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By MURRAY
HUBBARD
14 September 2009
Bigger
is not always best, but in the case of the fifth generation Subaru
Liberty it is both bigger and better as the sedan flagship of the
Japanese maker celebrates its 20th year.
The MY 2010 Liberty sedan is 80 mm longer and higher and the
benefits are passed on to passengers with more space - bordering
on limousine-size leg room for back seat passengers. The new sheet
metal is bolder and sleeker than the current model and looks
decidedly European.
This European theme flows inside the super-quiet cabin where
Subaru has taken the Liberty upmarket with inclusions such as an
electric handbrake, dusk-sensing head lights, rain-sensing wipers,
keyless access and push button start on premium variants. Be
warned though, choosing the right Liberty model could be time
consuming. There are 19 sedan and wagon variants.
Improvements to Liberty are more than skin deep. Fuel consumption
is down by 11 per cent in automatic Liberty GT variants and 9.7
per cent in automatic 2.5i models. Across the range Liberty has
5-star ANCAP safety rating thanks to a driver's knee SRS airbag
and an engine cradle that folds to absorb energy in frontal
crashes. The Liberty stable now includes an all-new sport line-up
with three variants while the new Liberty 3.6R replaces the 3.0 R
and gets the 3.6 litre boxer engine from Tribeca.
For buyers the good news is Liberty prices have not increased,
indeed some variants are cheaper. Prices start from $33,990, not
including on-road costs. Technical changes include the
introduction of a CVT transmission that harnesses the boxer
engines without the typical CVT feeling of over-revving. While the
new engine cradle is part of the safety story, it also reduces
cabin NVH to a degree rarely found in this class of car. Fuel
savings are attributed primarily to the CVT transmission on the
entry level and 2.5i Sports Libertys. A six speed manual
transmission has also been introduced on the entry level 2.5 litre
naturally aspirated models. Steering wheel paddle shifters are
standard on all automatic transmission models.
While the technical improvements are significant, it's inside the
cabin that Liberty owners will see and feel the difference to the
current model. Every dimension has been improved. There's 30 mm
extra width between the front seats and 68 mm in length between
the front and rear pews. Front seat space has been improved with
the handbrake lever being removed from between the seats and an
electric push-pull switch placed in the dash to the right of the
steering wheel. Rear legroom is up 99 mm and rear shoulder room 62
mm. The bottom line to all that is Liberty can now take three
adults in the rear seat in relative comfort. That makes it a
better option for growing families.
There's a similar story with cargo capacity. The sedan is up by 47
litres and the wagon by 31 litres.
The inside could not be enlarged without a larger exterior and
Liberty wagon is 65 mm longer, 50 mm wider, 65 mm higher and the
wheelbase is 80 mm longer.
The exterior has subtle changes to define the variant. Liberty
2.5i Sports and GT Premium models feature sculpted front bumpers
– different from the rest of the range – and 18 inch alloy
wheels and a sports grille. Flared wheel arches give Liberty a
tougher, more aggressive road stance. Bilstein shock absorbers are
used on both the Liberty 2.5i Sports and turbocharged GT models.
Development of the 2.5i naturally-aspirated engine focused on
delivering torque at low revs. The engine now produces 123 kW of
power at 5600 rpm and 229 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. A number of
internal engine changes were made, including the use of
lightweight pistons and high-ignition spark plugs while a single
muffler is now used, reducing weight by six kilgrams.
Liberty GT variants produce 195 kW of power at 5600 rpm and 350 Nm
of torque at 2400 rpm and come with the choice of a six speed
manual transmission or a conventional five speed automatic. Like
the 2.5i engine, this variant has also undergone many internal and
some external improvements including small capacity injectors
different shaped pistons, new exhaust system, larger core for the
intercooler, and changes to the turbocharger.
The six-cylinder 3.6R is the largest capacity Liberty engine to
date and is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission, but
retains the same dimensions as the superceded 3.0 R engine.
The new engine has better performance than the 3.0 R, while using
90 RON unleaded. It produces 191 kW at 5600 rpm and 350 Nm of
torque at 4400 rpm. Subaru claim fuel economy of 8.9 litres/100 km
from the naturally aspirated 2.5i manual, dropping to 8.4 litres/100
km when fitted with the CVT transmission. The GT 2.5i manual gets
9.8 litres/100 km from the manual and 9.7 litres/100 from the
auto, while the 3.6R uses 10.3 litres/100 km.
Liberty comes with three transmission types aimed at driveability
and fuel efficiency. The Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable
Transmission) is available on entry-level Liberty 2.5i and 2.5i
Sports variants along with a six speed manual with 2.5 i naturally
aspirated variants and turbo-charged Liberty GT. A five-speed auto
is available on the high-powered turbo-charged Liberty GT and 3.6R
models.
Subaru is Volvo-like in its approach to vehicle safety. Liberty
features dual front, side, curtain and driver's knee SRS airbags,
energy absorbing engine cradle, framed door windows for added
cabin strength. It also has the crash-avoidance technology,
Electronic Stability Control, ABS brakes with EBD and a raft of
associated technology.
At launch we were able to drive a selection of Liberty variants
including 2.5i CVT sedan, 2.5i Sports CVT, Liberty 3.6R Premium
auto sedan and 2.5 GT Premium manual sedan. The CVT transmission
is years ahead of the first of these seamless transmissions that
first appeared about 14 years ago. Then, it felt like a clutch was
slipping and the engine over-revving. Now, it is simply seamless
even under a heavy right foot. The engine's revs seem to stay
constant and the gear becomes higher, but without the `slipping'
sensation and unsettling audio background.
These are the quietest Subaru Liberty cars ever produced with NVH
(noise, vibration, harshness) that is worthy of a far more
expensive European marque. Across the engine and transmission
options there is little noise intrusion into the cabin. Certainly
there is none at cruising speeds and little under hard
acceleration which means you can make the most of the excellent
sound system and conversations can be held at a whisper.
Liberty is not a Subaru WRX and as such does not handle as well,
but nor does it have the harsh ride. As a family saloon the entry
level car with the 2.5i naturally aspirated ticks boxes for
economy balanced with performance. The turbocharged variants kick
the performance up a lick while the 3.6R simply takes it to a new
level. The underlying driving experience is one of confidence in
the key areas of handling and safety while performance either in
straight-line speed for passing, and handling are there if you
need them.
The complete range of Subaru Liberty, with prices (excluding
government and dealer costs) is:
2.5i manual sedan/wagon: $33.990 (manual), $35,990 (automatic)
2.5i CVT sedan/wagon: $36,490 (manual), $38,490 (automatic)
2.5i Sports CVT sedan: $39,490 (manual), $41,490 (automatic)
2.5i Sports CVT Premium sedan/wagon: $43,490 (manual), $45,490
(automatic)
2.5i Sports CVT Premium Sat/Nav sedan/wagon: $46,990 (manual),
$48,990 (automatic)
2.5i Premium CVT sedan/wagon: $39,990 (manual), $41,990
(automatic)
2.5i Premium CVT Sat/Nav sedan/wagon: $42,490 (manual), $44,490
(automatic)
2.5GT Premium manual Sat/Nav sedan/wagon: $52,990 (manual),
$54,990 (automatic)
2.5GT Premium auto Sat.Nav sedan/wagon: $54,990 (manual), $56,990
(automatic)
3.6R Premium auto Sat/Nav sedan: $51,990 (automatic)
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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