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The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

I know how nice the weather is right now. But just wait a few months.

The flakes will fly and everyone will want a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Never mind that for years people got around just fine without it. It’s the newest “gotta have” and explains the popularity of sport utility vehicles.

But there are still plenty of people who don’t like going out to dinner in a truck. While these folks would like a four-wheel-drive car, they wouldn’t mind if it had a smidgen of the tough image found in such vehicles. Enter the Subaru Sport Utility Sedan. If it sounds like just a bit of marketing hype, you’d only be partially right.

For Subaru takes a standard Legacy sedan and hikes the ride height. Next comes the accoutrements of the Outback, including body-side cladding, a rear spoiler and grilles over the fog lamps. But what makes this car special is the 30th Anniversary Edition, gussied up in Limited trim level.

For just over 26 honkers, this car offers a lot of the little luxuries available only on more expensive vehicles (did someone say Audi Quattro?).

To start with, this Sube, like all of its ilk, comes with standard all-wheel-drive, making it easy and fun to toss around. The advantages of having all four wheels doing the driving at all times gives the car a measure of increased handling ability, despite the body lean that’s still evident in corners.

The ride is also standard issue Legacy, which is about typical for the upper end of the compact/mid-size class it runs in. That means decent bump absorption with moderate thumping over bumps. The car is calm enough at speed.

Besides offering only all-wheel-drive, Subaru is one of the only auto makers using horizontally opposed engines. What this means is the cylinders are arranged horizontally, not vertically as in most engines. There’s a little more vibration and noise, but not objectionably so. The 2.5-liter,165-horsepower, six-cylinder has double overhead cams and a healthy dallop of power. That all this power is available is made known when its used. It can get noisy. The overall result is that you’re constantly in touch with the road. This ain’t no Lexus.

Ergonomically, the car is about what you’d expect for a modern-day automobile, with decent quality plastics, although they’re far from opulent. The only real faux pas is a cup holder that blocks the radio when its in use.

The leather bucket seats are comfy and on the Limited are heated, whether or not you get leather. Seating is decent for four, less so for five.

A nice touch is the weather band included on the AM/FM/cassette/CD radio, so when the weather turns rough, one can hear the latest forecast straight from the National Weather Service.

Another nice touch is heated mirrors. But this a winterized sedan.

But what makes it so nice is that, with touches like a moon roof, this winterized sedan doesn’t punish you for having chosen all-wheel-drive, it looks and acts like a regular sedan.

Ove rall, this sedan is a sensible shoe, with lots of features making up for what it lacks overall space or panache.

But this doesn’t matter when the snow starts to fly, getting through does. And that’s what the Subaru Sport Utility Sedan will do. But so will a Legacy, and it won’t cost as much either.

1999 Subaru Legacy Sport Utility Sedan

Standard: 2.5-liter DOHC engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive, dual front air-bags, anti-lock brakes, variable assisted power steering, heavy-duty raised suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, 205/70R15 tires, power moon roof, two-tone paint, hood scoop, rear spoiler, splash guards, windshield wiper de-icer, heated front seats, heated mirrors, leather interior trim, AM/FM/weather band/cassette/CD with 6 speakers and power antenna, floor mats, visor vanity mirrors, intermittent wipers, alloy wheels, air-conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, split foldingrear seat, fog lamps.

Options: None

Base price: $25,595

As tested: $26,090

EPA rating: 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway