An environmental group is upset about changes to the Subaru Outback.

PORTLAND (AP) – Maine’s largest environmental organization is criticizing a decision by Subaru to reclassify its 2005 Outback model from a car to a light truck.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine is also asking Freeport-based outfitter L.L. Bean to reconsider its partnership with Subaru after the car manufacturer announced it was making the change.

Subaru has had an L.L. Bean edition of an Outback station wagon since 2000. The companies have a similar customer demographic, catering to educated, outdoorsy and environmentally aware people.

Subaru is reclassifying the Outback so it can give it more sport utility vehicle-like features, such as higher ground clearance and a raised rear bumper. Environmentalists say the changes allow Subaru to lower fuel economy and emissions standards.

Sue Jones of the Natural Resources Council of Maine called the changes to the Outback “outrageous.” As a car, the 2005 Outback would be subject to an average fuel economy standard of 27.5 miles per gallon; the light truck standard is 21 miles per gallon.

“It’s another example of manufacturers playing games with emission standards that are meant to clear the air, reduce public health risks and reduce environmental risks,” Jones said. “We urge L.L. Bean to reconsider its partnership with Subaru, given the number of Subarus that are in the state.

L.L. Bean was “concerned” when it heard about the reclassification of the Outback, including the L.L. Bean edition, said spokesman Rich Donaldson.

The idea of having the company name on a car that potentially could add more pollution goes against the green image of L.L. Bean, which in 2002 donated $1 million to support Acadia National Park’s fleet of propane-powered buses.

“It’s our understanding that the new Subaru Outback will meet passenger car emissions standards and that actually it will show improvement in gas mileage,” Donaldson said. “But we still have to wait for those numbers to come out.”

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release those results in April.

Lisa Fleming, a spokeswoman for Subaru, said the company knows fuel economy is important to its customers. She said the new Outrage will have a 3 percent improvement in gas mileage across the model line.

“Our goal is to continue to meet the passenger car standard of 27.5 miles per gallon, no matter how the government classifies the vehicles,” Fleming said.

Some Subaru owners in Maine have sent e-mails to Subaru to protest the reclassification of the Outback. But not everyone is upset.

John DeCicco, a fuel economy expert at Environmental Defense, said he thinks the issue is overblown. He said critics ought to focus on the trend of automakers reducing overall fuel economy, and of policy makers who refuse to raise federal standards.

He said Subaru is still one of the greener auto choices available.

AP-ES-03-22-04 1354EST