Subaru Liberty 3.0R spec.B 2006 Review

Road Test

Subaru's Liberty is normally the choice of shoppers looking for dependability and low key looks. It's a smart buy but hardly exciting. But the Japanese company has finally given the Liberty something to crow about -- it's called SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent-Drive).

The Liberty range is comprehensive -- confusing even -- with eight models in the line up and all available in sedan and wagon. It starts with the 2.0R and tops out with the 184kW turbocharged 2.5GT spec.B. The 3.0R spec.B lies at the higher end of the middle range.

Its basic package consists of a four-door sedan of neat proportions -- if lacking in sex appeal -- sitting atop Subaru's renowned all-wheel chassis. It's powered by a 180kW/297Nm 3.0-litre horizontally-opposed naturally aspirated four-cylinder and a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic as a no-cost option.

The cabin is very well kitted out with leather trim, an MP3 compatible McIntosh sound system with six-stack CD, dual-zone air-conditioning and a leather-wrapped Momo sports steering wheel incorporating cruise control buttons (which is much better than other cruise control offerings from Subaru).

It also has an electric sunroof, power mirrors and windows, remote central locking and immobiliser security system.

Practicality is the Liberty's middle name. There's plenty of front and rear passenger room and the cosseting electrically-adjustable seats are extremely comfortable. The ergonomics are superb too with plenty of storage space and a height and telescopically-adjustable steering column part of the thoughtful package. The boot can also swallow a couple of golf bags or several suitcases for that week-long holiday.

Safety is also a Liberty calling card. The sedan has a five-star rating -- enough said.

In the past the Liberty has been an honest performer -- but you couldn't exactly say it was exhilarating. It's a sensible car with reasonable performance and better than average handling.

But the stakes have recently been raised with the new SI-Drive system. And the best news is that it's easy to use and it actually works.

SI-Drive is a three-way ECU map-swapping dial that allows the driver to dial up the driving conditions they desire at will. It would be overstating the case to say the spec.B is three cars in one but it's not far off the mark.

Dial up Intelligent mode on the centrally-located knob and you'll cruise economically, turning to the Sport setting ups the ante in the performance stakes and in Sport # the spec.B goes ballistic -- well almost.

The Intelligent setting may save you some petrol money but the drive in this mode is dulled to the point where it's almost infuriating. Throttle response is sluggish and is best left for city crawling.

But in the two performance Sports modes the Liberty is an engaging drive. Throttle response is heightened, the dash-mounted upshift light changes its points and the engine is primed and ready to rumble.

CarPoint sampled the six-speed manual version. The gear changes were silky smooth with well spaced ratios and under the right circumstances -- and dialled up to Sport # -- the car is genuinely great fun to drive -- and quite brisk. Subaru claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.9secs for the manual (8.2secs for the auto) so it's quick but not outrageously so.

The spec.B has a firm ride but is not overly hard and our long haul drive was extremely comfortable and quiet. There has been a lot sprouted about Subaru's all-wheel-drive system. All we can add is that it is indeed good and offers more than enough grip to balance the spec.B's performance.

So if you're not quite ready to break out into a bright orange Lotus but still want a stimulating drive -- without shouting about it -- the Liberty spec.B just might have your name on it.