When Subaru morphed its Legacy station wagon right into a quasi-SUV within the mid-’90s, the ensuing Outback represented everything of the model’s presence in Canada’s rising phase.

Practically three a long time later — despite the fact that the automaker now has the mainstream crossover segments coated with the subcompact Crosstrek, compact Forester and midsize Ascent — the Outback stays a key asset in its lineup.

The sixth era of the Outback, which obtained a midcycle facelift for 2023, is operating second solely to the Crosstrek in Subaru gross sales this 12 months, in accordance with statistics compiled by the Automotive Information Analysis & Knowledge Heart. That, nevertheless, is an anomaly attributable to provide constraints, Evan Lindsey, Subaru Canada’s automotive line supervisor, mentioned in an Oct. 6 interview.

Usually, the Outback ranks third in Subaru’s Canadian gross sales, shut behind the Forester. In pre-pandemic 2019, the Outback’s 11,000 gross sales, nearly unchanged from 2018.

In total measurement, the Outback is known as a midsize crossover, and that’s the way it’s positioned and perceived in the USA, Lindsey mentioned. In Canada, nevertheless, the Outback is priced in direct competitors with compact-crossover stalwarts such because the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Subaru’s personal Forester.

The bottom mannequin of the 2023 Outback begins at $32,695, plus $1,995 in delivery charges. Subaru held a media preview Oct. 5-7 in Huntsville, Ont.

PICK YOUR COMPACT

“We haven’t actively positioned it as a compact; that’s simply the place it fell,” Lindsey mentioned. And Subaru Canada is completely satisfied to depart it that method.

“We all know they’re each going after the identical competitor,” Lindsey mentioned of the Outback and Forester. “It’s simply … creating extra selection and extra choices for our prospects. Now we have two choices in that area, they usually can select their flavours, so to talk.”

The Forester attracts prospects preferring the boxy form and superior visibility of a traditional crossover or who’re constrained for parking area, Lindsey mentioned. The longer, decrease Outback appeals to canine homeowners, skiers and golfers who worth its longer cargo deck and those that desire its extra carlike driving dynamics.

Other than exterior tweaks, together with extra black cladding that amps up the SUV styling cues, the principle modifications are digital. They embody the most recent model of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist know-how with accessible Vast-Angle Mono Digital camera and an up to date multimedia system with accessible wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There’s additionally a brand new Onyx trim, that includes a grey two-tone inside with all-weather seat upholstery.

7 TRIMS HIT ‘SWEET SPOTS’

Onyx brings the roster of Outback trim ranges to seven. The Outback and different Subarus get pleasure from an unusually balanced mixture of take charges for his or her numerous trims, in contrast with rivals which are closely weighted to 2 trim ranges, Lindsey mentioned.

“That tells us that the way in which we’re packaging and pricing the vehicles, we’re hitting the candy spots within the phase,” he mentioned.

And Subaru Canada doesn’t restrict gross sales of the bottom mannequin. “Sellers can order regardless of the demand is of their market,” Lindsey mentioned.

Whereas the variety of trim ranges could seem excessive, he mentioned, Subaru Canada simplifies ordering and maximizes gross sales and manufacturing efficiencies by not providing manufacturing unit choices. Clients can purchase dealer-installed equipment as a substitute.

Earlier than the pandemic and different market disruptions, Subaru skilled robust and regular development in Canada. Client consciousness of the model is now robust relative to its market share, Lindsey mentioned, however he advised that gross sales nonetheless don’t absolutely replicate that consciousness.

“We work actually onerous to make sure we’re providing distinctive worth to our prospects,” Lindsey mentioned, whereas good gasoline financial system and excessive residual values imply low possession prices.

Nonetheless, he mentioned: “We have a tendency to not supply large reductions and incentives. As a result of we don’t have these 84-month phrases and the low month-to-month funds, there’s a misperception the vehicles are costlier than they’re.”

Most mortgage phrases run 48 months for leasing and 60 months for financing.