Subaru Outback

The first Subaru Legacy Outback was introduced in the United States in 1996. It was a Legacy station wagon with all-wheel drive, body-cladding, off-road tires and slightly higher ground clearance. It was marketed using Subaru's trademarked phrase: "The World's First Sport Utility Wagon." All Outbacks are built in Lafayette, Indiana.

The phrase may be trademarked, but it is not entirely accurate. In 1979, American Motors launched the AMC Concord-based AMC Eagle, which was similar, but had suffered poor sales and was discontinued in 1988.

Subaru of America executives created the Outback because the SUV craze had at that point reached a fevered pitch with customers demanding SUVs and shunning Subaru's station wagons (even when equipped with all-wheel drive) based on image concerns, leaving dealers clamoring for a SUV-like product to sell.

The Outback turned out to be a success, handily outselling its Legacy progenitor. Clever ads featured Australian "Crocodile Dundee" star Paul Hogan using the Outback in adventurous situations where it was portrayed besting its competitors, notably the Ford Explorer.

An Outback Sport, based on the Subaru Impreza five-door hatchback was introduced in 1998.

2000 Subaru Outback SUS

The Outback SUS (for "Sport Utility Sedan") was launched with a limited production test run sold in New England in 1999 and based on its success, was rolled out nationwide the following year.

Other companies followed suit with similar raised four wheel drive station wagons as stop-gaps before their own SUVs were launched, or if they did not envisage introducing one. These included the Audi A6 Allroad, Volvo XC70, Alfa Romeo 156 CrossWagon and the Holden Adventra.

The Outback was available in Japan from 1995 as the Subaru Legacy Grandwagon. In 2000, Outback became its own model and added a sedan, as well as an available horizontal six-cylinder engine.

In the highest trim level (VDC, for Vehicle Dynamics Control), a 200 W McIntosh stereo system was standard from 2001 to 2003. These were the only vehicles ever factory-equipped with McIntosh stereo equipment.

In 2003, with the debut of the fourth-generation Legacy at the 60th Frankfurt Auto Show, the Outback name is now being used worldwide with the launch of the second-generation Outback wagon. Models equipped with a 3.0 L H6 were introduced at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show.

2005 Subaru Outback Wagon

External links

• Subaru Outback Homepage
• Subaru Outback Owner Community / Subaruoutback.org Visit to see pictures and research on the forum
• LegacyGT.com A discussion website for the Subaru Legacy as well as the Outback
• The UNofficial Legacy Outback Homepage