Fuji's Swiss Army knife.
In 1996, the Subaru Outback first came to North America. It was one of the first cars to be considered a crossover vehicle, meaning that it incorporated styling cues from different categories of cars and trucks into one product. The Outback was a logical upscale step for the maker of robust AWD station wagons. These cars were purchased by people that wanted utility and traction on all four wheels without buying into the SUV craze. The proof that there was a strong market for the Outback wagons was that the original version sold like hotcakes. This car put Subaru back on the map where it belonged.
With the new 2005 Legacy/Outback combo, Subaru wants to make a case against Audi, a major competitor in the luxury AWD class. Refinement and luxury are at an all-time high. The same could be said for the Legacy's and Outback's fashionable curves that have never been so appealing.
The model line up ranges from the base 2.5i at $32,995 up to $44,995 for a fully equipped 3.0R VDC. The tester was an automatic 2.5XT that retails for $44,395.
Exterior styling
The evolution of the exterior design of the Outback is visible when
comparing all three generations (1996, 2000 and now, 2005), although the family resemblance is still very evident. As the years have gone by, the styling has become edgier and racier at the expense of the more utilitarian look. The lower body cladding is made less apparent by a reduced amount of contrast between the body colour of the car and the plastic panels. Also, there is the possibility of having the Subaru delivered in a monochrome colour scheme. The shape of the car is more profiled and aerodynamic. The redesigned headlights and available alloy wheels complete the new vibrant appearance.
The body panels are well assembled and paint application is quite good overall. The frameless doors are a classic Subaru touch that only becomes apparent at very high speeds when the windows have a tendency to get sucked out. They do not however, affect the rigidity of the doors or the rest of the car in any way, shape or form. Visibility, which is excellent, benefits from the frameless windows because the "B" pillars are smaller than average.
Interior styling
Subarus have had, in my opinion, some nice functional interior layouts in the past years. The 2005 model is no exception: it is by far the best. Dash fit and finish is very upscale and Audi-like. Its styling is quite nice and ergonomically laid out; however it is still not as well sorted out as the Audi interior. The cargo area also receives the same attention to detail. The perforated leather covered front buckets are very nice and comfortable. The seat warmers are some of the most effective and powerful ones that I have ever had the pleasure to warm up my derriere in. Their multiple adjustments, as opposed to on/off, insure a constant level of well-being.
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With the new 2005 Legacy/Outback combo, Subaru wants to make a case against Audi, a major competitor in the luxury AWD class. Refinement and luxury are at an all-time high. The same could be said for the Legacy's and Outback's fashionable curves that have never been so appealing.
The model line up ranges from the base 2.5i at $32,995 up to $44,995 for a fully equipped 3.0R VDC. The tester was an automatic 2.5XT that retails for $44,395.
Exterior styling
The evolution of the exterior design of the Outback is visible when
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The body panels are well assembled and paint application is quite good overall. The frameless doors are a classic Subaru touch that only becomes apparent at very high speeds when the windows have a tendency to get sucked out. They do not however, affect the rigidity of the doors or the rest of the car in any way, shape or form. Visibility, which is excellent, benefits from the frameless windows because the "B" pillars are smaller than average.
Interior styling
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