My everyday car is a 2006 Subaru Outback. So, I was more than a little curious when the folks at Kelly Subaru Mitsubishi called to say the redesigned 2010 Outback had hit their showroom on Riverfront Parkway. I test drove a 2010 Outback 2.5i Premium, which features a 170-horsepower boxer engine and the symmetrical all-wheel drive system for which Subaru is famous. My first job, though, was to check out the back seat. The one real design flaw with the last generation Outback, in my view, was its lack of rear-seat leg room. This had real consequences for families with children in car seats. Thankfully, the engineers at Subaru stretched the new Outback and scooped out the backs of the front seats to provide about 4 more inches of leg room. It doesn’t sound like much, but the difference in comfort is immense. I expect the same result in the redesigned Legacy sedan, which is being positioned to compete more aggressively for attention of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion buyers.

“They’ve taken this car (Outback) from a wagon feel to almost a crossover type look,” said Tyson Lafferty, a salesman at Kelly Mitsubishi Subaru. “... The first one we got, we sold in about an hour.”

DRIVING IMPRESSION: Although the Outback is available with a spirited 256-horsepower, six-cylinder engine, the 170-horsepower four-cylinder model is the volume leader. One of the joys of the Subaru power-plant is the flat, longitudinally mounted engine, which lowers the car’s center of gravity and makes it feel planted. Tight steering response adds to the wagon’s secure feel. “Solid” is the word that leaps to mind.

I drove the new Outback on winding Lookout Mountain roads and found it as nicely responsive as the previous model. It’s little wonder our mountain communities are filled with these all-weather stalwarts. As before, the new Outback is outfitted with an ample roof rack for carrying bikes, kayaks and skis.

STYLING: The new Outback looks like it has been to boot camp. It has a more aggressive grille, a wider stance and bulkier body cladding. The Silver Steel Metallic tester had a monochromatic black interior, which is much more angular and masculine than the previous Outback’s. (The Limited trim line has a softer, two-tone color scheme and leather-clad seats.) Other upgrades for 2010 include steering wheel-mounted stereo and cruise controls, a Harmon Kardon six-CD changer and a clever roof rack design with fold-away elements to reduce drag when you’re not hauling gear.

BOTTOM LINE: For active-lifestyle buyers looking for safety, rock-solid driving dynamics and fuel economy, the Outback is hard to beat for the price. Small families take note, the Outback now offers wagon refinement with plenty of back-seat room.

(Have a question about new cars or trucks? E-mail your questions to Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com. Look for answers in a future column.)