Sports car/utility car combo and great value, but not perfect

I have had the Subaru Outback XT Ltd. for about three weeks now. I have driven it nearly every day since I bought it (when my wife isn't trying to get me to let her take it instead), taken it on a couple of day trips, and put about 700 miles on the odometer (and not more because my RT commute to work is only 10 miles).

I can describe myself as a spirited driver. I prefer performance over most everything else, though I have to be able to live with it as well. My ideal car that has remained tops on my wish list since I was in high school (in the late eighties) has been the 3 series BMW. However, married with two dogs and plans for children in the near future, this wasn't a large enough and practical choice for meeting our utility needs. I despise SUVs, trucks, and mini-vans for the very reason that they don't meet my requirements in terms of "fun-to-drive." I wanted a car that would not remind me constantly that I am not driving a sports sedan, yet could fit my hauling requirements now and in the future.

The Outback XT met these requirements better than any other car (around or under $30,000). No, it isn't a 2006 BMW 330i (which I have recently driven on a closed track with a professional driver), but it does provide good power and crisp handling along with a nice ride and station wagon utility. (All weather capability is a bonus if you live in a four season climate, which I do not in Los Angeles.)

The Outback XT comes with a long list of standard features and a reputation for quality and reliability. These features also carried a lot of weight in my decision-making process. Some or all of these factors eliminated many of the lower priced competition such as products from Saturn, Ford, GM, etc. The Volvo offered better room, but fewer standard features and to similarly equip the V70 would have ran its price to at least $8,000 more and that's without AWD. At the same time, it would have provided less power, performance, and thrills. The VW Passat GLS wagon (1.8L Turbo) ended up being its only real challenger, and it had a lot going for it versus the Outback. I found it roomier, slightly more comfortable, and an even greater value (less expensive). However, it was not nearly as fun to drive (170hp vs. 250hp? C'mon!!) and did not make me feel as confident in its predicted reliability based on my research. Keep in mind my bias toward certain attributes that I place higher value on in an automobile. For another person, the competitor's car may be the much better choice.

I love the interior. I think it looks modern, without being weird or cheap-looking/feeling. The seats are comfortable and provide good support. Fit and finish seem excellent. All-around visibility and the layout of all controls and gauges are also very good.

Driving is what I like best about this car. Once the revs build up, watch out! The turbo kicks in and you will find yourself sometimes inadvertently accelerating far more quickly than you had intended to. Highway passing power is outstanding, and the vehicle handles like a sports sedan as you weave in and out of traffic to pass slower vehicles. You never will feel that you're driving a compromised car to satisfy the wife's requirements for cargo space.

As I alluded to a bit above, there are some aspects that I wish were better. Being a big guy (6'3", 250lbs.), I would have liked more room: head, shoulder, hip, and leg room. The back seat is tight if your passengers there are not short or requiring Weight Watchers' meetings. I am sure if I lost a few pounds, it would go a long way towards alleviating these concerns, so consider on an as-needed basis.

I also wish for better fuel economy. With current gas prices for premium at @$2.50/g in L.A., it would have been nice to average better than 18-20 mpg overall. This is still superior to most SUVs and minivans, however the majority of them don't require premium fuel, and that kind of offsets some of the poorer EPA ratings for those types of vehicles. Of course, if gas prices were well below $2.00 again, this probably won't even be mentioned as an issue.

Most other shortcomings are rather minor. I would have liked better tires, volume controls on the steering wheel, MPEG playing compatibility, driver seat memory, stronger brakes, more space for the left foot to rest on while driving, and so on. None of these are important enough to warrant buying another vehicle, or not buying the Outback, but they would have taken the 2005 Outback XT closer to perfection.