Normally when attending a press junket to test out a new vehicle I dread the threat of rain. A downpour would just ruin a good day at the track, or a convertible test drive. But when the skies opened up and the thunder cracked just moments after hopping behind the wheel of the 2010 Subaru Outback, well, it just couldn't have been a more ideal situation to test out what the Japanese automaker refers to as the original "sport utility wagon."
With rain battering the windshield, inside you feel isolated from the elements yet engaged with the road. The all-new Outback may look more like an SUV than in the past, but it definitely keeps much of its car-like handling for on-road excursions. And yet, thanks to standard all-wheel drive and a ground clearance of 8.7-inches (more than a Jeep Grand Cherokee), it's more than capable for off-road fun too.
Blasting down dirt and gravel roads and splashing through massive puddles, the Outback makes it all feel more like paved asphalt. Corners come and go without any drama, as the AWD maintains excellent grip, while the chassis stays level and the shocks (as well as higher profile tires) eat up the bumps rather than transmitting them through the cabin.
From the driver's seat the view is excellent and you get the unique sensation of sitting reasonably low in a high-up vehicle, rather than feeling perched atop the chassis as with most crossovers.
More:
2010 Subaru Outback: First Drive including video on AutoGuide.com
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