2019 Subaru Outback Auto Choice Lifted Edition $27,590

Our choice for the ideal Outback is the 2.5i Premium. It comes with a bright and large 8-inch infotainment screen, dual-zone climate control, and heated, power-adjustable front seats. Priced competitively to a similarly equipped Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, the Outback also gets you a robust all-wheel-drive system, clever fold-away roof rails, and better standard technology features. Although the 2.5-liter engine isn't a standout in acceleration, it's good enough as long as you don't plan on towing. SUVs and wagons each have their unique places in the automotive spectrum. But what if you're not truly enamored with the format of either one? Thankfully, there's a solution: the 2019 Subaru Outback. It has the shape and driving style of a wagon but with the extra capability typically associated with an SUV. Powering the Outback is one of two engines — an efficient 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder that produces 175 horsepower or a 3.6-liter flat-six with 256 hp. Both engines send power to Subaru's active all-wheel-drive system through a continuously variable automatic transmission. The standard engine isn't spritely, but it's capable enough that we think it's the engine to get. You can tow up to 2,700 pounds with it, too. On the inside, the Outback is well-built and has a good selection of textures and materials. It doesn't look like the whole thing is one big sheet of cheap plastic. Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system is standard this year, as is a crisp-looking touchscreen that can interface with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible phones. And thanks to its standard swing-out roof rack crossbars, large cargo volume, and enhanced ground clearance, the Outback works great as a vehicle for recreational activities. But the Outback's high stance and smooth ride do come with a penalty. The Outback doesn't inspire much confidence when driven in a sporty manner, and the high ground clearance means the Outback rolls and pitches when cornering and braking. Still, these are compromises that we're willing to accept in exchange for the Outback's go-anywhere, do-anything attitude. So if you're looking for a capable vehicle that smoothly combines the SUV and wagon titles, give the Subaru Outback a look. Notably, we picked the 2019 Subaru Outback as one of Edmunds' Best Midsize SUVs for this year.