The 1999 model year was the final year for Subaru's Legacy Outback, which was available as either a sedan or station wagon -- the Outback became its own separate model in 2000. All Legacy Outback models came with a 2.5-liter, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine and the option of a manual or automatic transmission. When the EPA initially tested the 1999 Outback, its fuel economy rating neared 30 mpg, but changes to the testing process in 2008 dropped it to the mid-20s.
The Legacy Outback initially received ratings from the EPA of 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined with the manual transmission, and 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined for the automatic. Testing changes in 2008 dropped those numbers to 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined, regardless of transmission or body style.
