|
By
EWAN KENNEDY
1 January 2007
Subaru continues to be a major player in the Australian market
thanks to an enviable reputation for strong build and high quality that
result in impressive reliability. Resale values reflect this reputation
and Subaru often sits near the top of the tree in retained value.
The latest Liberty series is the best looking yet and in
September 2006 it was further sharpened up thanks to a major
facelift. This isn’t the usual ‘bumper-and-headlight’ revamp
– every visible component forward of the windscreen has been
changed.
These design changes are tied with a number of different
designs of radiator grilles. These are distinctive and work well
with the character of the individual Liberty and Outback models.
Yet its looks are not what the new Liberty is all about.
Because the company has moved in an interesting technical
direction in their engine electronics, though only in the topline
models at this stage.
The Subaru engine can operate in three distinctly different
modes, offering the car owner a choice of fuel economy, a lot of
performance, or somewhere in between. The system is called SI-Drive
(SI for Subaru Intelligence). Subaru says that SI can also mean
‘Shared Intelligence’ as it’s up to the driver to work in
conjunction with the computer to get the best from the car.
This choice of engine computer modes is offered in the new
four-cylinder 2.5-litre turbo engine installed in the Liberty GT
we have recently tested for a week, and we have come away
generally impressed with the way it works.
Subaru calls the economy mode ‘Intelligent’. There is also
an intermediate setting called ‘Sport’. In fact, we would
prefer this mode to be called something like ‘normal’ or even
‘everyday’ as it’s the most useable on a day-to-day basis
for normal driving. Turning the SI-Drive button clockwise puts the
engines into full-power mode called ‘Sports Sharp’.
Should you have the engine in its economy setting and need
power suddenly, perhaps to overtake, there's also a large button
on the steering wheel that gives you Sports Sharp immediately.
However, we would have been happier if kicking down the throttle
also put the system into ‘Sports Sharp’ no matter which
setting had been selected by the driver. That would give the car
full power should the driver have made a mistake whilst
overtaking.
When an automatic transmission is specified, the SI-Drive also
alters the gearshifts – making them softer and more comfortable
in the fuel economy position and sharper in the Sports modes.
It’s all a lot simpler than it sounds, may we suggest you
call into your Subaru dealer for a full demonstration of the
system. We can certainly report that there's a significantly
different feel in each of the engine/transmission modes.
We didn’t see huge differences in fuel consumption using the
new system. Overall, the Liberty running on its full economy
settings used 9.8 litres per hundred kilometres over our test
course, whereas on full sports it climbed to 10.2 litres per
hundred. The savings may be higher if someone really drives for
economy, or thrashes the car to get the best performance from it.
See our previous remarks about SI standing for shared intelligence
and read these in conjunction with the previous sentence.
It’s not just under the bonnet that the latest Liberty has
been improved. Changes to the interior see revised styling of the
dashboard, steering wheel and centre console. And there are
changes to the colour and material used in the trim. From a
practical point of view, the steering column is now four-way
adjustable; that is vertically as well as in and out.
The Liberty is a full four-seater but legroom is slightly
shorter in the back than we like. Certainly four adults can get
comfortable, but there has to be seat-distance sharing to do so.
Boot space is good in the sedan tested and, obviously, even
better in station wagons.
Ride comfort has long been a feature of the Liberty and
impressed us once more in this new model. The suspension copes
well on smooth to normal roads, but some Aussie backroads can
knock it about as there's a leaning to sportiness in the endless
sports/comfort compromise with which all car designers are forever
struggling.
Handling is not only good, but also feels just right due to
that leaning in the sporting direction. The steering has a lovely
positive feel that keen drivers will just love. Having all four
wheels driven gives Subarus not only excellent road grip, but also
a nice on-road balance.
Liberty continues to build its cars to a high quality in
Japanese factories and this new model seems certain to continue
the long tradition of trouble-free running and long life that
endears it to Australian buyers.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Liberty 2.0R 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $31,990
Liberty 2.0R 2.0-litre five-door wagon - $33,990
Liberty 2.5i 2.5-litre four-door sedan - $34,990
Liberty 2.5i Premium 2.5-litre four-door sedan - $41,490
Liberty 2.5i 2.5-litre five-door wagon - $36,990
Liberty 3.0R 3.0-litre four-door sedan - $50,990
Liberty 3.0R 3.0-litre five-door wagon - $52,990
Liberty 3.0R-B 3.0-litre four-door sedan - $52,490
Liberty 3.0R-B 3.0-litre five-door wagon - $54,490
Liberty GT 2.5-litre four-door sedan - $54,490
Liberty GT B 2.5-litre four-door sedan - $55,990
Outback 2.5i 2.5-litre five-door wagon - $36,990
Outback 2.5i Premium 2.5-litre five-door wagon - $42,490
Outback 3.0R 3.0-litre five-door wagon - $46,990
Outback 3.0R Premium 3.0-litre five-door wagon - $52,990
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard on all models
Air Conditioning: Standard on all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard on 2.5I Premium and 3.0R models,
$2000 option on all other models
CD Player: Standard on all models
Central Locking: Standard on all models
Cruise Control: Standard on all models
Driver Airbag: Standard on all models
Passenger Airbag: Standard on all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard on all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Subaru Liberty 2.5i 2.5-litre four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.457 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders horizontally opposed
Head Design: SOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Bore/Stroke: 99.5 x 79.0mm
Maximum Power: 121kW @ 5600rpm
Maximum Torque: 226Nm @ 4400rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: All-wheel drive
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.111:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4665mm
Wheelbase: 2670mm
Width: 1730mm
Height: 1425mm
Turning Circle: 10.8 metres
Kerb Mass: 1375kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 64 litres
Towing Ability: 710kg (1800kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link, coil springs
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 9.3 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 17.1 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Fuel Type: Petrol 95RON
Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 9.4 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
|
