I'm going to go out on a limb and declare that Subaru has finally run out of vehicles which it can morph into Outbacks.
Like Lee Iacocca and his legendary K-car, the vehicle that saved Chrysler Corp. from bankruptcy, it can be argued that the Outback concept saved Subaru.It was inspired thinking. Subaru took its well-made but rather humdrum Legacy station wagon, jacked it up a bit, added road lights, rock guards and some other goodies to give it a rough-and-ready flavor, and then hired Paul Hogan, a k a Crocodile Dundee, to tout it on TV.
The result was "The world's first sport utility wagon," a raging success for the once floundering Subaru and one which marketing majors will study for years to come.
Understanding that they were onto something, Subaru then Outback-ed their Impreza sub-compact. Now, for the 2000 model year, we get the Outback Limited Sedan.
Some cynics will doubtless sneer at the idea of a sport-utility sedan, especially one named "Outback," but I say Subaru should keep riding that horse until it can run no more.
True, if a station wagon marketed as an SUV is pushing the off-road envelope, then a sedan as sport-ute is completely over the edge, but people have bought stranger vehicles -- the Hummer and three-wheeled Isetta come to mind.
There's an idea. Subaru can branch out into alternate modes of transportation: Outback tricycles, Outback skate boards, Outback pogo sticks. The possibilities are endless.
The thing that gives the new Outback sedan a vestige of SUV credibility is its four-wheel-drive system. Other than the Outback logo, Subaru's decision to ditch its 2wd models and make only 4wd cars was a good one.
Yes, it was a capitulation of sorts. It told the world, "We're a niche carmaker, and we're not going to fight it any longer," but it was a recognition of reality. It capitalized on the company's strong point, and its timing was impeccable, coming at a moment in auto evolution when sport utilities were about to become rulers of the universe.
Why buy an Outback sedan instead of an Outback wagon? Sedans, after all, have less utility than wagons, and utility is half of the reason people buy sport utilities. But wagons are really just longish hatchbacks and hatchbacks have been out of favor for several years in this country.
Other than the whims of fashion, there are a few rational reasons for this. While hatchbacks (or wagons) are more versatile carriers of cargo, they also tend to be a bit boxy compared to their sleek sedan counterparts. And while they can hold more cargo, especially with the rear seat backs lowered, many people prefer having their tools and tires and bags of salt isolated in the trunk. Trunks are like closets: one's junk can be stored out of sight.
Based on the third-generation Legacy sedan platform, the Outback has the same wedge profile of the Legacy GT but with the recognizable Outback design cues from the wagon, such as larger front fenders and mirrors, lower body side cladding, big fog lights with rock guards and a two-tone paint scheme.
It also shares the ring-shaped reinforcement body structures of its forebears, multilink rear suspension system and the venerable four-cylinder 2.5 liter "boxer" (horizontally opposed cylinders) engine that has been powering Subarus for many moons.
Like all Subarus, it is reasonably quick, especially at the low end of the rev scale where it counts, handles nicely and is generally fun to drive.
The Outback Limited sedan is base priced at $25,895. That sounds a bit pricey, but it includes a wide array of goodies that would be options on many other cars. These include leather seats, power sun/moonroof, keyless entry, AC, power door locks/windows/mirrors, halogen fog lights, four-channel anti-lock brakes, front and side airbags, limited slip differential, cassette and CD stereo, and heated front seats and exterior mirrors.
And most important of all, it has Subaru's tried and true all-wheel drive system, which requires no input from the driver to activate. Starting with a 90-10 power split favoring the front wheels, the system can transfer power to the wheels that need it even before slippage occurs, using several input sensors that determine when weight transfer affects traction.
My test car had but a single option, a $260 subwoofer amplifier for the sound system. With the $495 delivery charge, bottom line was $26,650.
Fuel mileage is rated at 22 mpg in city driving and 27 on the highway, much better than the average "real" SUV.
The Outback sedan comes standard with a 4-speed electronic automatic transmission that performed admirably during my week behind the wheel.
A manual shift is not available on this model.