TORONTO - The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) today named the all-new 2010 Subaru Outback Canada's Best New CUV/SUV under $35K. The announcement was made following AJAC's annual Canadian Car of the Year 'test fest' near Niagara, Ontario.

To win the category, Outback beat out the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota Venza. The new Outback now goes on to compete for the title of overall Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year. The winner will be announced on press day at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, in mid-February. "The new Outback has been breaking sales records across Canada since it first appeared in dealerships, and was recently named SUV of the Year by Motor Trend magazine," said Katsuhiro Yokoyama, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, Inc. "I'd say the award makes the verdict unanimous." AJAC's rigorous Canadian Car of the Year testing program includes real-world driving on public roads - exactly where consumers drive - so that the test data and vote results are highly relevant to potential buyers. The journalists evaluate every detail, from safety features to cargo capacity, to select the best new vehicles in various categories.