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The venerable Outback wagon, in its 20th year of production, is surely the staple of Subaru’s success of recent years.

The odds were against it when it was introduced in 1995 as a variant of the Legacy wagon. Wagons were going nowhere back then; the Outback, though, with its boxer engines and sturdy all-wheel-drive structure and heavy side cladding, endured among a rush of SUVs and more modern crossovers, and found favor with lots of outdoors persons.

The first one I drove back in ’95, with a sticker price of $24,500, weighed 3,250 pounds on a wheelbase of 103.5 inches. Its 150-horsepower, 2.5-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine produced surprising low-end torque.

Today’s version is 400 pounds heavier on a wheelbase of 107.9 inches. I’ve been driving the 2014 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited wagon, stickered at $34,000. A bigger flat-6-cylinder (256-hp) and 5-speed automatic transmission provide its power. Still being offered is a 2.5 boxer-4, with horsepower up to 173 now; it’s mated to a continuously variable transmission.

Jan and I took the Outback on a 50-mile drive into Denver on Tuesday afternoon. We wouldn’t have passed on the chance to drive the ’14 on 11-12-13. Kim Parker, Dustin and Janea Lindernmayer, Jan and I drove the Subaru last Saturday night to Aurora for dinner with Brent and Tina Wells’ Autotailor party at the Summit Steakhouse restaurant.

These highway cruises helped the Outback post an overall 22.5-miles-per-gallon fuel average for the week. That’s in the upper end of its EPA estimate of 17/25. The 3.6R, of course, offers superior acceleration and passing power over the 2.5; it falls short in mpg. The 4-cylinder Outbacks can average into the high 20s.

Colorado is popular ground for Subaru and its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, which continually sends power to all four wheels for secure traction, then transfers the torque accordingly if slippage occurs. Complementing a high ground clearance is a low center of gravity for its powertrain.

With firm suspension, the wagon exhibits little body roll. Seventeen-inch wheels are shod with Continental ProContact P225/60R17 tires. Cruise controls on Subarus don’t seem to be as effective as some on incrementally increasing or decreasing the set speed with the push of a button; I’ve mentioned this previously.

Though the 5-speed automatic transmission doesn’t match up to much of the competition’s 6, 7 and 8 speeds, paddle shifters give the driver control over quickened responses.

Wide, comfortable, leather-covered seats highlight the interior of the Limited, along with a padded-armrest storage cover between the front seats, padding on the doors and dark wood trim along the instrument panel. Second-row seatbacks recline.
The rear liftgate opens up 34 cubic feet of cargo space. Still a part of the layout back there is a rubber tray. Beneath the floor are storage compartments.

A rearview camera, positioned in the small audio screen in the dash’s center stack, is among options included on the tested Outback, along with a power moonroof and auto-dimming rearview mirror. This pushed sticker price to $34,365.

Harman Kardon audio with Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio heads standard equipment on the Limited. Among others are side-curtain airbags, roof rails, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, heated front seats and dual-zone climate control.

The lowest-priced 2014 Outback, with 6-speed manual transmission, starts at $24,320.

Notes from e-mail

As you know, Bud, I read my Denver Post while having coffee every morning, it’s nice to be retired. Two weeks ago Sunday, I noted some automobile stuff at the back of the real estate section. Again last Sunday, I found a column by Bud Wells in the real estate section. I wonder how many of your Sunday columns I have missed. – R.R.

Oh, I don’t know, Ray, maybe 500 or 600 or more. In addition to my Saturday Drive review of new cars and trucks, I for years have written a column on a variety of automotive subjects, which appears on the back page of the real estate section on Sundays. In addition, all of my columns for both Saturday and Sunday are available online by visiting DenverPost.com/BudWells.

Of your review last week of the 2014 Honda Pilot, Bud, I agree that it hasn’t kept up with competitors in its exterior style. I was surprised to read that it has sold so many, for it seems that there are not many on the roads. – R.F.

Restyling of the Pilot is expected to happen next fall, Ralph. As for sales, only the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee outsell the Pilot among that field of SUVs. Here are some 10-month sales totals: Explorer 161,222, Grand Cherokee 142,960, Pilot 109,557, Nissan Pathfinder 75,156, Chevrolet Tahoe 67,584, Dodge Durango 49,720 and Toyota 4Runner 41,844.