The Legacy-derived Outback has been a staple in North America since its introduction in 1994, prompting Subaru to commemorate the wagon's 30th anniversary… in Japan. However, in the Land of the Rising Sun, the model won't officially turn 30 until next year, as the original JDM-spec Legacy Grand Wagon debuted a year later, in 1995. By 2024, the Japanese market will see a special edition of the Legacy Outback before it is phased out.

This special edition is more than just a badge job, featuring notable suspension upgrades. The Legacy Outback 30th Anniversary Edition boasts Hitachi Astemo SFRD (Sensitive Frequency Response Damper) front dampers, tuned by STI. The rear dampers have also been refined by Subaru Tecnica International to enhance performance without sacrificing ride comfort, according to the company. To distinguish it from a standard Legacy Outback, Subaru has added numerous black accents to the rugged exterior. The dark theme extends to the wheels, which are an 18-inch set with a matte black finish. A special plaque with STI Performance branding adorns the rear, below a blacked-out Outback badge. Inside, the car features leather upholstery and a prominent "30th Anniversary" silver logo embroidered onto the black leather of the front door cards, though this addition might seem a bit out of place.

Subaru Japan plans to produce only 500 units of this special edition and is accepting orders until November 10. If demand exceeds supply, a lottery will determine who gets to purchase the car. The order books for the Legacy Outback in Japan will close in late March 2025, or potentially earlier if the company receives sufficient demand for the remaining production run. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Outback remains popular, with deliveries up by 2.8% through September 2024, totaling 126,333 units. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for its sedan counterpart, as demand for the Legacy has dropped by 25.4% to 14,642 cars in the first nine months of the year. This makes the Outback about eight and a half times more popular. The sedan is set to be discontinued after the 2025 model year.

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