In snowy parts of the country, where drivers simply must have vehicles that are practical, rugged and reliable, the roads have nearly as many Outbacks as potholes. The 2011 Subaru Outback remains true to that heritage – a sizable four-door crossover wagon that can handle the elements like an SUV and the everyday commute like a family sedan.

Redesigned last year, the Outback receives only minor tweaks for 2011. It retains the characteristic straight lines, alert stance and high profile that have made its silhouette iconic in northern states. The recently redesigned Outback, however, has a slightly more brawny look than its predecessors, with noticeably bulging fenders and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. This stylistic direction, and the Outback’s continued growth in overall size, pushes the vehicle too close to an SUV for some critics’ liking, while others find it a natural evolution of the Outback, which was intended to be a more rugged version of its Legacy wagon sister in the first place.

The 2011 Outback comes in six trims marked by two engine options and three levels of standard equipment - 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 3.6R, 3.6R Premium, 3.6R Limited. The 2.5 trims are powered by a 2.5-liter, 16-valve, horizontally opposed four-cylinder boxer engine that produces 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 170 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 3.6 trims get a 3.6-liter, 24-valve, horizontally opposed six-cylinder boxer engine that produces 256 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 247 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.

The 2.5i and 2.5i Premium come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and get 19 city/27 highway mpg. The 2.5i Limited comes standard with a Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with six-speed manual mode and paddle shifters and gets 22/29 mpg. The critically acclaimed CVT is available on the other 2.5 trims, but it is not an option for the 3.6 trims, although those do come with a well-made five-speed adaptive electronic automatic transmission with manual mode, paddle shifters and downshift rev-matching control that helps the 3.6 trims earn a rating of 18/25 mpg. The more powerful 3.6-liter engine and its 3,000-pound towing capacity would be the wise choice for anyone who needs to do any serious trailering.

All Outback trims come standard with Subaru’s highly regarded Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, which is modified slightly to best fit the two different engines. This system directs power to each wheel as needed for enhanced control and safety in difficult driving conditions, on road or off.

The Outback handles snow, mud and steep and rocky inclines with little trouble. And when you get it on dry and smooth pavement, presto, it delivers a car-like ride. Testers love the CVT and its ability to smoothly utilize the energy delivered by the 2.5-liter four-cylinder. This combination – 2.5-liter and CVT – provides the optimum balance of power and efficiency. If you want a more substantial feeling beneath you, and more power available for tight passing situations or to tow a boat to water, the 3.6-liter is a great option. The five-speed adaptive electronic automatic transmission that comes with the 3.6-liter engines isn’t quite as effortless as the CVT, but it still provides smooth shifts in both directions.

The interior of the Outback matches the exterior and mechanical features – practical and built to last. The rear seats gained legroom and, with wider-opening doors, ease of entry and exit with last year’s redesign. Consumers love that extra space, and naturally it carries over to 2011, providing the Outback with a rear seat actually suited for adults. The front seats aren’t luxurious, but they are plenty comfortable for extended road trips.

Standard features for the base 2.5i trim include air conditioning, cruise control, a four-speaker audio system, six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, four-way manually adjustable passenger seat, cloth upholstery, 16-inch steel wheels and roof rails with integrated and retractable cross bars. The 2.5i Premium's upgrades include a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, fog lights and 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The 2.5i Limited comes standard with heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 440-watt and nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, heated side mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, leather upholstery and woodgrain-patterned interior trim.

The 3.6R shares the same interior and exterior features as the 2.5i trim, but the 3.6R Premium gets a few more features than its 2.5i cousin, including a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel and the All-Weather package, which includes heated front seats, heated side mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer. Like the 2.5i Limited, the 3.6R Limited comes with the full set of standard features Subaru offers for the Outback.

Subaru made sure the Outback is a very safe car and provided all trims with standard four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, Vehicle Dynamics Control, traction control, tire pressure monitoring, daytime running lights, advanced dual-stage front airbags, side-curtain airbags for front and rear, seat-mounted side-impact airbags and a rollover sensor.