Liberty and Outback boost equipment and power for MY08

Subaru has overhauled its Liberty and Outback medium car and wagon ranges for the coming model year, in the process dumping its unpopular 2.0R entry-level model. In dealers this week, the MY08 Liberty and Outback arrive with a new, larger and more powerful entry-level engine and more equipment across the range but no cosmetic changes.

According to Subaru, of the 28 Liberty and Outback variants now available for the new model year, 13 receive no price changes while five have had their RRP reduced. There are four new variants (all Libertys) and six have increased in price -- the most by 3.1 per cent.

The big change, however, is the dumping of Subaru's 2.0-litre DOHC entry-level engine. The base model Liberty is now the 2.5i, available in manual and auto variants and both sedan and wagon body styles.

Priced from $32,490, Subaru says this is a 7.1 per cent reduction from the previous model's $34,990 offer. While strictly that's correct, the loss of the $31,990 2.0R from the range means buyers will now have to pay a little extra to enter the Liberty fold.

The 2.0-litre engine and Subaru's stalwart 2.5-litre fuel-injected boxer four have been replaced for MY08 by a new VVL (Variable Valve Lift) version of the 2.5. Offered in both Liberty and Outback variants, the new VVL engine (still called the 2.5i) now delivers 127kW -- up from 121kW. Torque is unchanged at 226Nm. (The 2.0R delivered 121kW but just 187Nm).

The VVL engine delivers benefits in fuel economy according to Subaru's official ADR 81/01 combined figures. The latest manual and auto Liberty 2.5i return consumption figures of 9.0 and 9.3lt/100km respectively -- for both sedan and wagon versions. This is a 0.4lt improvement for the manual and 0.2 better in the case of the auto.

The six-cylinder 3.0-litre models and turbocharged GT fours are unchanged mechanically.

As part of the MY08 makeover, Subaru has added VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control, Subaru's version of ESP) to all 2.5-litre Sportshift (automatic) versions of Liberty and Outback. Outback 3.0R Premium, Liberty 3.0R Premium and Liberty 3.0R spec.B (manual and auto) also get VDC as standard equipment.

And returning to the Liberty model line-up after an absence of five years is the Heritage. In name at least -- Subaru says there'll be no Heritage badging this time around.

Last sold in the MY03 model year, the new Liberty Heritage will be available in manual and auto variants in both sedan and wagon models. An intermediate level that will sit under the Premium offer, Heritage adds rear privacy glass, black leather interior trim, an eight-way power driver's seat and a sunroof. The models are priced $5500 above corresponding -- cooking' models.

Liberty 2.5i Premium further adds a 13-speaker six-disc McIntosh sound system and bi-Xenon headlamps with washers.

Commenting on the MY08 Liberty and Outback Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior said: "While there are no external changes, there are significant equipment technical, safety and pricing stories throughout the range."

The upgrade for Liberty and Outback comes at the beginning of a period that Senior described as "the busiest six-month the brand has ever faced Down Under."

Subaru Australia will launch the all-new Impreza and WRX later this month ahead of an October international launch for Impreza STI and an early December arrival for the facelifted and powered-up Tribeca seven-seat SUV. And according to Senior, the all-new Forester all-road wagon is due Down Under in time for next February's Melbourne Motor Show.

"It's a period of unprecedented change for us," Senior told The Carsales Network late last week.

"In the space of six months we will be changing over more than 60 per cent of our sales volume," he said.

Look out for the Carsales Network's launch coverage of the all-new Subaru Impreza and Impreza WRX later this month.

MY08 Liberty pricing and overview

Liberty 2.5i sedan - manual: $32,490 (previously $34,990, -7.1 per cent)
Liberty 2.5i sedan - auto: $34,990 (previously $36,990, -5.4 per cent)
Liberty 2.5i wagon - manual: $34,490 (previously $36,990, -6.7 per cent)
Liberty 2.5i wagon - auto: $36,990 (previously $38,990, -5.1 per cent)
Major changes: 127kW VVL engine; VDC standard on auto variants

Liberty 2.5i Heritage sedan - manual: $37,990
Liberty 2.5i Heritage sedan - auto: $40,490
Liberty 2.5i Heritage wagon - manual: $39,990
Liberty 2.5i Heritage wagon - auto: $42,490
Major changes: as 2.5i plus privacy glass, black leather trim, sunroof, power drivers seat.

Liberty 2.5i Premium sedan - auto: $42,790 (previously $41,490, +3.1 per cent)
Liberty 2.5i Premium wagon - auto: $44,790 (previously $36,990, +2.9 per cent)
Major changes: 127kW VVL engine; VDC standard on auto variants, McIntosh audio, bi-Xenon headlamps

Liberty 3.0R Premium sedan - auto: $50,990 (unchanged)
Liberty 3.0R Premium wagon - auto: $52,990 (unchanged)

Liberty 3.0R spec.B sedan - man: $52,490 (unchanged)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B sedan - auto: $52,490 (unchanged)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B wagon - man: $54,490 (unchanged)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B wagon - auto: $54,490 (unchanged)
Major changes: VDC to six-speed manual and auto variants

Liberty GT sedan - auto: $54,990 (previously $54,490, +0.9 per cent)
Liberty GT wagon - auto: $56,990 (previously $56,490, +0.9 per cent)
Major changes: VDC standard on auto variants, power front passenger seat, rear aircon vents

Liberty GT spec.B sedan - man: $55,990 (unchanged)
Liberty GT spec.B sedan - auto: $55,990 (unchanged)
Liberty GT spec.B wagon - man: $57,990 (unchanged)
Liberty GT spec.B wagon - auto: $57,990 (unchanged)
Major changes: power front passenger seat, rear aircon vents

MY08 Outback pricing and overview

Outback 2.5i - manual: $36,490 (previously $36,990, -1.3 per cent)
Outback 2.5i - auto: $38,990 (unchanged)
Major changes: 127kW VVL engine; VDC standard on auto variants, curtain airbags

Outback 2.5i Premium - manual: $41,990 (previously $42,490, -1.1 per cent)
Outback 2.5i Premium - auto: $44,490 (unchanged)
Major changes: 127kW VVL engine; VDC standard on auto variants

Outback 3.0R - auto: $46,990 (unchanged)
Major changes: curtain airbags

Outback 3.0R Premium - auto: $54,290 (previously $52,990, +2.4 per cent)
Major changes: McIntosh audio

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