2007 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.

Subaru has kicked goals at every turn since it went all all-wheel-drive. The audacious move saw it go from also-ran to leader of the pack and it has never looked back.If the awesome Impreza WRX is the hero model that gives the brand its zing, the Liberty is the real brand leader.The 2.0R entered the fray in 2006 when it replaced the 2.5i. It was much the same as the 2.5i, but built on the success of its predecessor and brought more to the table in the form of goodies. Most not able among a raft of changes was the engine, which boasted double overhead camshafts where the older model only had a single cam per bank. With better breathing courtesy of the extra cams the flat-four produced 20 kW more than the older engine.A five-speed manual gearbox came standard, with a four-speed auto an optional choice. The big advantage of the Liberty when compared to its rivals is its all-wheel drive system. The others, of course, are all front-wheel drivers.In the Liberty's case the system is a permanent all-wheel drive system so all four wheels are being driven all the time and there's no delay in grip as there can be with systems that are front-wheel drive until it's determined that grip is needed at the rear wheels. With grip on tap all the time there's no loss of poise when things turn slippery on wet or muddy roads.The Liberty simply gets on with the job, no fuss, sure-footed and stable. The upgraded engine of the 2.0R is no fireball, but it has all the punch a family needs. The 2.0R was released midway through the model cycle, so the looks are a bit plain, but that shouldn't deter anyone from buying it. Inside, the cabin is quite roomy and well laid out with comfortable and supportive seats, and with a nice feel to the trim and fittings.IN THE SHOP The Liberty is a well-built car and little really goes wrong with them, at least on a grand scale. They do need regular servicing; oil changes are a must for long  engine life, so look for a service record. Look also for oil leaks  around the engine. The cam belt needs changing every 100,000 km, so check that the changes have been done as required. The front suspension bushes can wear so have them checked. Owners also report having to regularly replace headlamp globes that fail on low beam.IN A CRASHWith all-wheel drive grip, front and side airbags and ABS brakes the Liberty came standard with pretty much everything needed to keep you out of trouble, hence the 5-star ANCAP rating.UNDER THE PUMP Subaru claimed an average fuel consumption of 9.1 L/100 km and that  was backed up by real life results on road tests at the time of the 2.0R's launch. The minimum octane rating was 95, while Subaru said E10 fuel was ok if the minimum octane rating was maintained.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $33,990 to $36,490Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol;121 kW/187 NmTransmission: 4-speed auto, 5-speed manual; AWDEconomy: 9.1 L/100 kmBody: 4-door sedan, wagonSafety: 5-star ANCAP

Subaru's Liberty GT tuned by STi is nothing if not a handsome machine.The STi 18-inch alloy wheels cannot hide the 316mm front discs and the four-piston Brembo calipers, not to mention the orange calipers on the 290mm discs at the rear.The high gloss "obsidian" black paint job, aggressive body kit, tinted rear windows and that air scoop on the bonnet for the intercooler, along with the STi monogrammed quadruple exhaust pipes, set the Liberty off perfectly.And that's before any of the STi (Subaru Technica international) work to the powertrain is taken into account.The STi Liberty in the CARSguide garage was one of just 300 Liberty STis coming to Australia. It is basically a Liberty GT spec B, a potent machine in its own right, that STi have “tarted-up” though tarted-up hardly does the car justice.The 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged horizontally opposed engine now puts out 194kW @ 6000rpm and 350Nm of torque @ 2800rpm thanks to an upgraded engine management unit. That compares with the Spec B GT at 184/6000 and 339/3600, the Impreza WRX STi 206/5600, 392/4000 and the WRX Impreza at 169/5600, 320/3600.So apart from the STi Impreza, this Liberty is the most potent car Subaru produces. But thanks to their Intelligent Drive system, those behind the wheel might never know that, unless they selected “Sport Sharp”, the engine and gearbox mapping option that allows full power to be developed and the automatic gearbox to take full advantage of it.The other two modes are Power, which allows full power to be developed but keeps the gearbox restrained, and Intelligent, which not only has the gearbox short shifting, or changing up early, but which also cuts maximum power and torque by around 25 per cent.Quick changes up through the gearbox and a distinct reduction in power can, along with a light foot, return something like 20 per cent better fuel consumption.However, there seems to be little point in owning an STi tuned Liberty GT if fuel economy is what you're after.Inside, the car is typical Subaru — high quality finish and ergonomically close to perfect. In the test STi everything was in black set off with red (apart from the head lining). Black seats with red stitching, a black dashboard with red lighting, black dials with white numbers and red needles (which perform a little dance each time the ignition is turned on) and polished metal trim.The whole feel was definitely one of luxury rather than performance.The driver's seat has eight way electric adjustment with two memories, there is a 14-speaker McIntosh sound system with a six stacker in dash CD/MP3/WMA player, and a factory fitted sunroof.The test car was fitted with a five speed auto gearbox which could be left in auto to fend for itself, which it did with aplomb and alacrity, or changed manually by paddles on the steering column or sequentially using the gear shift lever.The only time the gearbox was anything but well mannered was when the Liberty was in full auto and copping a flogging in Sport. It sometimes held on to gears long after social responsibility had dictated enough right foot was enough.But then again it might well have been programmed to take into account the driver may have been on a race track or at a hill climb and wanting to hang on to the gear while slowing slightly for a corner before hammering it again.While there is no traction control as such, Subaru's all wheel drive system does a more than fair imitation of such a system. It is hard to get the STi out of shape and the drive is being sent just where it is needed.The Liberty handles beautifully, turning precisely and predictably with the Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres simply refusing to relinquish grip even when pushed on wet roads.The other side of that coin is that while the interior of the car may feel “luxury”, the ride is definitely “sporty”.The Bilstein dampers and short travel stiff springs on the STi keep the car in the right direction but tend to “juggle” the passengers a bit over anything that is not newly surfaced freeway.That is exaccerbated by the run-flat low profile tyres which have little or no give in the sidewalls.The front air dam of the body kit touches far too easily in this country which delights in putting humps and bumps everywhere and where kerbs and driveways seem to be designed 10mm higher than the lowest bit of the kit.The 215/45 low-profile tyres also put the graceful STi rims very close to the ground where any debris is in a perfect position to damage them.Verdict For: Fast and sporty.Against: Stiff ride, thirsty if pushed.* * * 1/2A bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing. 

It follows on the heels of the previous STI-tuned version of the car, which was unveiled towards the end of 2005.That car was the last hurrah for the 2.0-litre engine which was discontinued after it no longer met emission regulations.The model follows much the same formula, with power from a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, cranked up from 184kW to 194kW and torque from 339Nm to 350Nm.This compares with the 2.0-litre STI-tuned car that delivered a substantial 200kW of power and 343Nm of torque in manual form.The increases in power and torque are small but do serve to set the car apart in the all important bragging stakes.More apparent are the accompanying cosmetic changes to the car, including the highly desirable pink and white STI badges. There's also a deeper front air dam and a mean-looking set of four tailpipes.Like the previous model, the Liberty GT, tuned by STI, is also available in sedan and wagon form with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions.But this time around, one will cost you considerably more with prices starting from $65,990 $6500 more than the previous model. In comparison, a standard GT Spec.B manual will set you back $55,990.You can take comfort, however, in the fact the cars command a higher resale value when it comes time to trade.Our test vehicle was the manual sedan. It certainly looks the part with a wicked set of 12-spoke, 18-inch alloys, complete with eye-catching gold coloured brake calipers and expensive Pirelli P-Zero Rosso rubber.The car rides a little lower, sitting on Bilstein dampers and STI-lowered springs, and has a firmer, sportier ride as a result.Brembo stoppers are fitted to reduce brake fade and shorten stopping distances.Inside, you get leather and an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with two memory settings.Being a GT it comes with the 14-speaker McIntosh sound system. A factory-fitted sunroof is standard.We like the look of the car but question whether it's worth the extra money?Although it wears an STI badge, the car should not be confused in any way with the WRX STI, which offers much higher levels of performance.The performance gains over the standard GT Spec. B are marginal and the ride can be harsh at the best of times, which means most of the time.However, there is no doubting the poise and balance of the car when pushed to the limit. Roll-on, straight-line acceleration is impressive and makes short work for overtaking.The lower front air dam should come with a warning because it is prone to catching and scraping on driveways and in car parks.Subaru persists with its intelligent drive concept. It means you can dial in sport, normal or economy modes through a centre console-mounted control knob. You can feel the difference, but the changes are really about Subaru looking for a point of difference to move its cars up market. 

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.