Subaru tapped into a huge market in the 80’s by putting a capable 4WD drive train on a car based platform. It offered a great balance between capable off-road driving and on road practicality. Their years of sales success with all wheel drive cars has proved that they were really on to something. If you need any further evidence that the early Subarus were solid cars, check out this guy’s crazy lifted 4×4 Touring Wagon. He clears some pretty gnarly hill climbs that most people wouldn’t try in full blown trucks.