First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback

For fifteen years, the Outback as all but defined Subaru in the United States. The high-riding wagons have been the perfect vessels for the brand's signature all-wheel-drive system. Through three generations, the Outback formula has effectively remained the same. For the fourth-generation 2010 Outback, Subaru has made the most significant changes so far to its best-known model.

The Sport-Utility Wagon: More of the former, less of the latter.

Subaru had been offering four-wheel-drive station wagons here since the mid 1970s, but it wasn't until 1995 that the company created the Outback as a special model. Essentially an all-wheel-drive Legacy station wagon with extra ground clearance and a rugged, outdoorsy image, the Outback has hewn to the same formula through two successive redesigns, even as it has added more engine options (including a turbocharged four and a six-cylinder) and more luxury features.

For 2010, however, the Outback branches out, using a unique bodyshell instead of borrowing one from the Legacy wagon (which is no longer sold in North America, but is still offered in Subaru's home market). Given free reign to craft an Outback-specific body, Subaru designers evolved the shape away from a pure station wagon and more towards a crossover/SUV--much as they did with the new Forester last year.

As a result, the car is fractionally shorter in length (by 0.8 inch) but substantially taller in height (growing 2.0 inches) and wider (2.3 inches). The larger body provides more passenger room and cargo space. Most significant is the increase in rear-seat

legroom, which has been expanded by nearly 4 inches, and is now truly generous even for passengers over six-feet tall. The higher roofline provides lots of headroom as well, and seat comfort--formerly a sore point--has improved. In the cargo hold, a repackaged rear suspension is less intrusive, and maximum volume is up by nearly 6 cubic feet while the height of the load floor remains low.

Still a kin to the Legacy, at least under the skin

Although it no longer uses a Legacy wagon's body, the Outback is still mechanically related to the Legacy sedan, which is also new for 2010. Both cars share four- and six-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engines, along with a range of available manual and automatic transmissions.

This new Outback, however, loses one of its previous three engine choices. The base 2.5-liter four remains, as does the--now larger--six-cylinder, but the turbocharged four has been dropped (although Subaru still offers it in the Legacy GT). Subaru product planners point to poor sales of the turbo in the outgoing model, although a turbocharged engine's inherent advantage at high elevations would seem to make it a good choice for in mountainous areas where the Outback is so popular.