What kind of oil is recommended for my 1995 Subaru Impreza Outback 4-cylinder, 2.2 litre?

I would say something light such as 5w-30.

Tires will make a big difference, of course. I've owned an Impreza (same chassis etc. as Outback Sport), and now own two Outback wagons -- a 1996 and a 2008. The newest cars (either model) have Stability Control. This makes a big difference when you're on loose ground -- snow and ice or even sand or mud at higher speeds. For new cars with this feature, the performance is pretty level. If you're thinking of an older Subi, find out if it has Stability Control. My wife, who drove both, always claimed the smaller Impreza was even better in the winter than the larger Outback. Subarus are heavy for their size; perhaps the few hundred pounds lighter Impreza (think Sport) didn't wallow so much when it was slushy on top with hard-packed snow on the bottom. We're in Salt Lake City, and get some big storms sets. These cars are all fantastic in the winter. They're as good or better than their much higher-priced equivalents in the Audi line. I owned one of those too. Added: Snow and ice is the one situation where a manual transmission still beats even the latest automatics. Being able to finesse the clutch gives control that can't be matched by the unfeeling automatic, and downshifting without extreme care in an auto can be downright dangerous because, again, you can't control the engagement (clutch).

Subaru Outback 1995

1995 Subaru Outback

5w-30 is the recommended weight