Subaru Liberty GT and Outback 3.0R 2006 review

Liberty GT/GT Spec B

Motoring journalists spend a good portion of their time on launches sifting through the marketing hype to find the hard facts. When Subaru claimed their SI-Drive gave the Liberty owner 'three engines in one', an eyebrow was raised in skepticism rather than surprise.

Of the three SI-Drive modes, it is the 'Intelligent' (economy) mode that makes the biggest impact. Subaru claim the Intelligent setting reduces engine output to that of a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated car, regardless of the actual engine under the bonnet.

The first steep hill in a turbo GT model was met with the appropriate minimal enthusiasm from the engine, slowly pulling up the incline before reluctantly kicking up a gear - and sipping a little more fuel.

A similar incline in the default setting of Sport (the setting on which the Liberty’s fuel figures are based) brings a completely different response from the engine; the hill disappears behind familiar dollops of mid-range turbo torque.

The frugal Intelligent setting is excellent on downhill and long highway stints, still providing enough power to accelerate around slower traffic, but drinks slightly more than Sport mode on the hills and feels frustratingly limited when the going gets tough.

The best result from the SI-Drive was to leave it in Sport until a long flat highway stretch, then remembering to return to Sport through the bends.

On the other end of the scale, the Sports Sharp mode picks up the throttle and gear changes in the automatic models with noticeable speed.

The shifts are further hastened by a new blip function that briefly raises the rpm on the upshift, resulting in a smoother gear change and minimal shift shock.

Shifting itself in the autos is a more involving prospect thanks to the excellent wheel-mounted paddles, easily allowing the driver to select gears even when in full Auto mode when the twists tighten.

The manuals are still the pick for sports enthusiasts, particularly the GT spec B with its excellent new suspension, sublime symmetrical all-wheel-drive and newfound flat torque churning through the STi gearbox.

SI-Drive is also available on the manuals, leveling its fuel consumption to a claimed 10.9L/100km; the same consumption as the auto, and only fractionally higher than most of the tiny turbocharged hot hatches on today’s market despite four doors, a boot and all that extra booty...

Outback 3.0R

As a crossover car, the Outback has been a raging success for Subaru.

The Outback has caught up to the Liberty a little in the looks department, with the revised corporate grille producing a more integrated and modern look that still stands apart from the Liberty wagon, but shared its sloped-roofed, understated style.

Now riding on 17-inch alloys, the turn in is sharp and the wheels and suspension communicative, though it does not share the Liberty’s neutrality under pressure.

On the twisted roads around Healesville in Victoria, a place well known to Subaru from its Rally of Melbourne days, the top-shelf Outback kept pace with the Liberty nat-atmo cars, but suffered more bodyroll on the tight bends.

Not surprising, considering its higher clearance for off-road and towing ability (and it still drinks the same as Liberty at a respectable 11.1L/100km).

Buyers would be hard-pressed to find a more capable all-wheel-drive with this much standard kit and five-star safety for the asking price.

Samantha Stevens is a reviewer on the CARSguide test team. Her work appears here and in the Sunday Telegraph CARSguide. A version of this review, as well as other news, reviews and analysis appears in the Sunday Telegraph.