My wife has had three Outbacks in the last couple of years(long story). She had an 2005 2.5i with a five speed manual, a 2007 2.5i with a five speed manual, and now has a 2008 2.5i with an automatic. Each of them got 27+ MPG.
She has two dog kennels in the back of it about 90% of the time for training water spaniels and it works out great.

Plus it can do this: