your roaming data alone, only to reach an area with poor reception. Unless you’re behind the wheel of something with an engine that makes a better noise than most songs, you’re in for a long cruise with just your thoughts, or hopefully a passenger, to keep you company.
Thanks to a legendary piece of audio technology, there was a workaround. And due to the efforts of one manufacturer, this old but useful technology is being kept alive. For now.
Every Automaker Abandoned the CD Player – Except One
2027 Audi Q3Audi
The old-but-gold piece of automotive history we’re talking about is the venerable CD player, which emerged in the 1990s as the popular choice of audio equipment in any car. Having debuted as an option in the 1987 Lincoln Town Car, CD technology provided superior quality and capacity compared to cassettes, which were the primary source of vehicle audio at the time. CDs quickly took over as the dominant audio format during the 1990s, relegating tape decks to only the cheapest and most basic vehicles on the road, unless a buyer specifically wanted one.
In the late 2000s, though, CDs started to face increasing competition. More and more cars began to include MP3 connectivity via an aux input, which allowed drivers to plug their smartphones or audio devices like iPods directly into their cars, meaning the growing collection of discs cluttering the vehicle could be discarded.
Through the 2010s, Bluetooth and built-in infotainment systems meant these devices could be connected to the car wirelessly, which allowed various audio media to be played or streamed directly. As a result, CD players have gradually been phased out of modern cars, as so few drivers need them anymore.Which raises the obvious question: who’s still buying them, and why does one brand think it’s worth the investment?
Subaru Is Keeping CD Enthusiast Dreams Alive
2022 Subaru WRXIan Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet
However, while the vast majority of automakers have waved goodbye to CD technology, one is electing to hold out that bit longer. Japanese brand Subaru tends to specialize in keeping this yesteryear technology going for longer than other manufacturers, as illustrated by its recent push toward further developing its models to feature manual gearboxes as other marques phase them out.
It’s playing the same game with the CD Player, as it currently offers two 2026 models that have such a system available as an option. As a result, they’re the last two cars on sale in the US with such an option.
The vehicles in question are the 2026 WRX sedan and the 2026 Ascent SUV, which means that a couple of different demographics still have access to a factory CD player in their brand-new machine. To ensure the interiors of the cars continue to look modern enough to appeal to the wider market, the CD players are located in the center console storage bins, rather than in the dashboard, as most systems were throughout history. This means you’ll have to give up some storage space to have one, which can be a particular pain on the smaller WRX, which is already rather restrictive when it comes to cabin space.
On the other hand, it’s great that Subaru is allowing drivers to be able to enjoy their CD collections without having to track down a decent, and crucially, compatible, aftermarket CD player for their vehicle.
The experience of browsing a physical CD collection to find the right album is a tactile pleasure that has been lost to modern technology, so Subaru offering the CD player as an option means those who value such an experience don’t have to give it up. Plus, for those who rely on an internet connection to listen to their artist or podcast of choice, the ever-reliable CD won’t let you down, even if your data does.
Unless, of course, you forget to store it safely in its binder or case and scratch it beyond use.
Adding A CD Player To Your New Subaru Is Costly
2022 Subaru AscentSubaru
While the option of adding a CD player to your Ascent or WRX is available, you’ll have to hand over a fair chunk of cash to make it happen. The cheapest way of doing so is by opting for a WRX, which starts at $32,495 for the Base trim. The CD Player can be optioned with every variant of the WRX, and it’ll cost you a considerable $449.95 over and above the base price.
This is quite a lot of money for what is essentially a legacy product – pun fully intended. Subaru likely charges extra since so few buyers will end up selecting the option, so it needs to make more money to make the production costs of such a system worth it. The Ascent is the more expensive of the two vehicles, with the base Premium trim starting at $40,795. Curiously, the CD player option is slightly more expensive on the SUV at $450, but it works exactly the same way.
The WRX Buyer And The Ascent Buyer Have Almost Nothing In Common – Except This
2027 Subaru Ascent Exterior Rear QuarterSubaru
Luckily, Subaru’s decision to offer a CD Player with the Ascent and WRX means the option can reach a much wider audience. The Ascent is perfect for those with larger families, given the mid-size crossover can be had with seating for either seven or eight passengers. Since drivers who grew up at the height of the CD era during the 1990s and 2000s have reached the age where they’ll likely be raising larger families, the Ascent allows them to relive an important part of their youth, while also providing all the modern safety tech needed to keep them safe.
The WRX, on the other hand, is better-suited to drivers looking for an engaging and sportier driving experience, but who also need a relatively versatile sedan with enough space for five and their belongings. The WRX comes with a more powerful turbocharged Boxer engine than the Ascent, as well as a stiffer suspension arrangement that ensures it corners with more poise.
Opt for the range-topping tS version, for example, and you can enjoy your extensive CD collection alongside STI-tuned suspension and adaptive dampers, as well as an upgraded Brembo braking system.
Those interested should act quickly, though, as there’s no guarantee such an option will be available forever, especially given that it’s being discontinued in more models year by year.
Some Other Models Only Recently Lost Factory CD Options
2025 Lexus IS Front 3/4, RedLexus
Indeed, Subaru only recently dropped the CD player option from its Outback nameplate. Based on the now-discontinued Legacy sedan, the midsize wagon transitioned to its seventh generation for the 2026 model year, and the refresh saw Subaru drop the CD player. Given that the Ascent and the WRX are two of Subaru’s older models, with the former having been released in 2019 and the latter in 2021, any new models will likely see the CD player option discontinued, much as it was for the Outback.
Lexus also only recently exited the CD space, as the Toyota-owned manufacturer offered its IS sedan and RC coupe with optional CD players as well. These both disappeared following the 2025 model year though, as the RC was discontinued entirely, while the IS lost the CD as an optional extra. As a result, those seeking any of these legacy models with such a feature will have to turn to the used market. Thanks to depreciation, you can expect to find tidy used examples of these models for a fair way below their original MSRPs.
As an example, CarEdge estimates that the Outback will lose a massive 30% of its value over the first two years of its life, meaning buyers could save around $12,500 and still get a car with low mileage and in practically new condition. And with a factory CD player, of course.
That said, given how analog technology like the manual transmission is slowly becoming more popular once more – not to mention the resurgence of physical buttons in new models – there is a chance that CD players could also become appealing once more. By the looks of it, Subaru could well be the market leader should the love for the analogue world of audio make a comeback.
Sources: CarEdge, Subaru.
