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Subaru is the only manufacturer that offers All-Wheell Drive (AWD) in every car, and that guarantees one quality. All Subarus corner and maneuver under any circumstance like no other vehicle. The ride is steady and sure and drivers have few concerns in inclement weather, during sharp cornering or on rough roads.

I've driven several Subarus in recent years, and I also leased an early version of the Legacy wagon for four years in the mid-1990s. Leased or tested for a review, every Subaru I've driven has the same secure feel.

Originally marketed as the "world's first sport utility wagon," for 2008 Subarus have what Consumer Guide defines as "refreshed styling." My weekly drive was the Outback 2.51 model, with four cylinders, 175 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission.

Early in my week with the Outback, my wife and I drove over the Pacheco Pass, the winding country road stretch near the San Luis Reservoir. We we en route from Sacramento to the Monterey Peninsula.

The road is among my favorite test-driving locales. Winding ascents and descents and high speeds and an oddly cambered road always provide a welcomed challenge.

On this occasion, in early October, it also briefly hailed and rain heavily for a short time. But it might as well have been sunny and windless, which is exactly what it was just before the weather arrived. The Outback confronted the inclement conditions without issue. The rain and hail quickly dispersed off the windshield and the vehicle continued its stellar path.

All-wheel drive vehicles (the four-wheel drive can't be disengaged) are often criticized because an appreciably stable ride is countered by a lost of gas mileage. The Outback is rated at 18 mph in city driving and 24 mpg in highway conditions. Those aren't great numbers, but after nearly 600 miles during my week's test, the car averaged 22.8 mph — true to the manufacturer's claim.

The Outback made a strong debut in 1995 and through its various revisions, it remains uniquely positioned in the market. It's a reliable performer in any situation.

Fact & Figures: Safety — Dual front, front side and side curtain airbags; Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 18 mpg (city), 24 mpg (highway); Warranty – Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 7 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles, Roadside Assistance, 3 years/36,000 miles; Base Price — $23,695