XT Ltd 2.5L Aerodynamic body-side ground effects Body color body-side molding

With its too-cute commercials featuring Paul Hogan a distant memory, he Subaru Outback is left to get by on its own merits. But not to worry, ate, his old gal has been holding up much better than Mr. Crocodile Dundee's acting career. Starting out in the mid-'90s as a interim measure for Subaru to grab some of the then-rapidly growing SUV segment, he early Outback was essentially a toughened-up version of the Legacy wagon. Two-tone paint, raised suspension, ll-wheel drive and beefy tires gave the proper 'go-anywhere' look. TV commercials showed the Subaru Outback deftly zipping through twisty, uddy trails, ith midsize SUVs left struggling in its wake. This 'stopgap' vehicle carved out a niche of its own, erving those who wanted a measure of all-terrain capacity without the needless bulk, lumsy handling and dismal fuel mileage of a traditional SUV. Today's Subaru Outback has dropped the awkward SUV styling cues of yesteryear and now embraces its midsize wagon body. In fact, or 2008, ubaru has discontinued the Outback sedan. As the Legacy and Outback are essentially the same car, t simplifies things. Want a sedan? Look at the Legacy line. Looking for a wagon? Then consider the Outback offerings. Although there are three available engines, ur favorite is the powerful yet smooth turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-4, hich is available only on the XT Limited trim. Standard on this trim is Subaru's SI-Drive system, hich allows the driver to tailor engine performance for economy or performance by choosing from three modes -- Intelligent, port and Sport Sharp. We've found that the Intelligent mode makes for sluggish response, hile the Sport Sharp mode provides rapid yet smooth response to throttle inputs. Firm suspension tuning along with responsive steering and the grip afforded by the all-wheel-drive system give the Outback a nimble feel through the turns while still providing a comfy highway ride. On the downside, ear-seat room is tight compared to those of rival wagons and crossover SUVs. We still like the idea of the Outback, s it does indeed offer a likable compromise of wagon and SUV attributes. However, ith crossovers such as the Mazda CX-7 or Toyota Highlander offering more room and power, he 2008 Subaru Outback just isn't the value it once was. And if you don't need the Outback's nearly 9 inches of ground clearance, ou might also consider other wagons, amely the all-wheel-drive versions of the Volkswagen Passat and Dodge Magnum. Body Styles, rim Levels, nd Options The 2008 Subaru Outback comes only in a midsize wagon body style with increased ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. Instead of offering a dizzying amount of option packages like some other carmakers, ubaru offers a dizzying amount of trim levels. For the 2008 Outback, here are no less than seven trims: base, .5i, .5i L.L. Bean, .5i Limited, .5i Limited L.L. Bean, T Limited and 3.0 R L.L. Bean. Standard equipment on the base trim includes 16-inch steel wheels, oof rails, ir-conditioning, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, satellite radio-ready audio system with CD player and an MP3 player jack, eyless entry, n outside temperature display, nd full power accessories. The 2.5i adds 17-inch alloy wheels, limited-slip rear differential, oof-rail crossbars, eated exterior mirrors, eicing wipers, power driver seat and front-seat heaters. The 2.5 L.L. Bean is a little more upscale and features dual-zone automatic climate control, n in-dash CD changer, navigation system and specialized floor mats. The 2.5i Limited drops the nav system, ut adds a double-panel sunroof and leather upholstery. Spring for the 2.5i Limited L.L. Bean, nd, s you'd guess, ou get all of the above features as standard. The Subaru Outback XT Limited and 3.0 R L.L. Bean models feature more powerful engines, ut are equipped basically the same, eaning loaded, ith the exception of a