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First look: Subaru Liberty

  • By Neil McDonald
  • Herald Sun
image Available in September the latest Aussie Liberty will be slightly wider and longer than the current model. Photo Gallery

Wraps are finally off the new Subaru Liberty sedan.

Looking like a cross between a Lexus and a Holden Epica, the newcomer, known as the Legacy in North America, makes its debut at next week's New York International Auto Show.

Australia will have a different version of the car, based on the Japanese domestic specification model.

The big difference between the US-built Legacy and the Japanese-made cars that will come to Australia, is size.

The American cars are slightly wider again to suit local tastes.

However, even the Australian Liberty will be slightly wider and longer than the existing model with more luggage room.

This translates to more rear legroom, which has been one of the main complaints about the current car.

The Liberty goes on sale here in September.

It will be available with several new technical innovations, including ‘Lineartronic’ continuously variable transmission and six-speed manual gearboxes on some variants, plus the choice of a 3.6-litre six-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine on the range-topper.

The car is built on an entirely new platform.

Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior, says safety, performance and style are all key ingredients in the new-generation Liberty mix.

"Combined with the high-quality engineering for which Subaru is renowned, it represents a formidable package," he says.

 

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 9 comments

  • I have taken the new Liberty 3.7premium sedan for a drive and was mostly impressed except with the sales person next to me.He thought,eventhough I have a Subaru, that I knew nothing so the drive was spent fielding comments from him and being taken down a shorter route than I wanted for my first drive. Only problems I can see is that(1)the back seats don't fold down like its competitors,(Honda Accord 3.5, and Legend for AWD)and(2) its feul consumption in suburban driving. I am at a loss to understand the true function of the sports etc settings because with 3.5Lts there is plenty of grunt. Fix the fold down back seats and I will consider a new one to replace my Outback H6 luxury which is a blinder of a car and a great cruiser on the open road. Otherwise my H6 will just keep on keeping on.

    Subaru Driver Posted on 30 December 2009 6:07pm
  • i don't like the fact they have removed the side mirror indicators, i also like the dual exhaust on the current liberty, i think i will upgrade my my05 liberty 2.5 safety for the last of the current shape GT's when the new one is released, as it is with all subaru's it will be a couple of years before all of the options are available as they fade them in gradually

    Matt Rogers Posted on 05 July 2009 12:19am
  • I would like to remind 'homer' that Lexus is the product of Toyota wanting to sell prestige cars and creating a new marque because nobody is going to take a 'prestige Toyota' seriously. So, it is a bit pot kettle to say that a car is a Lexus copy.

    Stig Posted on 02 June 2009 5:16pm
  • I don't like this. Looks awkward, and like an alien.

    H. L. Oggleik. Posted on 17 April 2009 2:02pm
  • wtf!! bad design man! i agree wit pat tolan the last one was awsome but this one is really badly designed. subaru stop designing in america!!

    cee Posted on 07 April 2009 7:27pm
  • It looks like Kia designed the front and the rear has been a Lexus copy.

    homer Posted on 07 April 2009 12:15pm
  • Looks a tad look like mixing an epica with an accord. And CVT, surely experience shows a dual clutch to be a better option.

    Michael Lakrin Posted on 07 April 2009 10:38am
  • what a shocker, barge arse, no class at all and just plain ugly. Just when you think Subaru can't stuff up the appearance of any more models in their range.

    ian smith of sydney Posted on 04 April 2009 4:29pm
  • oh dear The last liberty was not a bad looking car but the new one has been worked over with the ugly stick

    Patrick Tolan Posted on 02 April 2009 9:18pm
Read all 9 comments

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