A Compact Premium Wagon from Subaru? Coolwagon. That's the attitude I got from passers by as I drove Subaru'slatest compact
Outback , a name it's made legendary when fixed to itsLegacy wagon-based crossover. Personally, I like its bold newthree section grille and aerodynamically efficient headlight design. Itgives the car more
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| Cool wagon. That's the attitude I got from passersby as I drove Subaru's latest compact Outback. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
character in a segment that often lacks originality.And while I thought this new 2006 model merely benefited from afacelift to the outgoing 2005 Impreza Outback Sport, there's a lot moreto it than that. Firstly, each and every body panel forward ofthe B-pillar and front doors is completely new. The redesigned frontfascia makes the upgraded Impreza crossover wagon appear more like itssport-oriented WRX wagon sibling. I also find that the new car's frontfenders do a better job of visually integrating with the side panelsthan those on the old model, while the new aluminum hood is shaped tobutt up smartly with the modified grille. At the back it takesthe more educated palate of a Subaru aficionado to notice
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| The taillight lenses are all new. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
much of adifference. A larger Subaru logo is more prominently positioned at thecentre of the rear liftgate, while redesigned taillights give OutbackSport's rear styling a nudge up the desirability ladder. Subaru,mind you, hasn't achieved its desirability, which includes one of thehighest customer retention ratings in the industry, because of how itlooks, but rather due to rock solid reliability, a continual focus onsafety issues, and, of course, the inclusion of symmetrical all-wheeldrive on all of its models. During my drive, I was firstimpressed with how solid it feels, and with that, how planted to theroad no matter how hard I pushed it. And this in a tallish crossover?Yes, I know it sounds improbable, but despite its increase in rideheight the Outback Sport really takes to the corners well. Italso seems very well-built compared to most other compact rivals, as ifit could withstand frontal or side impacts and look better after doingso, protecting its occupants more as well, than the majority of smallcars in its compact class. Crash test results of the previousgeneration Impreza, incidentally, which were done prior to the newcar's "ring frame reinforced body structure" that includes ahydroformed front subframe and side sills plus tailored-blank weldedB-pillars, attest that it does survive impact better than itscompetitors, and therefore the 2006 model should improve on the car'sstrong record even more due to smart dual stage frontal airbags andstandard front-seat head/chest
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| The Outback Sport offers plenty of room in back. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
side-impact airbags. The smartdesignation means that sensors detect the position of the frontpassenger in order to mete out deployment. If there's a child on boardthe airbag will deploy differently than if an adult is occupying theseat. I should mention that such a system is not new, but usually onlyavailable in higher priced premium vehicles, not the entire range of anentry-level compact model. Impressive, Subaru! In case youwere wondering, the Impreza lineup is pretty large. Truly, the only twobody styles missing would be coupe and convertible models, hmmm... getsa person thinking doesn't it? Currently, mind you, the lineup includesthe [link]2.5i Sedan[/link], Sport Wagon, the Outback Sport we're covering here,plus the high-performance
WRX and WRX STI sedans and wagons. TheOutback Sport, compared to its Impreza siblings, is probably thetypical Subaru, in that it puts practicality before flash.