We had the opportunity recently to test drive the 2008 Outback wagon, in the highly refined L.L. Bean trim, and this review will focus on that particular vehicle.

This version of the Outback is bigger and offers more interior space than the previous generation. The new cabins are more comfortable, and more luxurious, and the exterior, with smooth, rounded lines taking the edge off, eliminates that boxy look Subaru was known for. More important, it was re-engineered with a lower center of gravity for improved handling and stability, even though it already boasted those attributes — especially when compared with sport utility vehicles.

Walkaround: The Outback looks firmly planted on the ground, but with the aerodynamic slope of the hood, made possible by the low profile of Subaru's horizontally opposed engines, deep front bumper, and appropriately proportioned tire and wheel combinations, it gives the impression of motion at the same time.

That impression is enhanced by the wagon's roofline, which drops steadily rearward from the front doors — a design combining function and style by increasing the inward tilt of the rear side windows to move air flow beyond the wagon's tail end.

The Outback is taller than its sibling, the Legacy, and large round fog lamps emphasize, yet soften, the aggressive lower fascia. Wide tires add a visual stretch to the car's stance.

Interior: The Outback offers a comfortable, versatile cabin. Our L.L. Bean version came equipped with a standard all-weather package that included cushy, heated leather power-adjustable seats, dual-zone climate control, heated mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer.

It also sports the L.L. Bean logo, a tire pressure monitoring system, a rear-seat center armrest with trunk pass-through, Momo mahogany-and-leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, the dual-pane moonroof, navigation system, a three-frequency, programmable remote HomeLink transmitter, and upgraded audio with an MP3-capable AM/FM, in-dash 6-CD changer with an auxiliary audio jack, rear subwoofer, and Sirius Satellite Radio.

There was also a multi-function trip computer, and the usual array of power accessories — windows, mirrors, remote keyless locks, an auto-dimming rear view mirror with a built-in compass, and cruise control.

The dash is trimmed in high-quality, seamless vinyl, mildly textured, low-gloss finish to minimize reflected glare in the windshield. Instrumentation is large and round, positioned directly in front of the driver and easy to read at a glance through the three-spoke steering wheel. All controls feature large, round knobs and intuitive, easy-to-use buttons and switches.

The center stack flows easily into the console, which features cupholders and a retractable door. Seat heater switches are located here as well. The glove box is large, and two of the rear seat occupants have their own cup holders and a place to store stuff on the back of the front seats. Both sedan and wagons have a compartmentalized storage tray hidden beneath the floor and on top of the spare tire.

The wagons have two covered storage bins in the cargo area, which also has its own light, carpet (including on the back of the rear seats, which are 60/40 split fold-down units), grocery bag hooks and a retractable cargo area cover. A variety of cargo nets are available, one of which attaches to the rear seatbacks and ceiling-mounted hooks separating the passenger and cargo compartments — a must-have feature.

The wagon's tailgate allows standing fully upright when open and a pull-down handle minimizes contact with the exterior's collected road dirt and grime.

Forward visibility is excellent, thanks to the sloping hood and side and rear vision is excellent as well.

Under The Hood: The 3.0 R models, the L.L. Bean Edition and the VDC Limited come with a six-cylinder engine rated at 250 horses, coupled to the five-speed Sportshift automatic. The VDC model (for Vehicle Dynamics Control, an electronic stability control system) comes standard with the navigation system, an option on the other Outback models.

Fuel economy is rated at 17/city and 24/highway.

Behind The Wheel: The Outback features one of the world's best all-wheel-drive systems, which is enhanced by marrying it to the boxer-style engine that results in a low center of gravity. As a result, the Outback delivers excellent all-weather driving capability. It feels very secure and confident in a driving rain or snow, yet it delivers responsive handling on dry pavement like winding roads, while being a comfortable, versatile car for everyday driving.

Safety features include dual-stage frontal airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and full coverage side curtain airbags. Active front-seat head restraints are standard. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution come standard. Adding those safety features with the stability of Subaru's all-wheel drive, puts the Outback near the top of my personal list when the weather turns ugly and roads get slippery.

Whines: I couldn’t really find much worth mentioning.

Bottom Line: The Subaru Outback is proof that modern wagons can be fun to drive, while being very well suited to the “American Outback.” Whether on paved or unpaved roads, the Outback's handling is vastly superior to that of most SUVs, and its ride better, yet it can take a fair amount of abuse. Outback wagons are an excellent choice for outdoor activities or driving long distance. It will gobble up straight stretches of road at high speed, then endure hard braking before sliding around curves at speeds well above the posted limits. Quite simply, the Subaru Outback L.L. Bean edition fits the Northwest lifestyle like a comfortable leather glove.