SUV's sell, there is nothing wrong with designating Subaru's as SUV's for the marketing ploy that they generate - it's not like the gas milege has plumetted or anything on Outbacks, nor is there any threat that it will, most of us "tree huggin hippies" who drive Subaru's wouldn't buy them if the gas milege began to mirror that of an H2, a 4Runner or even a CRV. The co. has been marketing the Forester as an SUV for years, the fact that Subrau has expanded this marketing strategy to it's Outback line should come as no surprise. Remeber Paul Hogan (crocadile dundee) that's the whole image that the company is trying to create with these cars, and as long as the SUV designation helps them with that, and the gas milege stays where it is, there is no problem. Just b/c Subaru has started to designate it's cars as SUV's does not mean that the CARS have changed or that tommorow we'll get massive gas guzzling monsters with the label of Subaru (well maybe the B9) that are going to kill the trees that we Subaru drivers enjoy so much.