Subaru’s latest Liberty and Outback are bigger than ever in response to customer demands.
Keeping up with the Joneses might sound strange for Subaru, but the one-time quirky carmaker has done just that for the almost all-new, fifth-generation Liberty and Outback.
Larger in every dimension, the Liberty now matches the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord for space inside, especially in the back.
Brand purists might lament Subaru’s decision to abandon its once-trademark frameless window doors, but the upshot is wider openings for easy entry and improved refinement.
Thankfully, Subaru’s signature horizontally opposed ‘boxer’ engine choices, as well as the all-wheel drive system, have been carried over, albeit in much modified form.
Most buyers will choose the workmanlike 2.5i single-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine that now produces 123kW at 5600rpm and 229Nm of torque at 4000rpm.
While torque is up slightly, fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are down, by about 10 per cent, thanks in part to a continuously variable transmission dubbed Lineartronic, which replaces the ageing four-speed automatic.
Smooth, responsive, and free of the lag that can blight other CVTs, this combination is a success, even though the new body’s added weight – about 80kg depending on the model – means that the Liberty and Outback 2.5i’s performance is adequate rather than outstanding.
By contrast, the Liberty GT’s turbocharged 2.5-litre twin-cam engine is a blast, delivering 195kW at 5600rpm and 350Nm at 2400rpm. Like its predecessor, the turbo remains a deceptively fast yet supremely planted point-to-point express tourer, whether fitted with the carry-over five-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox.
Finally, the old 3.0R six-cylinder unit has been binned for the gutsier 3.6-litre six-cylinder drivetrain from the Tribeca SUV, providing a smooth 191kW and 350Nm for the 3.6R models. This engine, along with the Liberty GT, boasts efficiency gains almost on a par with the class-leading 2.5i CVT models.
Subaru has engineered a stronger yet lighter chassis than before, thanks to the selective implementation of aluminium and other high-strength/lower mass materials. All aid in a five-star ANCAP crash-test rating.
Prototypes were exposed to extensive Australian testing and retuning, resulting in a highly modified MacPherson strut-type front suspension and a new compact double-wishbone rear set-up similar to that found on the smaller Impreza hatch and sedan series.
Sampled on wet and uneven country roads, every one of the newcomers impressed with quieter and more controlled ride qualities, along with a significant increase in steering feel and handling response. Dynamically, the Subarus again rate among the segment best. Other improvements include stronger brakes, larger framed seats, and the availability of rain-sensing wipers.
On the other hand, a sea of monochromatic plastic trim make the more basic models feel a little drab inside.
Overall, however, family car and fleet buyers have a compelling package to consider here. Whether the more mainstream styling works is open to debate, but there is no arguing that the newest Liberty and Outback – the most changed in decades – now deliver a more rounded experience.
Fast Facts
SUBARU LIBERTY 2.5 CVT
- Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol
- Max power: 123kw@5600rpm
- Max torque: 229nm@4000rpm
- Transmission: six-speed CVT lineartronic automatic
- Fuel consumption: from 8.4l/100km
- Co2 emissions: from 198g/km
- Pros: roomier, more refined, 2.5i CVT’s economy and driveability, improved ride and steering, 5-star ANCAP safety, wagon’s capacious cargo area
- Cons: heavy-handed styling, 2.5i’s dull cabin presentation, loss of characterful frameless door windows, 2.5i’s performance merely sufficient
- Price: From $33,990
