In my search for a 05 / 06 Outback, I have seen many listings for cars that have (Natl) after it. What are these and should they be avoided?

 

Thanks

 

RC

Good question Ray. After doing some looking around, it may have to do with a 35th year celebration.

Could it be the 49 state version...as opposed to the CA version???

If the rest of them say (Turbo), then it means naturally aspirated.

 

You might check the glossary of whatever publication you're looking through. What publication are you looking through, anyway?

National LEV Program

 

On December 16, 1997, EPA finalized the regulations for the National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) program [63 FR 926, 7 Jan 1998]. The NLEV was a voluntary program that came into effect through an agreement by the northeastern states and the auto manufacturers. It provided more stringent emission standards for the transitional period before the introduction of Tier 2 regulations. Starting in the northeastern states in model year 1999 and nationally in model year 2001, new cars and light light-duty trucks had to meet tailpipe standards that were more stringent than EPA could legally mandate prior to model year 2004. However, after the NLEV program was agreed upon, these standards were enforceable in the same manner as any other federal new motor vehicle program.

The National LEV program harmonized the federal and California motor vehicle standards and provided emission reductions that were basically equivalent to the California Low Emission Vehicle program. The program was phased-in through schedules that required car manufacturers to certify a percentage of their vehicle fleets to increasingly cleaner standards (TLEV, LEV, ULEV). The National LEV program extended only to lighter vehicles and did not include the Heavy LDT (HLDT, GVWR>6,000 lbs) vehicle category.

 

I bought my Subaru in NH, which does not follow the stricter emissions standards followed by the states bordering. I could do so because the 06 Subaru met all state standards.