A few things have changed with the 2010 Subaru Outback. It's undergone a redesign that's full of positive changes, but there's one change I'm not crazy about - the exterior. It looks like it's been flattened out. The angles aren't as pronounced as they used to be. It's definitely not as sleek as its predecessor. Even though my home state of Colorado is casual, where even on a fancy night out you can get by in denim, a little spice is nice. I like my cars to look confident.

But it's what's on the inside that counts, right? The 256-horsepower six-cylinder engine provides plenty of confidence, while the nicely appointed interior gives passengers a comfortable respite from the outside world. As with all Subarus, the Outback has standard all-wheel drive.

On the road, the Outback is sporty and athletic, despite the five-speed automatic transmission. Of course, I could switch into Manual mode for even more excitement. If I wanted to go crazy, I could use the paddle shifters for some behind-the-wheel fun or to help with steep downhill grades on those Rocky Mountain passes.

This is a fun car to drive on city streets, the highway and even mountain passes. I had plenty of power on demand, and the steering and braking were tight and responsive. There was no body roll like you get in SUVs or vans, which is why I love wagons.

• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety