It was one of those long waits at a Manhattan parking garage, when the attendant disappears into a freight elevator and eventually returns from some unknown nether region with your car. While I sat on the bench, several vehicles emerged from the lift, including a brand-new BMW 545i, one of the most shapely cars on the road. The attendant sleepily handed over the keys, and the driver sped off. But when the 2005 Subaru Outback came off, there was more of a stir. Garage workers gathered round and admired its angular lines. One of them stepped in front of the car and peered at the hood through a square he made with his hands, as if he were sizing it up for a photograph. "It is really beautiful," he gushed.

The Outback is no BMW, but here's the secret: Subaru has figured out how to put coolness and style into cars ordinary people can afford. So gawkers check them out with a sense of ambition: They might actually be able to own one some day. Subaru first hit on the formula when the Outback debuted in 1995, and the basics of the glorified wagon, redesigned for '05, are still the same. It has the raised, aggressive stance of an SUV, along with all-wheel drive that's capable of some actual off-roading. Yet the Outback has the crisp, precise handling of a good sedan and sensible accouterments that help keep prices in middle-class territory. Anybody who questions the formula's success need only look at all the copycats that have emerged, from the Nissan Murano to the Volvo XC70 to the brand-new Ford Freestyle.

Updates in the '05 model are subtle but smart. The aggressive edginess of the new styling suggests babes on board rather than babies on board, precisely the kind of image young hipster families seek. The dashboard is unpretentious, yet a tasteful two-tone design adds a bit of spice to an otherwise basic appearance. Side-impact and side-curtain airbags are standard, an invisible feature that intelligent buyers will appreciate. Maneuverability and drivability are superb, a step better than before. And the new Outback has been raised by about an inch, a barely noticeable bump that will aid performance on rugged terrain.

The Legacy, which comes as both a sedan and a wagon, is much the same vehicle as the Outback, minus some suspension enhancements and the higher ride. In a market swollen with good, reasonably priced family cars, the Legacy is one of the better ones. The ride is smooth enough for the fussiest infant. Subaru's standard all-wheel drive is nice reassurance in sloppy weather. And Subaru has developed a good reputation for quality and reliability. Enthusiasts who want some spunk from the familymobile can opt for a turbocharged version of Subaru's "boxer" engine, a 250-horsepower four-cylinder that packs the punch of a heavyweight. There are trendier cars and sportier cars and even more practical cars, but when it comes to blending all three, Subaru deserves whatever attention it gets.