Subaru Vortex Reviews

There is a clear-cut champion in the compact four-wheel-drive class.It is the Subaru Outback, which does easily the best job for the majority of shoppers who want the size, comfort and command driving position of a soft-roader but don't plan to do much of the rough-and-tough weekend work in the bush.The Outback is a high-riding and tougher-looking Subaru Liberty wagon, which means it is a new-age station wagon for people who are convinced that four-wheel-drives are the best bet for the 21st century.But it's not the only way to go in a class which is as varied as any in Australian motoring.The all-paw smalls are a split-personality line-up which ranges from serious bush buddies to suburban shopping trolleys, with everything in between.Some talk the talk, but don't go remotely close to walking the wilderness, and others are surprisingly capable despite their soft-form looks. And looks aren't always the best – or easiest – way to make a choice.The Daihatsu Terios has the high-rider style you expect to see in a serious four-wheel-drive, but it could have come just as easily from the world's best-selling carmaker – Matchbox.The Suzuki Jimny is much the same, though it can really romp in the rough and is priced from just $17,990.At the other end of the action, there are several contenders which push past $40,000, including the over-priced and under-done Land Rover Freelander.The compact class also opens the options between "all-wheel-drive" vehicles focused on blacktop work and "four-wheel-drive" vehicles with serious off-road grip and dual-range gears, in a battle which rages all the way to the $100,000-plus machines in the luxury four-wheel-drive world.The split between the soft-road and hard-rock vehicles means it's important to split the winners, with the Nissan X-Trail taking top honours for real off-road work and the Subaru Forester and best-selling Toyota RAV4 – now with a punchier 2.4-litre engine – scoring on the soft side. The Outback was completely updated last year and picks up the five-star safety and top quality from the latest Subaru Liberty.But it also gets a tougher look, extra ground clearance, rough-road tyres and all the other gear you need for weekend expeditions.The price is pretty rich in a class where most of the action is below $30,000 – the H6 engine can lift it from $31,180 to more than $50,000 – but it's the one to recommend to friends and family if they can afford it. The Nissan Patrol is a heavyweight four-wheel drive star and you can see and feel the family connection to the X-Trail.It has the stumpy looks of a serious off-roader and backs it with a 2.5-litre engine hooked to a grippy drivetrain and a tough body.Nissan has also created a funky cabin for the X-Trail, with all the right stuff for twentysomething owners.It's not cheap, with pricing from $31,990, but the price is right for the class and the competition. The Forester, like the Outback, was developed for rougher roads than the regular all-paw Subaru family wagons.So the Forester sprang from the Impreza, as the Outback did from the Liberty, but with a much bigger change to the body.The Forester looks like it will work off the bitumen and it does, provided you recognise its limits.It also comes with a punchier turbo engine, though it's not WRX, and Subaru Australia has just rejected a Forester STi which would have really rocked the compact four-wheel-drive scene.            

The silky smooth running Sooby drives like a luxury limo' with sporty car performance and handling and using it like a heavy duty 4WD battering ram in the boonies. Well.But Subaru was intent on demonstrating just how tough this good lookin' wagon is and we speared off into the scrub in convoy hooked up to a wagon train of Jayco campervans of various sizes.Must have looked a sight to the T/Os (traditional land owners) as we cruised out of The Alice.The medium size 3.0R is blessed with a powerful 180kW/297Nm six cylinder engine driving all wheels symmetrically through a five speed automatic trans- mission.It is a good powertrain for towing as gear changes are imperceptible and the transmission adapts almost immediately to towing mode with quick flicks between the gears to maintain any given pace.The sequential change system is also handy if you want a more hands-on style of driving.Subaru has engineered the 3.0R for towing with particular attention to cooling and component re- liability under extreme conditions.Though lighter than the previous Outback due to various aluminium chassis and body components, the 3.0R will comfortable tow a van weighing up to 1800kg. This will move up to 2.0 tonnes in the next model or possibly before as progressive changes are made on the production line.Subaru Australia, has raised the towing profile with Subaru Japan engineers and they are responding with improvements and necessary modifications.Very little towing is done in Japan but plenty of testing is done in Australia.Particular attention has been paid to cooling the rear differential and the transmission, spring rates, airflow through the car and the engine bay as well as bolstering other components to take the added pressure of towing.The 3.0R has an automatic suspension levelling system using hydraulics that pump up or down according to load. Towing campervans was like child's play for the 3.0R though the big one, about 5 metres long made it work hard. The smaller vans had minimal effect on performance, ride or fuel economy.We drove long distances over rough corrugated dirt roads at 100kmh with no problems, the ABS worked a treat in loose gravel and the cars stayed tight as a drum and easy to drive – with the aircon on full and everything else operating. It made me change my mind about going bush in such a suave vehicle.Certainly more comfy than rattling around in a Troopie.

Subaru delivered the goods with the H6 Outback and continues the trend with a more powerful version of the flat "boxer" engine in the 3.0R Outback.Those waiting for a six-cylinder Liberty, however, will have to bide their time, at least until the end of the year.That's when the new MY2005 model is due.If you can't wait you will not find the Outback wagon disappointing and, of course, there is always the turbocharged Liberty GT to consider, if you are looking for even more performance.The Outback's previous 3.0-litre flat six-cylinder engine produced 154kW at 5600rpm and 282Nm of torque at 4400rpm.Power in the 3.0R is up to 180kW at 6600rpm and torque to 297Nm at 4200rpm – a 16.9 per cent increase in power and 5.3 per cent increase in torque.It is odd talking about the performance of what is essentially an off-roader, but the Outback 3.0R is a real jet, putting power to the ground through all four wheels, with strong performance across the entire engine range.The sprint from 0-100km/h takes just 8.5 seconds, as the wagon rockets to a top speed of 224km/h.Off road it can bang its way down the bumpiest dirt tracks, but is not designed for serious four-wheel driving.In terms of towing, the Outback can pull a 1800kg load, an increase of 200kg from the previous model.A five-speed ``tipshift'' style automatic transmission is standard.The driver can elect to leave the car in D, flick the lever across for Sport or nudge it up and down to change gears manually.Whichever way it offers strong performance.We found the transmission a little slow to respond and sometimes clunky as it switched gears. It could do with some refinement.Stylewise the Outback is a huge step forward from the previous model, with dramatic lines and a macho set of 17 inch five-spokers.Inside too, the makeover is a major one, although we felt there was room for improvement.The console is better organised and easier to use but the instrument dials are small and unimaginative.The trip computer and other information readouts can be difficult to read in bright light.The silver metallic look fascia has attracted comment because it looks like it is easily scratched.Fuel economy is good with a claimed consumption figure of 10.9L/100km from the 64-litre tank.During our test the car returned about 12.2L/100km or just more than 500km from a tank.Standard equipment includes just about everything, including self-levelling rear suspension and some very nice suede leather upholstery.The Subaru Outback 3.0R is priced from $45,990 before on-road costs.

The world was rocked when Subaru unleashed its first Outback.The high-rider Liberty wagon with the macho bodywork was a worldwide hit, doing almost as much as the hot-rod Impreza WRX to establish the Subaru brand.It even boosted Paul Hogan's career as he took the Aussie-tough Outback name into America.The latest Outback is more of the same, and better again, but faces new challenges and newer-age rivals.The Toyota Kluger and Lexus RX330 are the best examples of the shift in the four-wheel-drive scene. They look bigger and tougher than the Outback, but are really just a high-rider Camry wagon with plenty of custom work and equipment.There are plenty of 'crossover' all-wheel-drive wagons on the way to make life tough for the Outback.But that won't hurt a car which is the right size, price and package for Australian families.Subaru says its rivals include the latest Holden Adventra wagon, Toyota's Prado four-wheel drive, and even the BMW X5 3-litre and Volvo XC90. That spread gets even bigger when you add the Kluger, RX330 and classy Honda MD-X.They don't line up neatly on price, size or features, but the growth in four-wheel drives – we still don't like the trendy Sports Utility Vehicle label used by carmakers – means many people are shopping in a wide range of size and price brackets.The new Outback is based on the all-new Liberty lineup, with the usual toughened bodywork, taller, firmer suspension, and the option of a punchy H-6 engine.Upgraded suspension and steering means improved safety – even for pedestrians – and a full package enhancing quietness and comfort.The new look for the Outback features a bolder nose with huge lamps in the bumpers, flares over the wheels which are better integrated, new-shape alloy wheels and –: inevitably – chunkier tyres.Outback prices start at $38,180 with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine. The H6 starts at $45,990, jumping to $53,440 for the fully loaded 3.0R Premium Pack with leather trim and five-speed automatic gearbox.On the roadWe tried the Outback as a four and a six, and found plenty to like.We went seriously off-road in the four and it handled incredibly tough challenges with plenty of grip and enjoyment. More torque for low-end pulling power would have been nice, but that's there in the pricier H6.We didn't miss the "crawler" gears that come with heavyweight off-roaders, and the basic suspension set-up worked well in dirt and mud.The H6 Outback was even better, although we question the value of a car that jumps beyond $50,000.We also wondered, several times, how the test car's tan leather trim and carpets would survive the sort of abuse that's almost inevitable.Still, the 3.0R Luxury Pack is a lot of car for the price, and it can do almost anything a family asks, without compromising on luxury.The new Liberty is a fairly roomy machine and the Outback is just the same, with good luggage space in its wagon tail and a roomy back seat.One driver complained that the seat was too narrow, but it could have been that they were too broad in the beam.The Outback is very well equipped, with classy sound and all the usual electrical assists, but it's the basics that make it impressive.The H6 Outback is a very refined machine that gets along well, thanks to 180kW of power and 297Nm of torque, all fed through a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic. There is a touch-change manual mode, but the wheel-mounted buttons fitted to the Liberty GT are missing in the Outback, and replaced by sound system controls.It is quiet, very comfortable, and a car that shrinks any drive down to L-size.The Outback flagship rides and handles more like a sports car than a four-wheel drive. The suspension is set firm, with very little rock or roll, and plenty of grip even without low-profile sports rubber.It also stops well, is easy to park, and relatively light on fuel.Even the headlamps, a let-down in previous Subarus, are good. The spread is wide and the lamps bright, a plus point for after-dark work.Lined up against a variety of rivals, we believe the Outback stars. It looks a lot better than the Kluger, is more affordable than the RX330, is more car-like than an MD-X, and undercuts all of its European rivals.The new Outback is a great car. And, just as importantly, it's the four-wheel drive that more Australian families should be choosing ahead of hulking trucks.It will face tougher and tougher rivals in coming years, but right now it's a definite favourite.

We've just been driving the surprising Hyundai Elantra, which feels much nicer than ever before for just $18,990, and we've also spent quality time in the Toyota Prius II, the supercharged Jaguar XJ-R and Audi's sensational RS6.But it's the Subaru Liberty that has really grabbed our attention.We drove it for the first time early in the year at the worldwide press preview in Japan, where it looked and felt newer, tighter, safer and more substantial.We were waiting to drive it on local roads for a final verdict, and now we have it.The new Liberty is the second-best car we have tested in 2003.That sounds like the first of the losers, behind the Honda Accord Euro, but the Liberty is a great car that will be a first-place finisher with many Australian drivers.And it has a broader spread of models, including wagons and the punchy GT as well as the gravel-focused Outback, to ensure it fits in a greater range of driveways.It's well priced from $30,990, extremely well built and the sort of car that's going to take business from everything, including the top-selling Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.The Liberty chants to the mantra we expect of all good cars in 2003: it's lighter, faster, greener and safer.But this time the good news runs across the range, in ways we can all appreciate.The basic body is 60kg lighter but much stronger, which means Subaru was able to build in everything from better crash performance, including the pedestrian protection that's becoming more of a priority, to tighter suspension, sharper steering and an engine that has more punch but uses less fuel.The latest Liberty range is as varied as always, but broken up by a choice of 2-litre, 2.5-litre and turbo engines with appropriate equipment up to the fully loaded GT with premium pack at $57,990.That sounds like a lot, and it is to most people, but it's a relative bargain in a car with 180kW of power, all-wheel-drive and all the gear you'd expect on a high-priced European car from Audi, Alfa, BMW, Benz or Volvo.When we first saw and drove the new Liberty, we realised that Subaru had joined Honda in creating a new style of car, the EuroJap machine.It's one that looks and feels European, but is built with Japanese quality and a Japanese price.It would take pages to run through the full update deal, but it's most important to focus on the new look – smoother and more elegant, but still Subaru through and through – and the basic engineering and quality equipment.On the roadThe Liberty was a slow burn during our test time. We originally planned a week in the starting-price Liberty 2.0 sedan, which takes the place of the GX, but couldn't resist a sprint in the fully loaded GT.So we took things easy, learning the basics before uncorking the turbo. And we came around slowly because we'd already been won over this year by the EuroJap Accord Euro, the new Suby's deadliest rival.What we found is a car that's a little roomier, a lot more refined and more enjoyable – a car we'd happily point to Sydney, or even Cairns, for a summer escape.It drives extremely well, with sharp steering and well-controlled suspension, and the noise levels are commendably low.We also like the look of the new Liberty, even if some people say it's too much like the old car.It's easy to park, has good headlamps, and a big boot.But we really enjoy the Liberty when we let the turbo spin and unbottle its 180kW of power and the 310Nm of torque that contribute even more to its sprightly performance. The new five-speed auto helps, too.Frankly, we were never fans of the previous B4 Liberty turbo. It was too harsh, too abrupt and too childish. The newcomer, called B4 in Japan but gets the GT badge here, is quick, controlled and refined.The latest turbo motor comes on strong almost from idle, has turbine thrust from 3000 revs, and really honks to the redline.And, as always, the all-paw grip means you can use more of the go for more of the time.We particularly like the way the long-wheelbase Liberty body cuts the front-end push and lateral bounce you get in an Impreza at the same pace, which means it's just as quick as a WRX without the fuss.But it's also refined. And that's good news for people who are over the toy-racer stage in their lives.The GT comes with plenty of good stuff, from supportive seats and bold vacuum-fluorescent instruments to a MacIntosh sound system that's my personal benchmark for in-car entertainment.We also like the latest five-speed automatic, which keeps the engine spinning but boosts economy.It has a user-friendly touch-change mode, with buttons on the wheel that are some of the easiest we've used.You only have to touch a button, even if you're not in manual mode, for a quick downshift and the box will hold a gear against the redline -- instead of making an auto upshift -- if you're in the driving mode.The Liberty's bottom line is we like everything and give it high scores in every category.It rocks the Accord Euro, but the all-round refinement and design advances of the Honda keep it on top of the Cars Guide star rankings.It's just ahead of the Mazda6 and it destroys Euro rivals such as the underdone Jaguar X-Type.But the GT is something else, and we reckon a lot of WRX owners are going to graduate to the Liberty sprinter. Soon.

The Subaru Forester has always been one of our favourite four-wheel-drives.And a favourite car, too.The boxy baby Suby will never take you to the top of the toughest trail, but it's a top choice for people who need a car but enjoy the fun that comes with a 4WD.The Forester has always had its shortcomings, led by the cramped back seat, but it has the edge – for us – over its rivals, mostly because it's more car-like and comfy than a Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.The Forester also picked up points when it picked up punch as the turbocharged GT, even if it didn't have the all-out go or grip of the WRX cult car. It was too gangly in the suspension and turbo lag also cut its appeal.But Subaru has done a substantial update on the latest Forester, even if it has lost the sexy GT badge and picked up an XT label instead.The newcomer has been given more go, which works well with the bigger and bolder Forester II body, as well as substantial tweaks on everything from headlamps to air-con.It's still a good deal, priced from $39,490 for a five-speed manual gearbox or $41,490 for a four-speed self-shifter. There is also a big list of extra kit – from a rear roof spoiler at $389.68 and fender flares at $363.15 to a Rola bicycle holder at $225.83 and a cargo net at $165.21. A fully-loaded automatic with the Luxury Pack will cost $44,990.To put things into focus, the Forester line-up now starts at $31,490 for the 2.5 litre X model, while a Toyota RAV4 starts from $27,600, a basic X-Trail from Nissan is $31,990, a four-cylinder Hyundai Santa Fe is $29,990 and the cheapest of the Honda CR-Vs is $31,990.The Forester XT makes the pace for the Subaru corner with a new 2.5-litre turbo motor that makes a romping 155kW of power and 320 Nm of torque.That's one-third more power and 50 per cent more torque than the basic four-cylinder engine, and awfully close to the original figures from the early days of the WRX.The driving force in the XT includes a limited-slip rear differential, anti-skid four-wheel disc brakes and self-levelling rear suspension. The safety systems include twin airbags with a two-stage inflator on the passenger's side, active front head restraints and – Subaru's signature item – the "symmetrical all-wheel drive".The equipment list is even more impressive, with 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-stack CD sound system, cruise control, electric windows and mirrors, and even automatic air-con.Our favourite items are the front-seat armrests and the outside temperature gauge.On the roadWe got a surprise when we uncorked the new Forester flagship for the first time.The turbo bites with a kick that reminds us of the slingshot start of the original WRX. It was a whoo-hoo moment.Subaru says the XT will run a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds, and we believe it.It also makes it the most spritely of the compact all-wheel-drives and helps justify a price that's higher than that of many of its rivals.It's easy to jump the $40,000 hurdle for a well-equipped Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute with the lot. But the engine is not the only attraction in the latest Forester.The suspension has also been firmed and flattened to make the XT less like a roly-poly four-wheel-drive truckster and more like a car.You still sit up high in the "command position" but the view doesn't tilt when you tackle a turn.The XT also has a better cornering balance than the earlier car, signalling its limits earlier and without hinting that it would be happier to just shuffle off the road.It now responds with more front-end grip if you lift the accelerator, and – if you want to go a bit wild at a closed course – it will slide from the rear but recover quickly with good grip and surprising traction.But that's at the limit, and few people push the Forester that hard.Even so, it's nice to know it will give you an early and obvious warning if you overcook things, particularly on the sort of slippery gravel and loose dirt roads the Forester is likely to tackle.It still doesn't have the sort of "crawler" low-range gears that would please serious 4WD explorers, but these people should be looking first at the X-Trail, or even a baby Suzuki Jimny, for rock hopping and mountain climbing.The turbo torque in the XT means it will grunt up serious slopes and it has better ground clearance before and the extra grip that comes with the limited-slip diff.The engine also makes the XT a swift overtaker and a confident and easy highway car with almost no sign of the dreaded "turbo lag".It makes boost from little more than 2000 revs and pulls really hard from 3500. And there is always that (whisper it) WRX-style hoot if you push to the redline and hammer through the gears.We also enjoyed the cabin comforts, equipment and headlamps.The latest Forester also has better visibility and more space in the tail, and is quieter than the first model.It's a pity the back seat is still upright and cramped for adults, but Subaru says most Forester buyers are singles or youngish families who can always graduate to an Outback when they need more space.We liked it before, and we like it even more now.

It takes just 6.4 seconds and you are not only doing 100km/h but side by side with the likes of the Mercedes C32 AMG or the Nissan 350Z. And, right on the bumper of V8 counterparts.No, you are not in the Porsche Boxster S but Subaru's new 2.5 XT Forester, the soft-roader with a pile of grunt and style to match.Power flows from the turbocharger with no lag and an extremely responsive right pedal.This is helped by Electronic Throttle Control which does away with the accelerator cable, replacing it with an electronic connection between pedal and throttle for more responsive control.Gear changes are made quick and easy thanks to the sporty-feel five-speed gearbox, with short throw just in case the power is not enough to make you feel like you are in a sports car.The clutch is heavy, as you would expect from a turbo, but this is offset by hillholder, the anti-roll back mechanism that one can only wish will some day be standard on every manual.The all-wheel-drive takes the Forester to the next level in terms of handling and responsiveness on and off the beaten track.The XT is just as comfortable on the road as off.And comfort is a key of the XT package. Whether it be negotiating the ever growing pot holes on the suburban street or rougher terrain the independent suspension evens out the ride.While the XT xould benefit from 17 inch wheels the standard 16inch 215 Yokohama Geolander tyres still allow responsive and accurate handling.Unusual is the positioning of the steering wheel which is tilted backwards more than usual.The seating position is upright and high making it easy to negotiate tight spaces while the wagon is not too long to make parking tedious.The Forester XT sits at the top of the Forester food chain with the 2.5 X, the 2.5 XS and XS luxury priced underneath. The interior has been widened an extra 1.45cm with more room to stretch your legs in the front and rear.The interior has more than enough features including cup holders, overhead consoles, centre console and cargo power outlets but without the clutter.There are plenty of pockets and gadgets and the boot easily handles a full load of shopping or all your gear, that would require some cars to add a trailer.The instrument panel is clear and easy to read limiting concentration loss and averted eyes.The Forester XT is priced between $39,490 (standard manual) and $44,990 (luxury automatic).The 4 cylinder DOHC intercooled turbo with AVCS produces 155kw @ 5600rpm and 320Nm @ 3600rpm which after 14.8 seconds sees you 400m from the cars still lagging behind at the lights.It is a little guzzly on the gas.It is claimed the XT is an economical 11.2km per litre but testing showed a little higher, hovering around 13km per litre. The luxury model found its way into our garage which boasted full leather trim, dual front and side airbags and a sunroof that bathes not only the front occupants but the rear as well.Yet, the standard model is nothing to sneeze at with ABS with Engine Braking System, 6 stack CD, cruise and climate control, power everything, 16 inch alloys, sporty fog lamps and roof rails as standard.The XT might be at the top end of the price bracket but as a whole package is reasonably priced.The luxury pack is especially appealing offering the style, performance and comfort of a fully imported sports car but with a tag that comes in cheaper than most top of the line family sedans.

Like cupholders. To adults, they're useful pieces of hardware. To kids, or at least, my kids, they're works of art.And the Subaru Forester has the best cupholders yet. The one which comes out of the dashboard, my 11-year-old son informs me, "spreads out like a bird's wings". Better still is the double version which springs to life from behind the centre console "like a pair of handcuffs".So my kids think the Forester is just about the best car I've brought home.They're not the only ones.Subaru is selling the Forester in record numbers and, cupholders aside, it's not hard to see why.More than 6500 have been sold this year making it close to a top-seller in the off-road market. The launch of an upgraded and updated model in June has further boosted those figures.The 2002 version gains a bigger, more powerful 2.5 litre version of the Boxer engine, producing 112kw and 223Nm.The Forester has also been refined inside and out -- nothing drastic, mind you.The car's popularity isn't hard to fathom. It's comfortable. It's capable. And it's pleasant to drive. It gives a high level of off-road capability, yet in a package which still drives like a family wagon, is easy to park and won't send you broke every time you fill it up.The Forester is an interesting mix. It's not outstanding in any particular way yet does just about everything well. It's an unobtrusive car, one that tends to sneak up on you. When I first drove it I suspected the performance was a little sluggish -- until I glanced at the speedo and realised how effortlessly the car skips up to, and beyond, the speed limit with a minimum of fuss.The more I drove it, the more I appreciated the flexibility of the engine, coupled in this case to a pleasant-enough five-speed manual gearbox. I suspect it would be even better with the four-speed auto.The understated performance is typical of what you get with the Forester. It seems to do everything just a little bit better then you realise.It's not a huge -- shorter than a full-sized family wagon and not as tall as most 4WDs -- yet it's roomy enough for two adults, three kids and lots of stuff in the cargo area.To compensate for the car's lack of overall size, Subaru has made use of every available space. There's a series of little storage bins beneath the floor of the luggage compartment; a good-sized glove-box with a special spot for the service manuals to maximise the usable space; more storage in the centre console and also in the dash, plus smaller trays and bins in doors and about the cabin. Overhead, there are even two handy flip-down spots for sunglasses.The Forester retains the driveability and road manners of a passenger car, with the added grip of constant 4WD, but still has a dual-range transfer case and enough ground clearance to make it a genuine off-roader.Its chunky, boxy body shape means the Forester is not as sleek as its stablemates, the Outback and Liberty wagon, but Subaru has done enough with the exterior trim to still make it look attractive -- it's a marked improvement on the previous model.There is excellent visibility, particularly when reversing because of a lower-than-usual window panel in the rear cargo door.There's a nice six-stack CD/stereo, although I found the volume control would never allow me to find a happy medium between too loud and too soft. The circular, soft-touch climate controls are stylish and effective.Upholstery is functional. I might even be inclined to tip in the extra $3000 to get the luxury pack with leather seats and other goodies like side airbags and sunroof.Automatic transmission is another $2000 option on the Forester, although the five-speed manual is no hardship, apart from a slightly heavy clutch.SUBARU FORESTER XS* DETAILS: Mid-size five-door 4WD wagon, 2.5 litre, 4-cylinder 112kW engine; fuel consumption 10 l/100km (city cycle).* FEATURES: Dual airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, climate control airconditioning, 6-stack CD, cruise control, power windows, steering and mirrors, 12 volt power sockets.* COST: $34,490 (auto $2000 extra).* RIVALS: Toyota RAV4 Cruiser ($35,440); Nissan X-Trail Ti ($35,990).* FOR: Well-built, capable off-roader well-suited around the city.* AGAINST: Upholstery could be a little more inviting.* SUMMING UP: Not hard to see why the Forester is a favourite for Aussie families.

In a move which will further define the small-car performance market, plans are well advanced to introduce a 220kW 2.5-litre turbo as the stand-alone powerplant for the pink-badged performance star."Yes, that engine will probably be in the next generation of the STi we get," Subaru Australia managing director Trevor Amery says."There are still a few issues with homologation and a couple of ADRs (Australian Design Rules) that have to be adjusted for but they are not insurmountable problems."The primary ADR issues are with emissions and drive-by noise levels but both, Amery believes, can be overcome without major problems.A quick blast in a US-spec car at Subaru's research and development proving ground outside Tokyo recently confirmed that the 2.5 Turbo STi is a generational step forward for the WRX STi. Around the 4.5km oval track, the car topped out at an indicated 250km/h, reeling in the majority of that pace without fuss.On the twisty handling circuit, the additional urge out of corners was clearly apparent with the chassis lapping up the extra power with ease."At this stage, barring other problems, I could see this car in Australia by the end of next year," Amery says. "We would certainly like to have it . . . and are negotiating towards that end."He says there are no plans to put a detuned version of the 2.5-litre turbo into the base WRX.Subaru Australia general manager Nick Senior, who is responsible for Subaru's Australian rally program, says the 2.5-litre WRX engine may endanger the company's rally involvement."Group N is homologated on 2-litres and there would be a risk that if the 2.5-litre was available in the WRX, then it could become so popular that in a relatively short time the 2-litre engine would no longer meet production requirements," Senior says, referring to the rule that 2500 production models of a car must be produced each year before it can be homologated for Group N rally events.While the high-performance version of the 2.5-litre turbo engine is currently exclusive to the US, its garden variety sibling will hit Australia late next month as part of the new Forester range.To be badged as the XT, the 2.5-litre will replace the Forester GT turbo, which was dropped from the top of the model line-up a year ago.The larger capacity engine will sit on top of the Forester range, which also will include the entry-level X and non-turbo XS.Amery also quashed any suggestion that the Baja, a twin-cab ute-style recreational vehicle built in the US, had a future in Australia.

Subaru Australia general manager Nick Senior is confident the Liberty will lift the stakes in the battle for a greater share of a market segment stuffed full of European-manufactured competition."With the advances in interior and exterior design, the Liberty will appeal to a much wider audience . . . with even more appeal to traditional buyers of European prestige vehicles," Senior says."The core Subaru strengths of innovative engineering, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels, build quality and overall quality of materials have been addressed to achieve a result we are confident takes Liberty and Outback to a whole new level."Senior concedes the improvements to Liberty and Outback the jacked-up soft-roader version of the model which will be launched at about the same time will mean a price rise but he has declined to say how much."(This week) we will sit down and sort it all out," Senior says. "The improvements in the car over the outgoing model are substantial across the range and it will be competing directly against European competition."Of course, we are getting some help from the strength of the dollar and, while we don't have a figure, it is pretty obvious that domestically (in Japan) the increases are in the order of 5 per cent."The entry model for the new range will be a SOHC 2-litre wagon and sedan with either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual.In the middle of the range, in place of the RX and Heritage models, will be the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated wagon and sedan with manual and automatic gearboxes, while the range-topper will be an automatic-only 2-litre turbocharged sedan or wagon badged as a GT to replace the B4.The current model range extends from the GX manual at $29,990 to the B4 at $55,130.Badged as a Legacy in all markets except Australia, the fourth generation of the car, which settled Subaru as an all-wheel-drive manufacturer when it first was launched in 1989, will reach Australian showrooms in September.The fresh-faced Liberty shows the strong influences of Greek-born designer Andreas Zapatinas, who joined Subaru from Alfa Romeo early last year fresh from his success with the Alfa 147.Zapatinas has an impeccable heritage in Euro design, having worked with Chris Bangle at Fiat and then at BMW for a short stint before moving back to Alfa as head of design at the Italian manufacturer's Centro Stile studio.Both the sedan and the wagon have finer, more flowing lines than the outgoing model, giving the cars a compact stance despite their marginally larger dimensions.The rear of the sedan is reminiscent of an Alfa 156 but it is the wagon which is destined to be the star of the range, with a sweeping roofline and sloping rear side glass giving it such an instant attraction that hiding it in a garage would be selfish.In engineering the new Liberty, the development team was set the goal of retaining traditional family design elements in a more rigid, lighter and performance-orientated package, senior general manager for product and portfolio planning Hideki Ishido explains."The traditional key Subaru elements of maximum driving pleasure, symmetrical all-wheel-drive and driver-in-control are retained in the new Liberty," Hideki says."The three elements of sport, speed and safety are present in the reassuring performance of active driving and active safety."Re-engineering of the safety cell and the use of lighter materials throughout the chassis and body shell including extensive use of aluminium in the redesigned suspension resulted in a 230kg weight loss over the previous model.With 130kg of that given back in structural strength to ensure a stiffer chassis and improved sound-proofing for NVH, there still is a 100kg net benefit.Coupled with engines which have had about 80 per cent of components re-engineered, the benefits in power and emission outputs have breathed new life into the horizontally opposed boxer engines.Precise specifications for the Australian cars have not been finalised but they will run fairly close to the Japanese domestic models, with front and side airbags, the superb Macintosh 13-speaker sound system in the GT, a new range of 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels, sports shift on all automatic models and a full-sized steel spare in place of the space-saver in the Japanese market.DID YOU KNOW?Subaru's new Liberty was developed with a close eye on the car's environmental performance, mindful of previous criticism of fuel economy and emission performance levels of previous horizontally opposed (boxer)engines.The 2-litre SOHC engine in the Australian entry-level model is the first Subaru engine to comply with Japan's Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standards set by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The 2.5-litre and 2-litre turbo engines meet Good Low Emission Vehicle standards. To qualify for U-LEV recognition, emission levels must be 75percent below those of 2000, while G-LEV requires a 25percent reduction.The engines, with the exception of the 2-litre turbo, meet Japan's 2010 fuel economy standards.Exterior plastic components in the Liberty are increasingly recyclable through the use of polypropylene similar to that used for interior plastics. Recycled plastic materials have been utilised in its manufacture.The use of lead in the manufacturing process has been greatly reduced. The level of lead used in the new Liberty has reached the 2005 target of the Voluntary Action Plan of the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association to cut levels to one third of those in 1996.