2005 Subaru Legacy and Outback Feature Major Improvements over Previous Models

The Legacy line starts with the 2.5i sedan, powered by a naturally aspirated 168 horsepower 2.5-liter boxer engine, up 3

The Legacy 2.5i sedan will be powered by a naturally aspirated 168 horsepower 2.5-liter boxer engine. (Photo: Subaru Canada)

horsepower over last year's base engine. Standard equipment includes side-impact airbags, new side-curtain airbags and new intelligent dual-stage deployment frontal airbags, plus active head restraints, remote keyless entry, a trip computer, AM/FM/CD audio system, and power windows. The base price is $27,995, just $200 more than last year's Legacy L sedan, the previous midsize base model.

The Legacy 2.5i Limited features the same engine but adds a new Sport Shift sequential-shifting automatic transmission, plus an assortment of luxury equipment including automatic climate control

While the Outback wasn't the first crossover ever, it definitely was the initiator in today's industry. (Photo: Subaru Canada)

and leather seating surfaces. Prices for this sedan start at $35,195.

Sport-oriented buyers can opt for the Legacy 2.5 GT, in either sedan or wagon guise. The new model gets an all-new 250 horsepower turbocharged boxer engine. Either a 5-speed manual or optional Sport Shift automatic transmission can be chosen, with the former resulting in a base price of $36,495.

Subaru makes a point of calling the Outback's many crossover rivals imitators in its press release, which is somewhat valid. While the Outback wasn't the first of its type ever to be made, American Motor Corporation's (AMC) once popular 4WD Eagle wagon arrived on the scene in 1979 as a 1980 model, it can be attributed to starting the current trend.