The Subaru Outback comes in wagon and sedan body styles. They come with a choice of three engines. All-wheel drive, a Subaru feature, is standard across the line, but it comes in three versions, each matched to a specific combination of engine and transmission.
The 2.5 i Wagon and 2.5 i Limited Wagon and the new 2.5 i Limited Sedan come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower. The 2.5 i models are available with five-speed manual as standard, or four-speed automatic transmission ($1000).
The 2.5 XT models feature a turbocharged and intercooled version of the same four-cylinder engine that produces 250 horsepower. The five-speed manual transmission is beefed up to handle the additional power, and a five-speed Sportshift automatic is available ($1200).
The 3.0 R models, the L.L. Bean Edition and the VDC Limited come with a six-cylinder engine rated at 250 horsepower and the five-speed Sportshift automatic. For 2006, the VDC model (for Vehicle Dynamics Control, an electronic stability control system) comes standard with the navigation system, an option on the other Outback models ($2,000).
The base 2.5 i ($24,795) comes standard with an eight-way power seat, tilt steering wheel, auto-off headlights and cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, and remote keyless entry. Air conditioning comes standard, along with durable-looking fabric upholstery and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo. The cargo area has its own light, carpet (including on the back of the rear seats, which are 60/40 split fold-down units), grocery bag hooks and a retractable cargo area cover. The rear bumper is protected by a full-width step pad, and the roof rack comes already fitted with cross bars.
The 2.5 i Limited Wagon ($27,595) and 2.5 i Limited Sedan ($27,395) add leather-trimmed upholstery, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, fog lamps, and dual-panel power moonroof.
The 2.5 XT ($30,995) adds body-colored outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and decorative door sill and rear liftgate sill plate covers, along with a four-way power seat with manually adjustable lumbar support for the front-seat passenger, sport front seats and leather trim for the brake handle and shift lever. (It does not come standard with the moonroof, however.) A leather-wrapped, Momo-brand steering wheel has integrated Sportshift control buttons if the optional five-speed automatic is ordered. The XT Limited ($30,995) adds perforated leather seat trim and the power moonroof.
The 3.0 R L.L. Bean Sedan ($31,295) gets the L.L. Bean logos, a tire pressure monitoring system, a rear-seat center armrest with trunk pass-through and a single panel power moonroof (but trades the turn indicator-equipped outside mirrors for the base units). A Momo mahogany-and-leather-wrapped steering wheel has integrated audio controls. The 3.0 R L.L. Bean Wagon ($32,495) also gets an auto-dimming inside mirror with electronic compass, L.L. Bean floor mats and leather-trimmed seats and a removable cargo tray. The 3.0 R VDC Limited wagon ($35,395) gets the outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, the dual-pane moonroof, and the navigation system, a three-frequency, programmable remote HomeLink transmitter, and upgraded audio with an MP3 player and rear subwoofer.
Options include the navigation system, packaged with other amenities including dual-zone climate control, and a six-disc in-dash CD changer ($2,000). A variety of cargo nets is available, one of which attaches to the rear seatbacks and ceiling-mounted hooks separating the passenger and cargo compartments, a must-have feature. Other options include an auto-dimming/compass rearview mirror ($183), an upgraded security system with perimeter alarm ($98); 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); a short-throw shifter for manual transmissions ($339); a Momo shift knob; and a trailer hitch ($369).