WITH the rise of SUVs continuing to gain momentum in Australia, every manufacturer wants a piece of the action, but where many brands are scrambling to add models in various segments, Subaru claims it invented the crossover 20 years ago.

When the Outback broke cover in 1994 it blended the four-wheel drive system of an off-roader with the body and more car-like manner of a wagon and a ground-clearance somewhere in between.

For a country like Australia where 60 per cent of the roads are unsealed and people have a tendency to go walkabout, the high-riding Scooby was an obvious choice for many, but over the following two decades its competition has grown, putting pressure on the original.

As the Outback evolved through four generations, its styling and interior quality struggled to keep up with the slick rivals from virtually all car-makers, but now Subaru says its fifth-gen version addresses all of the customer feedback and criticism.

With an updated look inside and out, a host of new toys and a significant price chop, the Subaru crossover pioneer is Outback with a vengeance.

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