2005 Subaru Liberty Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2013 Subaru Liberty and Outback as used buys.

Subaru's largest passenger car, the Liberty, has a well-deserved reputation for toughness and reliability with Australian buyers. The Subaru Outback is an interesting variant on the Liberty station wagon. On the market since 1996 it is intended as a halfway step between a conventional station wagon and a dedicated 4WD.In its earlier models Subaru Outback had a tougher appearance than the standard wagon because of the additional protective plastic facings on the doors. These were discontinued with the new generation of 2003 to give the vehicle a more upmarket air, though there are many Subaru advocates who preferred the tougher look of the original.Since 1995 only all-wheel drive Liberty models have been sold in Australia, prior to then there were also front-wheel drive versions, even by 1995 these were comparatively rare because buyers had already sussed out the advantages of driving all four wheels.Unusually for Japanese cars, Libertys and Outbacks, indeed all Subarus, are popular with country drivers as well as those from metro areas. Libertys and Outbacks are much loved by snow skiers because their permanent all-wheel drive system makes them safer and more capable in slippery conditions than a 2WD vehicle.Subaru Liberty first arrived in this country in 1989 and struck a chord with local buyers almost immediately. These older models are generally getting long in the tooth so may be near the end of their lives. You’re probably better off avoiding them.Liberty is sold as a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon, with a much larger percentage of wagons being sold than in other models in the mid-size class. The combination of the traction of all-wheel drive and the practicality of a wagon rear end is a strong one.The engines have a flat ‘boxer’ layout to lower the centre of gravity for improved road holding. Engine capacities in the four-cylinder models are 2.0, 2.2 and 2.5 litres. The 2.0 actually has more performance than the 2.2 being a later design.Flat-six engines began with a 3.0-litre unit in the Outback and later the Liberty range, its capacity increased to 3.6 litres in September 2009. Subaru calls the flat-six engines the H6 - ‘H’ for horizontally opposed, but most owners tend to retain the use of flat-six or boxer for it.There are a couple of high-performance Subaru Liberty variants. The Liberty RS has a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit and was introduced here in 1992. It was on sale for less than two years, when it was upstaged by the smaller and lighter Subaru Impreza WRX, a car that went on to be a huge success.The Liberty B4 sports machine has a twin-turbo 2.0-litre. It first came here in August 2001 but was somewhat of a disappointment in Australia because the engine had to be significantly detuned from the one offered on the Japanese market to run on our lower-octane petrol.These Subarus are reasonably easy to work on and most routine jobs can be carried out by an experienced home mechanic. However, safety items and most areas of the high-performance variants are best left to the professionals.Spare parts prices are about average for a car in this class. The Subaru dealer network, though relatively small, works efficiently. Because of Subarus’ popularity in country areas there are dealers in comparatively remote areas.Insurance charges on all but the turbocharged high-performance Liberty RS and Liberty B4 are moderate. The turbo models can be really expensive to cover, especially if you are a young and/or inexperienced driver. Living in a high-risk area further increases charges. Be sure to get a quote before falling in love with a turbo Liberty as premiums can be scary.Look over the interior trim and carpets for signs of damage, though they usually hold up well to all but the most outrageous of treatment. Mud or a real buildup of dust may indicate a lot of time spent of the beaten track.Check out the luggage area for signs of harsh treatment caused by carrying big and/or sharp loads. Have a look underneath a car, particularly the Outback, for signs of damage through it coming into contact with the ground. Some owners really do treat them as though they are ‘real’ 4WDs.The undersides of the bumpers, especially on their corners, are usually the first to suffer. Be sure the engine starts quickly and immediately idles smoothly no matter how cold the conditions. The sixes are naturally smoother than the fours, but the latter should be pretty good as well. Manual gearboxes should be quiet in operation and gearchanges should be smooth and light. Automatics which tend to hunt up and down the gears, or which are slow to go into gear, could be due for an overhaul. Rust is not common in Subarus, but if one has been badly repaired after a crash it may get into the metal. Call in a professional inspector if there’s the slightest doubt.

The first lesson for first-car buyers is to forget power and performance - go for safety, reliability and low running costs. Today's car choices are far wider and considerably less basic that Peter Brock's first car, a stripped-down 750cc Austin Seven. But the exercise of buying your car demands patience and - if possible - expert consideration.Compared with buying new, you will save money purchasing a used car. But be aware that a used car may require expensive repair costs, may be less fuel efficient and that its safety standards are likely to be lower than a new car. The basic safety gear you want are two airbags and ABS brakes.Every car is different because each has been treated differently during its life. Be cognisant that cheap new cars are bought on a budget and the penny-pinching owners may skimp on regular servicing and repairs. Steer away from hotted-up cars - you want reliable, easy-to-fix transport here, not a temperamental, ground-hugging runt that sounds like it's lost its exhaust pipe.There are a few quality used car models that have lasted the distance. These have retained a solid reputation for quality and reliability, have a strong spare parts back-up, simple service schedule and are renown for just being easy to live with.The only downside is they won't be the newest car on your block and they're unlikely to be the most rewarding ride of your life. But you have to start somewhere. Just like Peter Brock.CHOICESThese are some used cars, not in any particular order, that should be reliable first-time cars. But each car is different. Ensure your car is professionally checked before buying and that all the car's service papers are accurate, regular and preferably stamped by a competent service centre.NISSAN TIIDAThis model is the evolution of the Pulsar and, I admit, isn't the prettiest car on the road. Fellas, perhaps stay away from this one. But the model is enduring because of its simplicity and low running costs. It has a decent amount of metal around the passenger cell to minimise intrusion in case of a collision, a neat and functional interior with comfortable seats, big boot in the sedan model (and more than adequate in the hatchback version), and four doors so your friends won't have to squeeze past you on the way to access the rear seat.2006 TIIDA TI SEDANCost: $9200 with 79,000kmEngine: 93kW/174Nm 1.8-litre autoFuel economy: 7.8 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 4 airbags, brake assist Crash rating: 4-starMAZDA3Two of my daughters drive these and love them for their comfort and features. Later models are preferable because of the electronic stability control, but earlier versions had at least four airbags and ABS brakes plus a four-star crash rating. Because everyone loves these, they're going to cost a bit more than some rival cars. But Mazda's quality name should extend to the day you sell it allowing it to retain a high resale value.2006 MAZDA3 MAXXCost: $11,500 with 75,000kmEngine: 108kW/182Nm 2.0-litre autoFuel economy: 8.2 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 6 airbags, brake assistCrash rating: 4-star.MITSUBISHI LANCERThese have been made for decades yet nearly all carry a name for reliability. One model, bought with 247,000km on the clock, stayed trouble-free in my household for four years before finding yet another owner. That's not uncommon with Lancers. They're very simple cars but early models fall down badly in safety equipment, so look at 2003 and younger if possible. The 2007-plus models have a five-star crash rating. It doesn't really matter which model you buy but you may have better resale in the future with an automatic with four or five doors that will appeal to a wider audience.2006 LANCER LS SEDANCost: $10,000 with 70,000kmEngine: 115kW/220Nm 2.4-litre autoFuel economy: 8.5 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 2 airbagsCrash rating: 3-star.TOYOTA COROLLAThis is a stablemate of suburban living with the distinction of being a member of practically every Australian household since the 1970s. It's always been a simple and reliable car without any major hiccups, though the Toyota badge means there's a premium - justified or otherwise - on the price. Paying the extra on the Corolla name alone may not be worth it - look closely at each car before purchase. Toyota was one of the last major carmakers to introduce extra features - such as additional airbags and stability control - on base versions. Better models started from 2000 and the more upmarket versions (Levin and Ultima, for example) are preferred.2006 COROLLA CONQUEST SEDANCost: $10,500 with 75,000kmEngine: 93kW/161Nm 1.8-litre autoFuel economy: 7.4 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 2 airbagsCrash rating: 4-star.MITSUBISHI MAGNAThis is something a bit bigger and yet is generally priced about the same as the smaller cars. Mitsubishi made these in Australia and progressive years honed the product to excellent reliability while ho-hum styling and performance slashed resale. That makes this big family car good buying today. Magnas ended their run in 2005 and today these are the pick of the bunch, even though the powerplant was a 3.5-litre V6 with a four-speed auto. These cars were common in government and rental fleets but don't be put off - that means they've been regularly se rviced and repaired.2005 MAGNA ES SEDANCost: $5000 with 120,000kmEngine: 155kW/316Nm 3.5-litre V6 autoFuel economy: 11.5 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 4 airbags, traction controlCrash rating: 3-star.SUBARU LIBERTYAnother biggish car that offered high safety standards for its era. The later Libertys are also attractive, well equipped - in their day they weren't a cheap car - and roomy. The downside may be lacklustre performance, so-so fuel economy and some high-priced spare parts but we're primarily chasing a reliable and safe car choice here. The Libertys are all-wheel drive sedans and wagons which aids safety on wet roads rather than giving them any off-road ability (for that, look at the Subaru Outback).2006 LIBERTY 2.5i SEDANCost: $11,500 with 75,000kmEngine: 121kW/226Nm 2.5-litre autoFuel economy: 9.5 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 6 airbags, traction controlCrash rating: 5-star.

On a tight budget, you had four options: unsafe cars, unreliable cars, really boring cars or cars that combined all three characteristics.  In the past decade, though, it's become easier to find a tidy, safe, cheap used car, for several reasons.Firstly, used cars don't hold their value like they once did. New cars have become cheaper in real terms, and sales have boomed, so there's a lot more used cars on the market.Cars are also much safer than they used to be. Government legislation and independent crash test programmes like NCAP, (which publicises the results of its tests, much to the annoyance of the industry) have forced car makers to improve safety. A 2005 car, no matter what make it is, will be safer than a 1995 car. At the minimum, you want two front airbags and anti-lock (ABS) brakes.Unless it's French or Italian, in which case a weekly dummy spit is part of the "ownership experience," most cars from the last 10 years will be pretty reliable, as long as servicing has been done by the book.We are talking about ordinary, everyday cars here, that haven't been thrashed. If you're looking at some dude's slammed, chipped Subaru WRX and the price seems too good to be true, chances are it will self-destruct before you make it home. You pay your money and you take your chances.Immaculate, low kilometre cars owned by little old ladies do exist, and they are gold. So is a complete service record, especially if it's from the dealer who sold the car new.  Let's see if we can find a few to recommend. Bottom dollar in our search is $5000.There's not much joy at this money, but the last of the Mitsubishi Magnas, from 2004-2005, are great value and reasonably plentiful. Many will be ex-renters. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because serving will have been done to schedule. The 3.5-litre V6-four speed auto ES has four airbags and ABS.Another Mitsubishi, the Lancer, is the best small car we can find at this price. Toyota Corollas are fine too, though they're more expensive.  The Lancer's as sexy as a can of baked beans and completely bulletproof. Pay about $7000-$8000 or so for a 2005 model. Find one with optional ABS and six airbags.If you've got around $10,000 to spend, you have much more choice.  In 2004, Mazda made six airbags and ABS available across its entire range, as options or standard, so any Mazda2 or Mazda3 from 2004 on will be worth checking out. Mazda does blue chip quality, and if you find a good one, with a service book, buy it. You'll pick up a 2 for less than $10,000; a 3 will be $10,000-$12,000.If you need something bigger, this sort of money will also get you into a 2004-2005 Subaru Liberty, another top car from Japan's A league. All wheel drive, excellent handling and Subaru's class leading NCAP scores are pluses. The 2.0-litre four won't rip your arms off, but it will do the job. Wagons cost a little more.You might prefer a small SUV wagon instead, so look for a 2004-2005 Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, at $12,000-$15,000.  If you need a big car for a big country, the Aussie six is hard to go past.You'll pay $10,000-$13,000 for the first of the VE Commodores from 2006. The 3.6-litre V6 sounds like 1000 leaf blowers on maximum thrust, however it's durable enough. Holden got serious about safety with VE, so you get stability control as standard.  It might take a while to find the right car, but in the end, it pays to be fussy. Second hand doesn't have to mean second best.WHERE TO BUY?DealerPros: On cars under 10 years old, most states require a warranty, typically 3 months or 5000 kilometres. You also get guaranteed title. Franchised dealers (ie those who also sell new cars) usually have the best selection of used cars; the trade-ins they don't want are unloaded to non franchised dealers or auctions.Cons: Can be more expensive than a similar car bought privately. Beware of non-franchised dealers selling flood damaged or rebirthed (ie cars written off by insurance companies but then repaired) from Queensland.PrivatePros: The best way to find a bargain.Cons: You have to do plenty of legwork, and finding the right car, in a place that's close to where you live, can be a time consuming process. There's no guarantee of title or provenance, and no comebacks if it drops its guts on the way home. Buyer beware.AuctionsPros: Ex-government or fleet cars, usually properly serviced, with low kilometres. Guaranteed title. Many dealers buy cars at auction, take them to their car yard, and jack the price up by thousands of dollars. Buy it yourself, and pocket the difference.Cons: You can't test drive the car before you bid. It's also easy for an amateur to pay too much, so go to a couple before you buy to get an idea of prices and how it all works.

Just 300 of the numbered, limited edition GTs have been put together and at the time of going to press all but 40 of them have been sold.Not bad for a car designed to fill a void between now and when the new model arrives later this year.By way of explanation Subaru was forced to withdraw the Liberty GT from sale at the end of the year when new engine emission regulations came into force.The old 2.0-litre turbocharged donk no longer complies and will be replaced by the 2.5-litre unit from the Impreza.But the company is able to offer the STI tuned limited edition 2.0-litre models under the low volume import rule.Liberty GT tuned by STI is a slick, racy looking unit that offers even higher levels of performance. 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivers 200kW of power and 343Nm of torque (manual) and 190kW and 343Nm of torque (auto), up from 190kW/330Nm and 180kW/ 310Nm respectively. Result is improved performance, with more linear performance and throttle response, delivering enhanced acceleration at lower engine speed. You get more show with the go, notably STI badging, deeper front spoiler and quad-tip exhaust system. Two STI twin tip sports mufflers complete the mechanicals, enhancing exhaust flow, providing better turbo response and a sportier note. STI springs drop the car 15mm, sports tuned Bilstein front and rear struts have been added and a titanium look front strut brace increases rigidity, boosting handling and steering re- sponse. An STI rear lateral link set reduces suspension friction, improving ride, roadhold- ing and steering precision. Customised body styling includes a front lip and rear boot spoiler enhancing aerodynamics by increasing down force and improving the front lift coefficient (CLf) by about 80 per cent. Unique 18in wheels feature a wider, 7.5in, rim and 215/45R18 Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres maximise grip. Inside, an all-black interior features leather seats with STI embroidered suede inserts, complete with trademark red Stitching. There's also titanium finish trim on the dash, centre console, door trim and an aluminium pedal set. STI-red luminescent dash cluster lights complete the interior upgrades. The manual variant features a quick shift gear lever. The car is offered in black, silver and dark metallic grey, with two wheel colours. Black cars feature charcoal wheels while Premium Silver and Urban Grey vehicles have brushed silver wheels. Standard features include front, side and curtain airbags, Momo steering wheel, power operated driver's seat and premium, six-stack 13-speaker McIntosh sound system. Although the car takes premium unleaded fuel economy in our test car was excellent at just 9.8L/100km. Pricing for the Liberty GT Tuned by STI starts at $59,490 for the five-speed manual sedan.VERDICT: What's not to like. The STI-tuned GT will be a very collectable model if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one. Only 300 of the $59,490 special edition models have been built.

Now there are as many gears in the auto as there are stars in Liberty's NCAP crash test rating.The spec. B refers to Bilstein suspension and "big" 18in alloy wheels.At $51,000, the Spec B auto is approaching the price point of prestige European models like Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series. But it's a whole lot more car, larger, more powerful, better mannered and just as handsome.And the flat six cylinder engine is a cracker, a smooter alternative to the turbo four in Liberty GT.Auto offers sequential shift mode, close ratio spacing and smooth shifts most of the time. Adaptive system can occasionally hold a ratio a little too long. Auto is actually $1000 less than the six speed manual. Flat six cylinder 3.0-litre engine delivers 180kW/297Nm output– has strong perform- ance across the range. Auto makes the most of engine output. Scores the full leather treatment inside plus premium McIntosh audio, climate control, electric seats and so on. Ride is firm, jiggles on rough roads but has excellent handling when pushed. Great steer- ing, excellent traction from all wheel drive system. Love the aluminium pedals and dash inserts_ adds a splash of flash. Full safety credentials including ABS with electronic brake force distribution, air bags everywhere including side curtains, double pretensioners on the front seat belts and seat belt warning lights on all seats. Roomy interior, adequate for five and a big boot. Spare is full size. Plenty of storage compartments in cabin. Electric sunroof is standard as is Momo wheel. Engine can be economical if driven carefully, hoof it and its upo there with Falconand Commodore. Dual exhausts look cool as do front driving lights. Spec. B sits lower than standard car, looks imposing standing still. Wheels are awesome.VerdictImpressive car– would have to be on the shopping list for European prestige car buyers if only to set a benchmark the Euros couldn't match for the money.

The Spec B has been available in manual for months, but it's the auto that will more likely attract the attention of a buyer in the $50,000-plus segment.Not that I'd suggest that anyone in that buyer range had gotten soft or lazy, but constant clutch use can become tiresome even with the most delightful of gearboxes, so why not try for the best of both worlds.Plus the auto is cheaper ... and that's no misprint. The six-speed manual is a gearbox sourced from the STi-side of Subaru and it obviously comes at price.The svelte new look of the Liberty did not appeal initially, but the look has grown on most people, with the airy cabin providing a bit more space than its predecessor.This top-spec model gets plenty to talk about in the cabin – leather trim on the electrically-adjustable front sports seats sets the tone for the plush cabin. The neat red instruments, lit up beneath the darkened screen, has enthusiastic needles that swing across the dials on start-up.The red rim lighting around the instruments hints at the car's slightly evil nature by flaring up after you've turned the engine off. It's a good sort of evil, the kind of street-sleeper ability that shows little beyond the sharp alloy wheels to suggest the Suby can hit 100km/h a blink over eight seconds. The three-litre flat-six is not an STi-firecracker powerplant in the upper reaches of its rev range, nor does it possess bucket loads of torque.There's more than enough urge when the right pedal is pressed, leaping away from standstill using 180kW and 297Nm to great effect, accompanied by a nice engine note that is best appreciated with windows down.The stance is low and it has a hint of purpose, again thanks to the 18in alloy wheels, but the Bilstein suspension does more than just help the car look good on its rims, giving a well-damped ride and the ability to rip through the corners with finesse. It has plenty of grip – a given with Subaru's all-wheel drive – but the drivetrain's traction doesn't detract from the drive experience.The quality of in-car audio has grown exponentially in recent years and the top-spec Subarus are among the leaders for top-grade sound.The McIntosh sound system is first-rate, thanks to Subaru and McIntosh co-operating to make it part of the car's development, and such attention has paid off. The McIntosh system, with 13 speakers including new midrange speakers and a subwoofer, pumps out serious volume with little audible quality loss.There's no shortage of safety or comfort features – anti-lock brakes with and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, full length side curtain airbags as well as dual front and side airbags, front seatbelts with pretensioners (double for the driver) and load limiters. The driver also gets a tilt-adjustable steering column, with climate control, cruise control, power-adjustable driver's and front passenger seat, sunroof, Momo leather-trimmed steering wheel, trip computer, power mirrors and windows among the standard fare. The Liberty Spec B auto is listed at $50,990 – $1000 less than the model equipped with the STi-sourced six-speed manual gearbox. It's also about $4000 less than the Liberty GT, without losing out terribly in the performance stakes, not to mention the probable lower insurance premiums.Subaru aims this Liberty at the most obvious mid-sized competition – the upcoming Mazda6 MPS – with the prestige German marques of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi also listed as targets.The quality of the cabin as well as the impressive on-road behaviour suggests that this particular Liberty model will go a long way to pinching owners from all of the above.SMALL TORQUESubaru Liberty 3.0R Spec B AutoPrice: $50,990Engine: Three-litre DOHC flat-six with Active Valve Control System (AVCS) and Variable Valve LiftPower: 180kW at 6600rpmTorque: 297Nm at 4200rpmFuel consumption: Claimed combined consumption 11.1 litres/100kmPerformance: 0-100km/h 8.2 seconds, top speed 243km/hBrakes: 310mm ventilated front discs and 290mm ventilated rear discs, with ABS and EBD

Answer: a really, really good car with some different characteristics. That is just what Subaru has done with its latest little tweak of the wonderful Liberty 3.0-litre.Towards the end of last year, Subaru rolled out its 3.0R-B with those same Bilstein shocks, the same 18-inch wheels and the slick six-speed manual from the WRX STi.What they found was that, in the luxury-aligned Liberty market at least, there were plenty of folk who liked the idea of a car with a more sporty attitude, but damn it if they were going to spend their time changing gears.The solution was to perform the same tweaks but leave the standard-issue five-speed sportshift auto in place.The result is a car with all the really good things about the standard 3.0-litre flat-six Liberty but with a slightly tighter, more controlled ride and the willingness, if you are so inclined, to tip it in hard in the twisty bits,As the automatic is the "garden" variety from the standard range, the new model, at $50,990, actually comes in $1000 cheaper than the six-speed manual. Personally, I'd pay the extra to get that STi box.The five-speed automatic is reasonably well sorted, not prone to hunting, and can be a bit of fun to drive in its quasi-manual mode.However, the only real advantage over the manual is in day-to-day traffic, when allowing the car to choose comes into its own.The 180kW/297Nm 3.0-litre engine has reasonable low-end torque but definitely displays its finest character when stirred up.In full automatic, the changes are not really aggressive enough to match the chassis, but if forced to hold its gears the 3.0R-B will stay on urge right through the rev range and up to the cutout at about 7200rpm.You will pay for that sort of driving as fuel economy is not one of the boxer engine's highlight characteristics – more than 13l/100km was not unusual.Heaven only knows what it would have reached without the active valve control and variable-valve lift technology, which improve fuel consumption and emissions while also maximising power.The crisp dynamics of the chassis with Bilstein assistance are complemented by sharp steering that makes the Liberty a delight to push.The ride is acceptably firmer without too much trade-off in quality – a little extra harshness noticeable at low speeds. However, that is forgotten when the speed ramps up, with the B-spec Liberty taut and forgiving. All-wheel drive adds all-weather security to its impressive road-hugging capability. Body: On the highway the cabin is quiet with little noise intrusion to spoil the effect of the brilliant 13-speaker McIntosh sound system. In common with the standard 3.0R, the B-spec car gets a full safety complement of six airbags and impressive five-star crash rating, electric sports seats, cruise control, climate control, dual exhausts, ski hatch, height/reach adjustable Momo leather steering wheel and sunroof.The interior ambience is more European than Japanese – and that is a watershed. Without badges it would be impossible to nominate which of the prestige brands this one might be. There are some nice little touches that mean nothing other than offering a momentary delight – such as the speedo and tacho needles swinging through the full arch of their dials before settling back each time the car is turned on.Silly stuff, but memorable nonetheless.

This particularly blokey Subaru Liberty GT was such a car. The thrill of the traffic light take-off makes life worthwhile with Liberty's turbocharged, two-litre engine and silky gearshift.But the zero to 50km/h sprint takes less time than you can say "hmmm" and it's back to steady coherence of road rules.Just like one of my favourite U2 songs – Running to Stand Still.It makes me wonder why Subaru, which makes its sought-after peppy cousin WRX, bothers with making a more understated version for grown-ups.Subaru Australia general manager Nick Senior has called it "Subaru's interpretation of a European-style sports sedan".Surely this Japanese car maker does not have to kowtow to Euro-styling. It already has a loyal fan club of drivers who understand the delights of a boxer engine and its off-road capabilities.But I'm inclined to think the Liberty GT will be the choice for women, often decision-makers on the type of car a family drives, who must compromise with their men who want the go-fast WRX.Liberty falls somewhere between the sporting man's plaything and the safety-conscious buyer's choice.But while WRX owners hold a badge of honour with a car renowned among rally enthusiasts, Liberty GT owners lack the same grunty pedigree.In fact, its shape and performance seem to blur with other new four-cylinder sedans on the road. I guess that's the problem with compromise.It has all the things that make you go "VROOM" – engine hole thingy in the bonnet, high-performance tyres, fancy neon-like dash lights, black leather interior.Under the bonnet, Subaru says the turbocharged engine can take you from zero to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds. Impressive.Plenty of doof-doof too, with a sound system able to blast out from 13 speakers, squawkers, tweeters, woofers and a "super woofer" on the back shelf.But the "it" factor is elusive.Surely Liberty GT is a status symbol for the more family-oriented petrolhead – too young to drive a station wagon; too old not to be laughed at in the sporty WRX.Costing $52,990, it would perhaps make more sense to pay an extra $2000 for the Liberty GT wagon which has more off-road, camper-cred.A word of warning – an Australian summer and the skin-baking, sauna-like qualities of a black leather interior are a bad combination ... no matter how good the airconditioning is.