It seems obvious in hindsight, but Subaru's next step was to introduce a sedan version of the Legacy Outback, and call it the Sport Utility Sedan (SUS). The real point of the SUS is to deliver the Outback's balance of car-like ride and off-road ability in a more intimate package. The extra 1.2 inches of ride height, oversized fog lamps with stone shields, grid-type grille, hood scoop, two-toning, and rugged five-spoke alloy wheels say "off-road" with a trunk.

With its 1999 models, Subaru commemorates 30 years of selling cars in America. My test car featured not only the "Limited" package, but wore the 30th Anniversary badges and features too. This meant an already complete car was sprinkled with a two-way power moonroof, special wheels and tires, power antenna, rear spoiler and driver's seat height adjuster.

Standard equipment includes a great sounding entertainment center, with AM, FM, CD, cassette and even the Weather Band. The leather interior and trim, darkly tinted side glass, power windows, door locks and mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, and other conveniences add upscale flavor.

Sesame Street graduates will go nuts reading the outside of this car. Badges are everywhere, from "Subaru" to "SUS"", Limited," "AWD"", 30th Anniversary Edition," "ABS" (anti-lock brakes) and even "Team Crafted in Indiana." Yes, the car is built in Lafayette, Indiana, by Americans, who may choose to drive out on the midwestern dirt, or simply fantasize about it. That's the whole point of sport utility vehicles anyway, isn't it?

The SUS is surprisingly quiet on the road, and the 165-horsepower engine, with dual overhead cams and just four cylinders, pulls strongly. The all-wheel-drive platform puts most of the power through the front wheels, until traction is lost, at which time the system senses which wheel's got a grip on the road and sends the power there. There are no extra levers to operate or buttons to push. Mileage is a respectable 21 city, 27 highway with the automatic.

Drivers will appreciate the SUS's surefootedness and balance, with slightly heavy steering imparting a feeling of control. The car seems glued to the road. On a trip along a winding back road, calm, neutral handling prevailed, while my son slept in back and the stereo played with hardly a whisper of wind or road noise to intrude. The electronic, four-speed automatic transmission is so good I didn't even crave a manual.

All Legacy models have a casual, competent feeling about them. The comfortably cushioned door surfaces have a rakishly slanted armrest-level panel, which shifts everything off the horizon line like an amusement park roller coaster. A full-length pocket runs along the door bottom. The climate controls at center dash resemble Winston Churchill's face, with vent eyes, triangular flasher nose, a mouth made of the slider control and the fan button acting as the cigar.