Which automaker produces the Subaru Outback?

The Subaru Outback is produced by Subaru. It began as a rugged, raised version of the Subaru Legacy wagon and became one of the company’s signature models.

The first Outback was introduced for the 1995 model year after debuting at the 1994 New York Auto Show. Compared with a conventional Legacy wagon, it featured greater ground clearance, protective body cladding, roof-rail equipment, and an outdoors-oriented appearance. Subaru used the formula to position the vehicle between a traditional station wagon and a sport-utility vehicle.

The Outback’s standard all-wheel-drive identity helped distinguish it from many family wagons and crossovers. It also benefited from Subaru’s horizontally opposed “boxer” engines, which give the powertrain a low center of gravity. Some generations offered turbocharged engines, while later versions added driver-assistance technology and the more off-road-focused Wilderness trim.

The model is sometimes mistaken for a Toyota or Mitsubishi because those automakers also sell all-wheel-drive crossover vehicles. The Outback, however, is a Subaru nameplate. Its close relationship with the Legacy explains why early examples may be called the Subaru Legacy Outback in some markets.