Subaru Liberty 2.5X 2013 Review

Subaru has two distinct streams of cars it offers for sale in Australia: one is passenger, the other is SUV (Oh and now there’s the BRZ too, but that’s another story…).

So what the new Liberty 2.5X does – along with six-cylinder big brother the 3.6X – is sort of straddle the gap.

Yep, it’s a Liberty sedan, but the ground clearance has been raised by 50mm to 200mm, positioning it just below the ride height of the Outback SUV… which is of course based on the Liberty.

So what’s going on here is pretty niche. Yet in Australia, with our crap roads that often peter out into gravel once in the countryside, a higher-riding all-wheel drive passenger car actually makes some sense.

That ride height is also easier on ageing hips and knees for exit and entry.

So, in other words, older country folk are the prime target audience. Presumably ones with a vision problem, or at least an open mind on styling, because raising the ride height does nothing to alleviate the Liberty’s tall, narrow and ungainly look (which has been slightly updated across the range for 2013, albeit for no obvious improvement).

But while the 2.5X might not delight the eyeballs, the hip pocket gets quite a good deal.

The $44,490 recommended retail price might sound high but there is a lot of gear that comes for the money, starting with Subaru’s new generation ‘FB’ 2.5-litre boxer four-cylinder engine that mates standard with the Lineartronic continuously-variable transmission, or CVT.

What that adds up to is 127kW at 5600rpm, 235Nm at 4100rpm, claimed combined fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km (equalling CO2 emissions of 185g/km) and an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 10 seconds.

OK, that last number offers a solid clue that the 2.5X’s progress is stately rather than speedy. But considering it’s hauling about 1500kg (before passengers and luggage) that’s no surprise. But it performs smoothly, without rancour and without too much noise.

If you want more speed then you’ll have to upgrade to the $55,990 3.6X, which is now the only six-cylinder in the Liberty range. Yes there’s more oomph, but as is typical of boxer engines, it doesn’t excel in the midrange and its relationship with its five-speed auto can be somewhat slow-witted.

So we’ll stick with the 2.5X thanks, which is underpinned by an on-demand all-wheel drive system, McPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension, a combination of vented front and solid rear disc brakes and hydraulically-assisted engine-speed sensitive rack-and-pinion steering.

The result is more comfortable than captivating. There’s a size and bulk to the driving experience that never goes away, especially as there is some roll in corners and a heaviness to the steering that persists even in tight corners (throw in some bumps and there’s some signature rattle and kick as well) at low speeds. All that doesn’t help the round-town driving experience, even though vision is good and the bonnet plainly visible (which is almost a rarity these days).

But the X’s extra suspension travel does deliver; there’s an ability to progress over broken roads with confidence, even if the inputs are still being mutedly transmitted and definitely heard. Some more sound deadening would be nice.

That confidence is especially noticeable on gravel roads. The 2.5X feels right at home, very stable and fully gripped. As is typical of Subaru which is a company that does a lot of engineering testing Australia. Emergency dirt braking is executed brilliantly thanks to very well tuned anti-lock brakes.

ABS is part of a comprehensive safety roster that also includes electronic brakeforce distribution, brakes assist, stability control, traction control, a reversing camera, seven airbags (including driver’s knee), lap-sash seatbelts and adjustable headrests for all five passengers and a full five-star ANCAP rating.

But the real star of the Liberty’s safety inventory is the EyeSight driver-assist system. Using two stereo cameras and vision recognition software, it can develop three-dimensional images to alert the driver to -- or respond autonomously to -- potential hazards on the road ahead such as stationary vehicles and pedestrians.

Functions include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane sway warning, lead vehicle start alert, pre-collision braking and brake assist and pre-collision throttle management.

Thankfully there was a never a need to test out Eyesight in any serious way. However, the lane departure warning was soon turned off because of its hyperactive beeping, while the active braking function occasionally got too enthusiastic and would slow the 2.5X autonomously when a vehicle was slowing in an adjacent lane. This is a problem that seems to afflict most active systems.

To the Liberty 2.5X’s long list of safety gear you can add heaps of comfort items including leather trim, satellite navigation, a sunroof, heated and powered front seats (driver with memory), McIntosh audio, Bluetooth and USB connection. The wheels are 18-inch alloys, while the spare is a 17.

So there’s a lot of gear and a lot to take in; from the button-festooned three-spoke steering wheel to the touch screen and the centre stack that surrounds it.

But there’s also a lot of space here too. That’s one of the latest Liberty’s undoubted highlights. While smaller predecessors were arguably sweeter looking and definitely sweeter handling, this car is one for the grown-ups, or at least the growing family.

Up-front the driver has a reach and rake adjustable steering wheel with shifting paddles, a large and comfortable, if a tad flat, seat, and big left footrest. There are storage holes for phones, drinks and food. In the rear the amount of kneeroom is generous for adults, as is head and elbow room.

However, the transmission tunnel cramps the middle-rear pew, while the 476 litre boot is oddly shaped and can’t be expanded via a split-fold. And it’s fair to say the interior presentation overall still lacks the perceived quality of touch, sight and presentation of some equivalently priced rivals like the Volkswagen Passat.

And to be honest, considering the Liberty’s pros and cons, I’d probably be looking there or at a Mazda6 if I was in the market for a medium-sized sedan. Unless, of course, I lived at the end of long, rough, dirt road.

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