Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is an automotive nameplate used by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) since 1994. The "Outback" name has been utilized on two different Subaru branded vehicles. One of these models is based on the mid-sized Subaru Legacy and the other derived from the hatchback version of the Subaru Impreza. The model is named after the vast, remote, and arid outback regions in Australia; the name is intended to emphasize the moderate off-road capability of the vehicle, while also giving a nod to the original design, which had a larger trunk "out back" than the Legacy.

After the first Legacy 1990 the Outback was created by Ernie Boch, the SUS Sport Utility Sedan that had improved suspension, fuel injection and patented it only for New England.

The Outback station wagon debuted in the United States market in 1994 for the 1995 model year as a derivative of the second generation Subaru Legacy. In Japan, Subaru introduced this vehicle as the Legacy Grand Wagon in 1995, but in most other markets, this model became known as the Legacy Outback. In Australia, Subaru opted to shorten the name to Subaru Outback when launched there in 1996—thus becoming the first market to utilize the abbreviated name. Subaru developed the Outback by adding side body cladding and raising the suspension of the existing Legacy wagon. With the exception of small differences in trim, the Outback shared almost all of its components with the Legacy donor model. In the United States, Subaru retailed the Legacy SUS—a similar concept to the Outback, but based on the sedan body variant.

Subaru released a new generation of Outback along with an equivalent Legacy in 1998—or 1999 in North America for model year 2000. This Outback received the Legacy Lancaster name in Japan. Following much the same formula as the original, the updated series shared similar mechanics and dimensions, but with the abbreviated Subaru Outback title now specified for most markets outside Europe and Japan. For the first time, an Outback sedan joined the wagon for North America only.

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