1. Overview
2. Gallery
   • Photo Gallery (0)
   • 360° View
   • Video
   • Web Videos (9)
3. Trims and Specs
   • Select a Trim (0)
4. More Resources
   • Related News (0)
   • Other Expert Reviews (6)
   • Consumer Opinions (141)
   • Car Tweets
   • Q&A (4)
5. Next Steps
   • Get Subaru Insurance Quotes
   • Get Subaru Financing Quotes
   • Check Local Classifieds
   • Find a local dealer

     Select State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Select City
     

     See all Subaru dealers

November 11, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/subaru_legacy-outback-natl_2000

  TheCarConnection Team
 TheCarConnection Team

by Ted Grozier

or the 2000 model year, Subaru has completely redesigned the Legacy/Outback range. The car has grown slightly, received an excellent new interior, and been given a modest power increase.

It continues to be sold in Legacy form under the Brighton, L, and GT trim levels; the previous Sport Utility Sedan moniker has been dropped in favor of "Outback Limited Sedan." Outback and Outback Limited wagons are again available and are expected to remain the most popular models.

Styling changes are best appreciated in the sedan; it in particular is vastly more attractive than its predecessor. Fashionable jeweled headlamps and an enlarged grill opening have been added to all models, while the car's lines have been strengthened throughout. The controversial hood scoops on Outback models have been deleted.

Not just a pretty face

Improvements to the unibody go beyond vanity, though. The new structure is greatly stiffer, offering twice the longitudinal bending resistance and 20 percent greater torsional strength than the outgoing model. We noticed a more composed ride over rough surfaces and a near absence of shakes and rattles, even on our pre-production test car. What we thankfully did have occasion to experience is the claim of increased crashworthiness, although we will take Subaru's word for it.

2000 legacy wagon Enlarge Photo Subaru’s 2000 Legacy Wagon.

The wheelbase has grown almost an inch to 104.3, while overall length is up just shy of three inches to 184.4 and 187.4 for the sedan and wagon, respectively. Both increases provide more passenger and cargo space, but the biggest improvement in roominess comes from the new multi-link rear suspension. It frees five additional inches between the rear wheelhouses yet retains the same wheel travel of the previous strut design. In the wagon, three large suitcases will now fit standing upright.

by Ted Grozier or the 2000 model year, Subaru has completely redesigned the Legacy/Outback range. The car has grown slightly, received an excellent new interior, and been given a modest power increase. It continues to be sold in Legacy form under the Brighton, L, and GT trim levels; the previous Sport Utility Sedan moniker has been dropped in favor of "Outback Limited Sedan." Outback and Outback Limited wagons are again available and are expected to remain the most popular models. Styling changes are best appreciated in the sedan; it in particular is vastly more attractive than its predecessor. Fashionable jeweled headlamps and an enlarged grill opening have been added to all models, while the car's lines have been strengthened throughout. The controversial hood scoops on Outback models have been deleted. Not just a pretty face Improvements to the unibody go beyond vanity, though. The new structure is greatly stiffer, offering twice the longitudinal bending resistance and 20 percent greater torsional strength than the outgoing model. We noticed a more composed ride over rough surfaces and a near absence of shakes and rattles, even on our pre-production test car. What we thankfully did have occasion to experience is the claim of increased crashworthiness, although we will take Subaru's word for it. 2000 legacy wagonEnlarge Photo Subaru’s 2000 Legacy Wagon. The wheelbase has grown almost an inch to 104.3, while overall length is up just shy of three inches to 184.4 and 187.4 for the sedan and wagon, respectively. Both increases provide more passenger and cargo space, but the biggest improvement in roominess comes from the new multi-link rear suspension. It frees five additional inches between the rear wheelhouses yet retains the same wheel travel of the previous strut design. In the wagon, three large suitcases will now fit standing upright. by Ted Grozier or the 2000 model year, Subaru has completely redesigned the Legacy/Outback range. The car has grown slightly, received an excellent new interior, and been given a modest power increase. It continues to be sold in Legacy form under the Brighton, L, and GT trim levels; ...