Standard safety equipment across the line comprises dual-stage frontal airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and full coverage side curtain airbags. Active front-seat head restraints are standard, too, as are anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution.

All-wheel drive remains standard across the line, but 2005 sees three systems, one more than in 2004, maintaining the trademark capability but at reduced cost and complexity. The automatic transmission now houses five speeds and comes with Sportshift, a manual-type shift function allowing drivers to select individual gears but without using a clutch pedal.

Buyers can order a number of aftermarket-type options through dealers. Three cargo nets ($42 to $68) are available, one of which attaches to the rear seatbacks and ceiling-mounted hooks, separating the passenger and cargo compartments. An auto-dimming/compass rearview mirror ($183) can be added to those models on which it isn't standard. Other options include an upgraded security system with perimeter alarm ($98); a trailer hitch ($369); a cargo area spotlight ($65); a subwoofer/amplifier ($273); a hood protector ($85); a front bumper underguard ($136); all-weather floor mats ($55); locks for alloy wheels ($41); short-throw shifter for manual transmissions ($339); and a Momo-brand shift knob ($97 for manual, $112 for automatic).

Walkaround

Contrary to conventional expectations, jacking up a car's suspension by two or three inches needn't leave it looking top heavy or tippy. Smartly crafted fender blisters, a deeper front bumper and properly proportioned tire and wheel combinations can make even a tall car look confidently planted, as the 2005 Subaru Outback illustrates well when contrasted with its fraternal twin, the 2005 Subaru Legacy.

Two honeycomb-like bars split the Outback's grille horizontally, clearly distinguishing it from the Legacy's and highlighting its extended, octagonal shape. Large round fog lamps both emphasize and soften the aggressive lower fascia. A low-rise air intake on the XT's hood hints at the power lurking beneath. On the XT and the 3.0 R, the clear-lens turn indicators on the lower edges of the outside mirrors minimize their mass. Wide cross-section tires visually stretch the car's stance.

From the side, the hood's aerodynamic slope gives the car a look of motion even sitting still. In the sedan, the silhouette rises gradually to the A-pillar, then loops up over the geometrically arched side windows and back down behind the upscale, BMW-like C-pillar where it merges with the shoulder-like beltline before wrapping around an equally aerodynamically tapered boot. The wagon's roof line drops steadily rearward from the front doors, combining with the increasing inward tilt of the rear side windows to ease the air's passage beyond the wagon's tail end. Clearly outlined, circular fender blisters make the gap between tire and wheel well look less than it is. Minimalist splashguards behind both wheel wells and cladding along the bottom of the doors pull the body down even more around the tires.

The back end of the sedan traces the rounded shape of the car, with visible shoulders connected by a smoothly arcing trunk lid, concave below the trailing top edge. Inset in the center is the license plate. Large, trapezoidal taillights wrap around the rear fenders. On the wagon, all the lines (roof, rear window outline, beltline, bumper and rocker panel) draw inward, toward the car's center, giving it a taut, neat finish. Large, geometric taillights cover the upper corners of the rear fenders. Small, almost demure backup lights are embedded in the liftgate on each side of the chrome eyelid over the recess for the rear license plate. The secondary, high-mounted stop light is centered in the roof-high spoiler behind a stylish, crystal clear lens.

Interior Features

Front seats in the Outback 2.5i base model are comfortable, but definitely short of plush, upholstered in a durable fabric that's reasonably grippy, more so than the leather in the 2.5i Limited. Rear seats are bolstered about the same as the fronts, with a minimal rise in the center in recognition of the driveline hump.

The leather in the Limited isn't especially kid glove-like, but it is richly surfaced. The front seats in the XT and above have fuller bolsters and better overall support; the lumbar adjustments at their least aggressive setting accommodate sensitive, surgically altered lower backs, while at the opposite extreme can brace a classic ramrod spine. Bottom cushions are deeper than many but lack the ultimate in thigh support achieved by the standard-setting BMW seats. The perforated leather insets in the XT Limited adds some grip that the smooth-finished leather lacks and allows the barest amount of air flow that's refreshing on hot and cold days.

The dash is topped with mildly textured, high quality, seamless vinyl, low-gloss to minimize reflected glare in the windshield. The instruments are rimmed in black in the 2.5i and XT, in chrome in the 3.0 R. Gauges are large and round, positioned directly in front of the driver and easy to scan through the three-spoke steering wheel. Cruise controls are contained in a stubby stalk attached to the steering wheel at about the 4 o'clock position.