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Subaru’s Liberty and WRX: Family
Entertainment
You don’t have to be snowbound
to appreciate these all wheel drivers from Subaru in the form of their WRX wagon
and larger Liberty. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable
driving vehicle that offers this utility for the money. Of course, there is a
downside and that is the fact that shift action on the highly recommended
standard transmission does not fond of being rushed and, most importantly,
Subaru’s rising prices are pushing the Liberty into the near luxury field.
Overall, these are immensely capable, truly enjoyable, and environmentally
friendly family transportation. Indeed, if you had to sell your sports car when
you started your family, this is a chance to get it back without anyone being
the wiser.
It is no secret that
turbocharging is an inexpensive way to get mid-range power increases, especially
from small displacement engines. The added bonus is that fuel efficiency is not
impacted as much as that from supercharging or building heavier, larger
engineers to gain the same performance. The downside is that it is difficult for
some manufacturers to build one that does not have what is called turbo lag
which is a pause between the application of pressure to the accelerator and
engine response. In the case of the manual transmission Subarus there is
virtually no turbo lag. We don’t know if that would be the case with the
automatic, however we would recommend this transmission option if you make daily
commutes in congested areas as the Subaru clutch and shifting linkage wear on
you after a while. Of course you do sacrifice both in gas mileage and
acceleration with the automatic. Our recommendation, get the manual transmission
and move to the country because it is so much more fun.
In terms of concerns about
these two Subarus they were limited to a metal gearshift handle in the
WRX, and
the lack of a fold down rear seat in the Liberty sedan. Of these, by far the most
bothersome was the gearshift. Difficult to grip, almost always too hot to grab
in the summer, and simply a poor ergonomic shape, the shift knob was at best an
irritation and at its worst something that had to be covered with a tool on
sunny days to keep it from being too hot to grasp. It would certainly be too
cold in the winter, but gloves would mitigate the metal’s harshness.
Mom’s view: The WRX was a
bit too small for my money, especially since it is priced just a few thousand
dollars less than the larger, nearly as fast, Liberty GT. Of course, the racier WRX is more responsive to driver inputs, even when equipped with mud and snow
tires that nullify some of its brilliant handling abilities.
The Liberty is more relaxed, although the steering is precise and its potential
literally limitless. Let me explain in detail. A Subaru GT wagon or sedan is
priced tens of thousands less than an Audi S4 and yet the Subaru in only a half
second slower to 60 mph and has more room. That performance is amazing. This
unobtrusive workhorse with its well proven all wheel drive feature can stay with
such acknowledged sporty sedans as the Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS 300.
I especially liked the improved interior which has a modern look, although it
could be more elegant considering its price. The red-and-white gauges are very
easy to read and I love the way they sweep once the ignition is keyed. The seats
are also comfortable, although the WRX’s are a bit thin for me. Both cars have
good interior space, especially in wagon versions, but I would have appreciated
if the rear seats in the Liberty sedan folded down rather than just offering a
ski pass-through. Neither car offers adequate cupholders and both could use more
interior storage bins. The basic point that I am making is that this is a vastly
better Subaru interior, but it is not a class-leading interior.
My biggest concern about the Subaru was its pricing. People who can afford entry
level Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Jaguar, and Infiniti nameplates are probably not
going to be looking for a Subaru even though they are similarly priced. In other
words, those potential credit worthy buyers might pass on the Subaru for a more
upscale brand. For example, a base model
Jaguar X with all wheel drive you would
have to pay more, get less power, and not nearly the handling of the Subaru. Of
course the interior of the Jaguar is much nicer and the ride more pedestrian.
Let’s just put it this way, girls, would you rather tell the group you bought a
Jaguar or a Subaru? Enough said.
Overall, the WRX
is fast, handy, and almost cuddly. The Subaru Liberty GT is
articulate, well mannered, and muscular. Either way they were perfect gentlemen
during my test, but I would prefer the larger GT with its smother approach
especially at my age.
Dad’s view: Both of these cars are serious performers well capable of doing
daily duty as family haulers while providing badly needed stimulation for those
times when you need a little adrenaline. The ride in the WRX is choppy owing to
its short wheelbase, and that of the Liberty more akin to that of a Camry SE with
low profile tires.
The Liberty has been redesigned and its was handsomely done. However, the big
news isn’t the sheet metal, but in the form of a modified version of the
WRX STi's 2.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 250 horsepower and 250 lb-ft
of torque. This four-cylinder engine is going to make you fall in love,
especially when equipped the standard manual transmission. The five-speed
automatic takes some of the edge off acceleration, but I would prefer it in
daily use. You can save money by opting for the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter
four-cylinder, but don’t drive this model after you test the turbo because you
would most likely feel that you left the parking brake on. Don’t downplay this
engine, though, because it is less expensive to buy, operate, and insure and you
still get the reassurance of Subaru’s proven wet weather traction.
Perhaps the greatest praise I could give the WRX is that it is so handy that you
tend to forget it is a just a few alterations from being a rally car. As for the
Liberty, I would prefer it to the excellent
Mazda 6 and the similarly priced
Honda Accord. In fact, I would prefer it to pretty much anything in this price
range. Of course, you should know that we have owned and enjoyed Subarus in the
past so we have a bias.
Young sandwich making male’s view: Both cars needed premium fuel, and with gas
prices just this side of home ownership, that is something to consider with this
pair. Although gas mileage was seldom under 20 mpg, it was also seldom close to
the 25 cited by the government either. Perhaps it was the irresistible spine
straightening acceleration that produced such low gas mileage numbers.
The quick steering on the WRX makes highway travel tiring over time. Just a
little input results in lane changes whereas the GT is more lenient. If you talk
on a cell phone don’t drive the WRX because it does not take kindly to
distractions. Braking for both cars is exceptional, although the Liberty pedal
feel is much too spongy for such a high performance car. It should be pointed
out that both of our test cars had very low mileage and that could impact on the
mileage and braking performance.
The WRX wagon had a very tight back seat should only be held responsibly for two
adults. The Liberty offered more room and better seats. Visibility was very good
in these cars and that includes the headlights and night interior lighting.
It is difficult to ignore either of these cars, but since the
Liberty has been
served up with a better chassis thanks to the use of lighter metals, a longer
wheelbase for more room and better handling, a repositioned engine that lowers
the center of gravity, and a more mainstream exterior, I would go that route.
Although the WRX is fun, the Liberty is more so. In fact, I believe that if
Subaru has any sense at all they are going to simply put the
300 horsepower STi
engine in the Liberty and create BMW’s worst nightmare, a station wagon that can
outperform all but its most expensive machinery.
Young working woman’s view: This dynamic duo made me yearn for a less
responsible nature. They did everything well and never drew negative attention.
Standard equipment on the Liberty was four-wheel antilock disc brakes with
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, front side-impact airbags, and full-length
side curtain airbags. Another valuable safety feature is front-seat head
restraints with dynamic whiplash protection. And, with cars this swift, safety
is a concern because they both can get to 60 mph in six seconds or less making
them among the fastest family vehicles you can buy.
We all agreed these were quick cars, but what about living with them on a daily
basis? Well, that is difficult to answer because both of our test cars had
standard transmissions that made them eager, but demanding to drive, especially
the peaky WRX. I never did feel at easy with the Subaru’s clutch despite its
easy nature. Other than that the cars were very compelling, only straining our
relationship with an occasional hick-up while stopping at a traffic light with
the air-conditioning on high. The heater was superior, the heated seats worked
rapidly, and the defroster more than adequate to handle an ice storm. Thus I
would buy the Outback Liberty wagon with the automatic, forget the more expensive
turbocharged version, and get that English Mastiff from the rescue people I have
been pining away for since the family dog died.
Family conference: This one-two turbo punch from Subaru are must drives if for
nothing else to help dispel the stodgy image that once befell this manufacture.
We highly recommend the Liberty for its value and fun. As for the WRX wagon,
nothing comes close to it for getting the family pet to the hospital in a hurry.
Although the WRX is much more of a hardcore machine, it still has a pleasant
side. Try the automatic version, too. We strongly believe that this latest
effort from Subaru is certainly going to capture sales from the competition if
potential buyers are interested in family fun in a responsible car.
Written by the
Car Family |
