Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 137

A

ustralian buyers are bailing
out of sedans en masse,
moving into larger SUVs if kids
are part of the buying decision,
or downsizing to a hatch or
small SUV if they’re not.
The exception is Mercedes’
all-conquering C-Class, which
now outsells every other mid-size
sedan bar the Toyota Camry.
Subaru’s sixth-generation
Liberty starts at $30,590 for
the 2.5-litre four-cylinder
petrol/continuously variable
transmission (CVT) base model.
The 2.5i CVT Premium, with
more fruit (including leather,
sunroof and navigation) is $37,090
and the 3.6-litre six-cylinder
petrol/CVT Liberty 3.6R is $43,590.
Like its predecessors, this
Liberty comes with a blue-chip
safety CV, including ISOFIX
child-restraint anchors, seven
airbags, a reversing camera and
Subaru’s Eyesight system as
standard. Eyesight uses cameras

to read the road and the traffi c.

It incorporates a “vehicle in

front” brake light alert function,

plus automatic emergency

braking from 50km/h or less,

lane keeping and adaptive (or

conventional) cruise control.

Subaru adds Vision Assist

to Premium and 3.6R, which

includes blind-spot monitoring,

lane-change assist, adaptive,

swivelling headlights, side and

front view monitors and rear

cross-traffi c alert.

You perch on a plush pew that’s

adjustable for height and angle.

Tall drivers enjoy generous space

and driving position adjustability.

It doesn’t impinge on rear seat

passengers, who can stretch

out and relax on a high, fi rm,

supportive bench. Low window

sills and light-toned roofl ining

add to the cabin’s spacious, bright

feel, so kids will be happy too.

Subaru’s stylish, formal

dash, illuminated analogue

instruments and touch screen

infotainment are easy to read

and navigate. Voice control works

most of the time and extends to

reading emails and messages.

Ride comfort is fi ne in

most situations, save for the

occasional whack when the front

end cops a big hit.

The 2.5-litre/CVT drivetrain

has been overhauled for

2018, the aim being improved

responsiveness and fuel

effi ciency. In manual mode, the

CVT now offers seven gears

rather than six, and the overall

ratio spread is wider.

Around town, the CVT responds

smoothly and promptly when

you give the pedal a prod, and

effectively masks the 2.5’s lack

of accessible torque, but when

strong, sustained acceleration is

required at highway speeds the

transmission wastes revs, like a

slipping clutch, and the car bogs

down unless you select Sport

or Manual shift modes, where

it operates like a conventional

seven speed automatic.

Liberty was also once a

class front runner in handling,

particularly with its permanent

all-wheel drivetrain, but newer

rivals have now caught up.

Roll in corners is minimal

but on rough country roads at

speed the front end feels mushy

and poorly controlled, regularly

running out of travel on broken

surfaces, diving under brakes

and bouncing on undulations.

Overassisted steering is

vague on centre, lifeless and

imprecise in corners.

In the Nineties and Noughties,

Liberty was one of the best

handling cars on the road.

Today, its decidedly untaut

dynamics are nothing special

compared with rivals such as

Toytoa’s Camry.

Liberty is a no-risk, good value

deal, but it’s time for Subaru

to pension off the sluggish,

ineffi cient 2.5-litre/CVT drivetrain,

tighten up the handling and put a

bit of joy back into the car. It was

once a great drive. It’s not now.

S SUBARU LIBERTY FROM $30,590

THINGS WE LIKE

 Blue-chip safety

 All-wheel drive

 Good value and loaded

 Made in Japan quality

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Servicing is expensive

Sluggish under full acceleration

Underdamped front suspension

and overassisted, imprecise

steering

SPEX (2.5 Premium)

Made in Japan

2.5-litre horizontally opposed four-

cylinder petrol/CVT/all-wheel drive

129kW of power at 5800rpm/

235Nm of torque at 4000rpm

0–100km/h in 9.6 seconds (claimed)

6.2L/100km highway; 9.1L/100km

city; 91 octane; CO 2 emissions

are 166g/km

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Stability control,

seven airbags, Eyesight, Vision

Assist, Bluetooth with audio

streaming, navigation, leather,

Harman Kardon audio, sunroof,

Data Dot security, 18-inch alloys,

full-size spare

Redbook future values: 3yr: 46%;

5yr: 31%

Safety

ANCAP

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Holden Commodore, Mazda6, Skoda

Superb, Toyota Camry, VW Passat