The Subaru Outback is an automotive nameplate used by the Japanese automaker Subaru for two different vehicles: a crossover station wagon, the Outback (1994–present, also sold as in some markets), and an Impreza-derived hatchback, the Outback Sport (1994–2011).
Most versions of the Outback wagon and Outback Sport have had all-wheel drive as standard equipment.
Overview
The original Outback station wagon was derived from the wagon variant of the second-generation Subaru Legacy. The first-generation Legacy, which made its debut in 1989, did not receive the cosmetic and suspension modifications to create an Outback version, although Subaru offered an Outdoor option package for the 1994 model year Legacy L all-wheel drive model, which added an compressed air strut height adjustable suspension, a luggage rack, a skidplate, and mud flaps.
Earlier, a raised-roof "Touring Wagon" variant had been offered on the preceding Subaru Leone for the 1988 and 1989 model years. Subaru also sold a raised-roof variant (chassis code BF) of the first-generation Legacy wagon outside the United States. North American Legacy wagons were only offered as the flat-roof variant (chassis code BJ) until a special "GT" model was marketed for the 1994 model year.
The second-generation Legacy wagon became the first generation of the Outback crossover series, called the "Legacy Grand Wagon" in Japan in 1995, and the "Legacy Outback" in most other markets. Compared to the existing Legacy wagon, the "Outback" variant added partial protective plastic side body cladding for off-road conditions, used a raised roof, and would later raise the suspension to provide additional ground clearance. It was introduced at the 1994 New York Auto Show. Aside from other small differences in trim, the Outback shares almost all of its components with the Legacy donor model.
When launched in Australia in 1996, the name "Legacy Outback" was shortened to "Outback", followed in other markets afterwards. In the United States, Subaru also retailed the Legacy SUS sedan between the 1997 and 2007 model years, with similar modifications to distinguish it from the equivalent Legacy model sedan. The Impreza Outback Sport was introduced at the 1996 New York Auto Show, but for the 1997 model year, the donor model names were dropped, and the cars were known as the "Outback" and "Outback Sport".
First generation (BD/BG; 1994)
In 1994 Subaru used the second generation of the Legacy wagon as the basis for the first generation of the Outback wagon, which came equipped with the same 2.2L EJ22 engine used in the Legacy. The 1995 model year Legacy Outback wagon was largely limited to cosmetic changes, featuring two-tone paint, larger wheels and tires, mud flaps, a roof rack, and upgraded upholstery, similar to the modifications on the previous 1994 model year Legacy Outdoor trim. Production of the Outback was approved by Fuji Heavy Industries CEO Isamu Kawai.
The 1996 model year Outback, released in September 1995, incorporated more substantial mechanical changes, including a raised suspension increasing ground clearance to , a raised roof borrowed from the Legacy Touring Wagon variant, and an optional 2.5L EJ25 engine (the EJ22 remained standard). This change was brought about in response to changing consumer tastes for a more durable and utility based wagon. It was marketed as the world's first sport-utility wagon. In Japan, the Legacy Grand Wagon was the equivalent of the Outback, released almost simultaneously in August 1995.
Encapsulating the sport theme of the Outback wagon, Subaru hired Paul Hogan, star of the movie Crocodile Dundee, as a pitchman for the vehicle. The ad campaign, which debuted in fall 1995 for the 1996 model year, cost an estimated $20–22 million and included TV ads in which Hogan and an unnamed female companion outrun competing sport-utility vehicles by virtue of the Outback's superior stability, handling, braking, and fuel economy. The advertisements successfully raised sales, with nearly 20,000 Outbacks sold in the nine months following the start of the campaign. Hogan, a former car salesman, reportedly warned Subaru "You better be able to build a lot of these [Outbacks] because I'm going to sell the hell out of them."
The sedan version of the Outback, which debuted for the 1997 model year, was initially marketed as an experimental limited run of 300 units exclusively available in New England. Known as the Legacy SUS (Sport Utility Sedan), it was developed at the urging of Ernie Boch Jr., the owner of the independent Subaru distributor for the Northeast. The model moved to nationwide availability for the 1998 model year.
Second generation (BE/BH; 1999)
