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Walkaround
The Impreza Outback's aggressive styling is endearing. The look starts with a redesigned front bumper which houses an all-new grille and cooling vents. The facelift is carried over to the hood that blisters with a functional hood scoop similar to the one on Subaru's red-hot rally car. Two-tone exterior body paint, white-lettered 15-inch, all-season radial tires with splash guards, protective lower body cladding, a rear bumper cover and a raised suspension enhance the racy, rugged facade. Fog lamps ($237) and alloy wheels ($629) are optional. The Outback Sport benefits from a generous greenhouse. Narrow A-pillars allow for expansive tinted glass in the front that continues through the elongated side and stylish rear quarter-panel windows in the back. The roof is topped with an integrated rack. The rear door opens upward to allow stowage of up to 62 cu. ft. of goods with the split rear seat folded flat. The '97 Outback Sport comes in three new exterior colors: Glacier White, Acadia Green Metallic and Brisbane Blue Pearl. Factory undercoating and rust proofing along with a protective clearcoat finish are standard.
Interior Features
The Outback Sport's interior is short on luxury and length, but it's a comfortable cabin with practical and tasteful styling. It's easy to get in and out of this five-passenger, four-door wagon due to its comfortable ride height. Seats, which include dual reclining front buckets, are comfortable and nicely contoured. Gauges, controls and dual cupholders are conveniently located. Standard are power windows, door locks and side view mirrors, air conditioning, two-speed intermittent wipers with rear window wiper/washer, and a new 80-watt AM/FM cassette stereo with four speakers and a clock. New for '97 is a redesigned rear cargo area with practical features such as a 12-volt power outlet, rear cargo hooks, cargo cover and a heavy-duty storage tray. The Sport also comes with halogen headlights. They shut down automatically when the ignition is turned off to prevent battery drain. Remote keyless entry is available for $225. The roster of standard safety features includes dual airbags, side impact door beams, collapsible steering column, four-channel ABS, front and rear three-point manual seatbelts, child safety locks on the rear doors and the previously mentioned all-wheel drive. Our test model came with carpeted floor mats ($64), cruise control ($357), a CD player ($420) and the $134 optional center armrest.
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