Over the years, we’ve seen odd variations of SUVs and crossovers. There’s the coupe versions that luxury brands seem to love so much, and even a few convertibles here and there. But sedans?
Well, back in the ‘90s, one Japanese automaker dabbled in that experiment. There was a time when the Subaru Outback Sedan existed, and even more surprising, it lasted three generations. A quick history lesson is in order.
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Mind you, the idea of a high-riding, butched-up sedan wasn’t started by Subaru. Wind back the clock to 1980, and you’ll stumble across something called the AMC Eagle. The recipe was simple: Get a sedan (in this case, an AMC Concord), jack up the ride height, and call it a day…except that it came with a proper four-wheel drive system.
Predictably, there weren’t a lot sold, mainly because there was also a wagon version of the Eagle, effectively serving as the precursor of the modern crossover. Still, the so-so sales of the Eagle sedan didn’t bother Subaru for it to make the Outback sedan.
Okay, it wasn’t called Outback Sedan at first. Introduced in 1998 was the Legacy SUS. Zoomers might think SUS stood for the meaning it holds now, but over a quarter century ago, it meant Sport Utility Sedan. Like the original Outback from 1995, it came with thicker body cladding, raised ride height, and all-wheel drive.
We don’t have the official sales numbers for it, but perhaps it was successful enough to merit a second generation. By then, it was officially called the Subaru Outback Sedan. Production started in 2000 and lasted throughout the second-generation Outback’s production run.
And then we arrive in the third-generation model. However, this version wouldn’t arrive two years after the launch of the wagon. Still, it eventually rolled out in 2005 and, again, the formula was unchanged. Fat fenders? Check. Raised ground clearance? Check. Chunky tires? You bet. This would be the last Outback Sedan and discontinued after just two years.
With that, the crossover sedan was no more. However, in 2015, it was Volvo’s turn to have a crack at it with the S60 Cross Country. The Swedish automaker said it was a special, limited edition model, and only 500 were made. At least Volvo was aware that it was a bizarre segment and didn’t build them in the thousands.
The crossover sedan was an odd chapter in automotive history. There weren’t a lot of them made, and the wagon body was simply more practical and logical choice. Besides, people buy these things for extra space, and the limited cargo area of sedans meant these were meant to be a niche from the start.
Will this odd genre make a comeback? We doubt it, but it’s an amusing footnote nonetheless.
