If like your SUV to look even more like an SUV than Subaru's Outback models do, then the Forester is the vehicle for you. A viscous limited-slip rear differential, standard cruise control and 24-hour roadside assistance are a few minor changes made for 2000. All Foresters are all-wheel driven by a 165-horsepower 2.5-liter boxer four mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

This compact, all-wheel-drive sedan is available in high-performance 2.5 RS sedan guise for 2000 in addition to the 2.5 RS coupe introduced last year. The more mundane Impreza L is still offered in coupe, sedan and sport wagon body styles. A 142-horsepower 2.2-liter boxer four-cylinder engine powers the L, while a 165-horsepower 2.5-liter boxer four motivates the 2.5 RS. You can row your own gears or have the transmission do the work with either trim level.

All-new for 2000, the new car has more room inside and a retuned engine that produces more usable torque. It continues to be offered in sedan and wagon form. Power is courtesy of a 165-horsepower 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.

As they are based off the Legacy, the Outback sedan and wagon are also completely new for 2000. The wagon is available in Limited and base trim, while the sedan comes in Limited trim exclusively. The Outback wagon is the only model available with a manual transmission; Limited models come with an automatic standard. Like the Legacy, they are powered by a 165-horsepower 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine.