Weekend Athlete: 2008 Subaru Outback

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

I tested the 2008 Subaru Outback L.L.Bean edition using my usual Weekend Athlete race and camping gear, and it earned a very high rating of 9. The downsides are the sticker price — it’s more than $30,000, which doesn’t leave a lot of cash for s’mores or race fees — and it’s a bit sluggish on the highway. Of course, you could forgo the L.L.Bean edition and buy a 2.5i, like someone I know, and save roughly $5,000 — but you’ll still have to deal with the highway sluggishness. Either way, in the city or on two-lane roads the L.L.Bean edition is fun to drive and offers good visibility. Watch the video above to see how the Outback earned its ranking.

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