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2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited Review by Carey Russ

21.05.12

Do you live where winter means snow and ice? Or travel to such places for recreation? Maybe you like outdoors activities in better weather, and need a vehicle that can deal with dirt or gravel forest roads that might not be as "improved" as the map says. If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", you'll need good ground clearance and four-wheel drive.

Which used to mean "truck", which meant a thirst for fuel and a, well, truck-like ride quality with noise to match. Back in the mid-Nineties, Subaru had a better idea -- take an all-wheel drive wagon, already the company's specialty, and raise the ground clearance and give it a more rugged look. The result was the Outback, and it proved both popular and influential. The Outback was the first successful "crossover" (car crossed with truck/SUV). Timing is everything -- the SUV fad was booming and the Outback provided the perfect alternative for people who wanted something that was more capable in inclement conditions than a regular car, but was not a thirsty, uncomfortable truck.

Source: Autochannel (press release)