Subaru Liberty 4GEN (2003-2009)

Great car! Comfortable, fast when need it to be, good looking. Only downside is the head gaskets don't last – I use this car to commute to places, personal use, I use it on average 4 days a week, Its serviced every 5000 km's, no issues except the head gasket. Show details ·  1

7 Liberty's in the family – We have had 7 Liberty's in our family since 1992 (6 4Gen) I have bought my sons Liberty's as their first cars and my wife has had 4 since we first bought the 2Gen. My wife currently has a 2009 GT SpecB 2.5l - amazing vehicle that is stupid fast with 230K on the clock. My son has a 2009 2.5l 4Gen with 240K and no major issues. The main… Read more ·  1

concern is that the dash pads are now cracking and deteriorating - both have always had dash mats on them. In the 4Gen models we have always had the 2.5l motors and when the K's get up over 200K they can use a little oil and need checking (ask my son!) Otherwise they are reliable and pretty much bulletproof.

My wife's GT Spec B is lovely to drive and corners like it is on rails. Beautiful to drive albeit a little small for me at 6'2" The ride can be a little firm but it does have sports suspension so that is expected

I would highly recommend this model Subaru as a first car. Safe, secure and reliable. The first one achieved 420K with no major mechanical issue except replacing one clutch at 200K. Very good I would say.

2005 Subaru Liberty - 9 years of ownership review – There's not a bunch of reviews out there from long term owners of this vehicle so I thought I would give a review of the car from an owners point of view. I bought this car new from United Subaru on West Terrace (now Jarvis Subaru) and hence owned it for 9 years. Engine; this car runs the 2.5L boxer engine. Absolute peach of a motor. The torque… Read more

starts real low and pulls in a very linear fashion all the way to red line. Fuel economy is excellent, I get around 8.6l/100km around the city and around 7.0l/100km on rural roads.

Specs have the power at 121KW but the power to weight must be pretty good because it has plenty of power.

Suspension; the ride is very smooth and the handling is outstanding. Subaru's AWD is the best without doubt. It's continuous AWD not just when the front wheels lose traction, so therefore all 4 wheels are doing the driving. You notice it the most in wet conditions, the car just doesn't lose grip. I've never spun the wheels or lost traction. I think it's the perfect balance between performance and comfort.

Looks; it's 9 years old but the car still looks great. You compare it with some newer cars and it still looks as modern.

It's standard features are very good for it's build date. Full electrics, climate, 17" alloys, 4 airbags, abs, full trip computer, cruise, keyless entry and more.

Their resale value is outstanding, I noticed that they still fetch in the low teens (12-13k) for a good low Km one in Adelaide.

There's plenty of room for 5 adult passengers but the car is small enough to be easy to park and negotiate in traffic.

I've replaced two things in the 9 years I've owned it. A heat shield guard in the engine bay because one of the brackets broke (cost about $100) and the left rear central locking mechanism (which I believe was caused by my 5 year old daughter continually playing with it). There hasn't been any other issues.

It cost's me $129 to service here in Adelaide and parts are no more expensive than other brands.

I've since bought the new Liberty (2010) and now have two which is testament to my opinion of the brand.

If your looking for a second hand sedan you'd be hard pressed to find a better car. Looks, fuel economy, power, handling, safety, standard features.

Good – I went from owning Japanese cars to European makes and have come back due to the improvements in quality (besides the price advantage). I will keep this one for as long as possible as the new ones are damn ugly!! . I bought a 2007 build GT model that was 2 1/2 years old, and have been very impressed (now 10 months later). Build quality is high,… Read more

although not quite up to the standard of the Audi A4 Wagon I owned previously (minor issues only). Fantastic air-conditioning! So very COLD! Excellent highway cruiser. Awesome power from that turbocharged motor :) Fuel consumption is quite high, even when driving sedately with the transmission in 'Intelligent' mode - therefore the fuel tank could be bigger. Seats could be more comfortable - after a few hours your butt will hurt. Suspension thump around town can be tiresome. 5 speed auto can be 'clunky' until it warms up (but then silky smooth). Tyres need to be well maintained/aligned or they wear out quickly (if you find an AWD specialist aligner like I have, it's worth using them).

Good – I have really loved this car, the first car that still feels good to steer after driving of my brothers MX-5. I drove a current model Outback with 3,000km and it didn't feel any different from my one that now has 86,000km, getting back into mine felt every bit as tight. I would happily recommend a Subaru to anyone who is happy with the width of… Read more

the back seat.

Go for the 2.5 if you can.

Wish I'd bought the Outback for the extra ride height- I haven't really taken it off road as a consequence of saving $6k by getting the Liberty. I bought my 2003 Liberty GX new. 2.0 motor with 5 speed manual. Dual range gearbox is great for reversing the trailer, pullng boat our of water. Good for crawling along in traffic in low range first without using clutch. I use low range gears going up hills to compensate for low power output- works well dropping back from 4 high to 4 low on steep bends. Clueless salesperson said not to but I do it all the time and nothing has broken yet.Hill start that prevents roll back on slopes is magnificent.It has never broken down or had any problems. Only ever in a dealer for a service.The all road handling is what attracted me to it and I have not been disappointed. It handles as well in the wet as it does in the dry. It feels secure as you catch the hoons on the wet corners who overtook you on the straights. Dirt road handling is close to being on the bitumen. Flooring it in the wet to get onto a busy road and no wheelspin, just squats down and gets on with it. My Commodore would just sit there spinning- useless.Starts first time- the same number of cranks till start whether cold or hot. Exhaust sound (quiet) is nice & throbby.Fuel economy is good. Always (well) less than 10 litres/100km, whether in city traffic, short runs or long distance.I got 62 & 67,000 km out of original tyres.Fabric has stood up to several wet cleans- my wife insists on feeding 3,6 & 8 yo's in the car... Too small across the back seat for three kids, so I'm looking for a replacement car- can't decide what.2.0 motor (this is the old model with 94kw- the newer one has more I believe) is OK but could use more power. I seem to remember a quote that said a true sports car should be slightly underpowered- it makes you explore the handling better. Bird poop has eaten through the paint through to metal in a couple of spots and some of the rubbers are splitting. It has never been garaged but I would have thought it would have lasted longer than 4 years!Service costs at Subaru dealer- $180 for minor services, $600 for 50k and dealer warned me that 100k service is $1100. Does that seem a little dear to you, it does to me?Set fabric is still like new, but carpets looking pretty worn despite mats insitu.

Solid car over many years – 2005 bought second hand from dealer. Premium wagon. Driven on all roads and long distances. Just about to clock 375,000kms! Engine is perfect but everything Else starting to go. Suspension gone! Electric windows issues. Tailgate light always needing replacement. I dread having to get a new but the time has come. Servicing too expensive. Show details ·  1

Best car in the world – I bought a subaru liberty in 2009. I got delivered a Subaru Liberty on the 1st April with 13km on the clock. Last Friday (31/07/2020), it ticked over half a million kilometre. Over last 11 years we travelled a lot together. The ride was and still being awesome. I have a BMW 430! convertible and ride of my liberty is no less enjoyable. I never had… Read more ·  1

spent anything except normal wear and tear. Just got it polished and waxed and it looks like new again. I am so happy with this car and want to thank Subaru for delivering this little piece of gem.

Best car on the road – I've had my beast for 9 years and its still going strong. It has been regularly serviced and the interior is as good as it was the day it came home,and that's with dogs regularly on board. I can confidently drive on the open road, its fast acceleration keeps me out of trouble when overtaking on hills and cruise control makes open road driving a… Read more

breeze. The rear seats fold down to take extra long loads when required. It's just done a weekend in the bush, give adults and two dogs, all rode comfortably. Highly recommend the Subaru Liberty to anyone for any purpose.

2.5 ltr motors head gasket failure. USA forced a recall, but not here in Aus.http://forums.whirlpool – 2007, 77k (as of 2017), full service. City only drive. Just told that the head is beginning to leak, 2500-3500 (some paid 6000) repair plus control arm rubber failing (price??) This one owner car was to last my healthy aged mother till she can drive. DONT buy any 2.5 subaru non turbo. Ring Subaru Aus and tell them your thoughts 1800 22 66 43 (Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm AEST).  Show details

OK – I did 100,000k's in a 2litre GT and found it to be an unremarkable, lacklustre but practical vehicle. Running through the gears (ie on boost) it is a strong performer, but in gear turbo lag is noticeable despite the small turbo. The 2litre Turbo is the pick of the GTs, the 2.5litre is a disappointment - less power, less torque, more weight -… Read more

uses more petrol but is more emissions friendly. Go figure! The Sti versions are disappointing - a lot of bling and compromised performance due to weight and larger rims. Insurance on the Sti models is very difficult to justify considering the dubious nature of the bolt on mods. Smooth ride, AWD handling. Build quality. Head gasket issues on the 2.5 have been resolved from 2003 onwards. Twin turbo issues of the pre 2003 B4 have been resolved with the superior single turbo set up on the GT. The GT is a confused car. In MY04-MY08 guise it gets the performance engine but wallowy KYB suspension. Steering is vague and loose (even worse than my B5 Audi S4). Passenger gets no electric seat (driver only). Interior lighting is poor. Best seen as an attempt at a grand tourer. Does not build peak torque at 2400rpm. Dyno testing has proven otherwise. Magazine testing has not managed to replicate the 5speed manual's 5.8 second sprint to 100 that Subaru advertise either. Auto GT is lardy (on par with a manual RB).

OK – The Liberty GT is a nice car but still a long way from a BMW (but so is the price from new). The H6 needs too many revs to make it go and the non turbo 4's are quite painful to drive but OK for a city commute (recently had an 08 outback for a week, glad to give it back). The GT is the pick of the range but is long over due for an update. Other… Read more

cars on the market are way in front. But I still enjoy driving my car as there are not many of them around. But the wife's 9 year old E46 323 BMW is a much better car to drive and better in nearly every aspect and is cheaper to buy now and insure when compared to any recent GT (2l or 2.5l). Nice to look at and it's not a falcon or commodore. Nice handling & power is addequate. Interior is functional and pleasant to be in. 5 speed auto is very average, paint work average, low speed noise and suspension thump could be improved. Large torque hole up to 3000 RPM

Love the subaru liberty – 2008 subaru liberty has plenty of power leather seats sunroof luxury edition popular car very smooth on roads steering wheel is smooth as well I clean my cars one a week always protected with wax the liberty's will not let you down Show details

A real great car for its time! – I love Subaru’s & when I was looking for one I was looking for the WRX at the time. While searching I found these awesome rides. Kind of like the luxury version of one I chose it due to having all leather interior (STi stitched), momo steering wheel, sunroof, climate control plus it was the STi model & looked sexy as. So I chose this 6 speed… Read more

weapon & I am overall very happy with it. It had great legroom for me, a nice sounding turbo, great suspension package & awesome rims. The sound system is amazing for a stock one too! The only thing is I wished it had a slightly more throaty exhaust but apart from that (which can be modified) is overall a really good car :D

Perfect – Good car and easy to drive, really cheap on fuel. Subarus are good cars because they are all wheel drive. I feel safe when I'm driving in the car and it's a reliable car to get you where you need to go, not much to fault on this car very happy  Show details

Beautiful and fun car to drive - excellent power – I have had this car for 6 months and it has been nothing but a pleasure to drive. I have not had a single issue with the car, except that i drive more enthusiastically which uses more petrol! the spec-b suspension is unbelievable. Interior looks modern and up to date even though it is 10 years old design. The mcintosh sound system is OK, i installed a parrot bluetooth to add bluetooth experience.  Show details

Perfect first car, very reliable – This is my first car and I love it. As the vehicle is AWD, it creates a smooth and controlled driving experience, in addition to that, the cruise control function makes driving so much easier. The interior and cosmetics of the car has a modern feel despite being a MY05 model. Unfortunately there is no bluetooth or AUX audio function, however with… Read more

two cigarette lighter ports, it allows me to use a FM tuner to play music through my mobile device. It's current running cost is $55-$65 a full tank which usually lasts 1.5 weeks with day to day commutes. I've owned this car for over a month now and have had no problems.

The complete wagon – Brilliant wagon. Not luxury but everything you need, comfortable, accessible, well designed, roomy, easy to service etc. The Liberty is a simple to maintain point and shoot wagon that does what a vehicle that it is should do. I use it for everything from everday travel to going camping and skiing and it's never failed me.  Show details

Great car, surprisingly fast – Bought a 3.0R Spec B late last year. Overall pretty good car - I've owned a few Subaru turbos over the years and wanted something different (no turbo lag in particular), The 3 Litre motor is just awesome. I was shopping for an auto wagon - but when I drove the 6 speed manual I loved it. So a quick assessment: Pluses: - really nice 6 cylinder… Read more

motor, great response, surprisingly fast

- awesome Bilstein suspension

- great 4wd

Minuses:

- a bit skittery on rough road

- sulky key remotes - won't work if it is raining!

- chassis rigidity poor - needs front strut brace

That last point is hugely significant - with the brace installed is is a different car, a pleasure to drive and confidently push into corners!

Lucy, my 2006 Tuned By STi Liberty GT – Dream car, made with care. When Driving my 06 TBSTI, I know I'm wrapped in safety. She's spacious, comfortable, makes decent power, good on fuel and when maintained, will last for ages. With the right child seat configuration, you can also fit 3 across. I also know, without kids seats, you can lay the rear seats down, and fit a 2seater couch… Read more

in.

My Lucy has been tuned to make it more fuel efficient with an increase of power. Being 11 years old, she is getting on. But, I won't be selling her any time soon. She is my dream.

great wagon – 2.0 petrol 2005. great car with tons of space and awd for safety. great handling with plenty of feel and grip. nice interior, cruise control is great as is dual zone air-con and a large amount of storage space in the compartments. the engine is a little weak and the car requires more frequent servicing then other alternatives, fuel economy is ok… Read more

but the engine needs to be worked a little harder then some so this can impact your mpg if you like to get a hurry on. all in all a great tourer and more then capable of having some fun along the way. space, interior, dual zone climate, awd, handling. weak engine, high service costs.

Not one problem – 2.5i sedan purchased new in 2007 and covered 65,000 km. The car drives better now than when new, smooth, quiet and handles beautifully, and I have only had regular services plus replaced tyres once, with no problems at all. Also still looks new inside and classier than many new cars that have lots of plastic trim. Downsides - petrol economy around… Read more

town is not too flash compared to newer cars, although not bad on the open road. Main problem is that rear seats can't be folded down so even though the boot is large there are restrictions with longer loads. Smooth, still feels classy, excellent handling, tours well. 4wd for those wet weather days. Rear seats don't fold. A little thirsty.

Love the Liberty – I have the 2005 3.0 litre automatic Subaru Liberty sports wagon, silver in colour. It has beautiful beige leather seats and a large electric sunroof. It has all the little luxuries a car should have (electric windows, electric seat adjustment, cup holders, reverse sensors, great sound system, cruise control etc) and the power and performance… Read more

needed to use on the roads legally! Can easily get 600kms from a tank (highway driving). Great build quality, we were looking at getting a same year model Range Rover, and the build quility was terrible and plasticy, but we come across the Liberty and fell in love with everything about it! It looks great, plenty of power when you put the foot down, fuel efficient, excellent standard sound system, excellent steering and performance in both wet and dry conditions(potenza tyres), safe car. It's going to get me a speeding ticket if I'm not careful!

Excellent – We bought our Liberty twelve months ago. It was under a year old and we have had no problems with it at all. It is a great family car. We can fit two carseats comfortably and another child between the seats if we need to. I love the anchor points in the roof so that boot space isn't compromised. Can easily fit a big pram in the boot and the… Read more

shopping. Good looking vehicle, feels nice to drive, large boot space, good foot room for taller drivers/passengers, carseat anchor points in roof so intrusion into boot space, very easy controls for cruise, wipers, lights etc., changeabel display for petrol usage, temperature, trip time, time, etc., reasonably priced Haven't found anything I don't like after a year of driving, except that you can't fit 3 carseats on back seat (but most cars are the same)

Good – A very nice pice of work, known as the Japanese BMW which says a lot. The new stronger 2.5l engine has a nice exhaust note. Pity Subaru hasnt mated the engine with a 5 speed auto, it needs it. Passenger seat does not lift, my wife is short and she cont see over the bulkhead Great driving car, well built very safe and just the right size now that… Read more

the kids have gone. Love the 6-disc MP3 player Not much: the ignition key digs holes in my pocket, why does Subaru copy VW and make the key retractible? Why o why a 4-speed autonmatic box?

Excellent – What a car! I would upgrade but theres no reason to, even with 170,000kms this car looks, smells and almost runs like new. New or used, I highly recommend this car! 2005 2.5i sedan- I have done 170,000kms and it still runs like a dream, have not had to replace anything mechanicaly and fuel consuption is great on the highway, about 8ltrs per… Read more

100kms! Smooth handling, hugs the road like nothing else, a very fun but super safe car. Is expensive to service and repair. Top dash lights have gone completely and the fly wheel in the clutch needs replacing (this was a fault in this model) fabric seats mark easily but clean well. Not much leg room in the back.

Excellent – My review is specifically for the 3.0 RB. This is a fabulous vehicle, with strong smooth engine, close ratio STI 6 speed manual gearbox. For a performance vehicle, it was surprisingly easy on both brakes and tyres. Sadly paint isn't a Subaru strong point and after 4 years the paint looked a little tired. Superb Air cond ( even on a black car),… Read more

great opitronic instruments ..... It could have been an amazing car, with better steering feel, and split fold rear seat. Strong Passive and Active Safety, Turbine like flat 6, Firm Bilstein suspension, outstanding Mcintosh Stereo, Great Airconditioning Paint doesn't wear well, no rear folding seat, steering feel worse than the best europeans, poor fuel economy, Subaru dealers

Excellent – Great value for money, luxury car with the sport performance is something I was looking for a long time. Leather interior and slick exterior completes the image of the car. Tuned by STI (Subaru Tecnica International) makes the ride externally pleasant on any road in any weather condition. Strongly recommend Subaru Liberty GT 2.0 - the best car on… Read more

market in that price range! Extremely comfortable, luxury interior, slick exterior, great performance of Turbo engine. Didn't find any!

Excellent – A great car that offers a combination of sedate family looks yet houses one hell of a roaring monster under the hood. A great drivers car and it's AWD capabilities should never be underestimated. It really does stick to the road. If you ever crashed this car... It must have been your fault. "ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE" would do as this vehicle is up… Read more ·  1

there with the best for superior road handling. As per the previous review there is so much to write about this car. I will attempt to tickle the technical side of peoples interest. Mine is a GT Liberty with VDC and Sat Nav. It's handling charactoristics are second to none. The vehicle drives like it's on rails. But more importantly offers an extreme level of comfort and safety. It comes highly recommened and regarded as a vehicle which holds a five ***** Star NCAP rating. The brakes on this vehicle are just sensational. At this with ABS and EBD the vehicle really pulls up and more importantly pulls up in a fashion that doesn't make your passengers feel uncomfortable. I have really pushed mine to it's limits and experienced little or no brake fade. I believe the size of the calipers and discs (Also ventilated) contribute to this. The engine is pure silk to drive yet turns into a tiger with the turn of a dial. (Intelligent Drive) The engine pulls effortlessly and it's marriage with the brakes and suspension offer real sports performance. It's a sheep in wolfs clothing yet a sensible car that would fit in any driveway at the "Top End of Town" The leather seats are excellent although some more padding and an electric adjustable passengers seat would be good! The car is almost perfect. The only thing that lets this car down is the lack of spare parts. Subaru Australia appear to only carry enough spare parts to get them by. If something out of the ordinary is required then it's ordered from Japan. This leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the client who has paid good money for the car. The car also has a 'Soft' clear coat over the paint work which I don't think is suitable for Australian conditions. It becomes too easy to scratch or mark. This is my eighth Subaru and I'm also really concerned about the engine oil consuption. Subaru say it's within Specs. I say that in world of an enviromently friendly and conscious times...it's too high! I know why it's done (to reduce friction and the number of piston rings) and I don't believe the Subaru engineers thought about alternative methods.

Excellent – This is my second Turbo Subaru and my first Liberty. It is very functional, stylish, safe, has unbelievable grip in wet. Dont bother with cumbersome SUV's as they are not as safe and general handling is cumbersome and poor, would recommend this to anyone as the no.1 pick for a mid-size wagon or a gfor rowing family. Liberty 2.5GT: Build Quality,… Read more

Stereo, Handling, Massive Sunroof, Style, Chassis Grip, Safety, Engine Performance great when revved -Almost everything. Needs more mid range power,better economy and better paint quality.

Good – This was the second Liberty I owned. I think they are a great car, particularly any model with the leather seats. Resale value has been stellar. I would have bought again but don't like the new styling. Styling, fit and finish, resale Engine (weak), pricing Show details

Good – We've had our 2007 Liberty for 6 months and we're really happy with it. The 2007 update gave the interior a nicer finish and we really like the look of the car. I'd probably go for the 2.5 if I had my time again, the auto transmission holds first gear too long to get the most revs out of the engine and I reckon the 2.5 would have a bit more… Read more ·  1

pull, but we don't regret buying a Liberty at all. Looks great, drives well, big cargo area, nice interior Auto transmission doesn't match well to the 2 litre engine. Could have more legroom in the rear seat.

Excellent – This is a great car. You would have to spend at least another $30K to match anything like the 3.0RB in performance and luxury. The 6 speed manual is fun to drive - even in traffic. Insurance is a lot cheaper than the GT. You would not be dissapointed. Performance, handling, comfort, quality, styling - everything. Small Boot (Sedan) and there is no fold down/split rear seat. Show details

Excellent – Great car. Go and take one for a test drive and you will be impressed. It is really good on fuel too. Very stylish, smooth ride, interior is comfortable and looks great. Is a wonderful family car and the boot fits a pram and you still have a lot of room for shopping, etc. I was a bit hesitant about buying the car because of servicing costs and the… Read more

like, but I was wrong, it is well worth buying and we love our Subaru. We love the leather interior and the drivers seat is electronic with 2 positions in memory. This comes in handy. I'd highly recommend buying this car. We love ours. Would have liked bluetooth connectivity as standard.

Good – Ok, this is the 5MT 2.0L GT I am referring to, so this review is for you guys out there looking for a second-hand car. This is a great car if you like driving a car unassisted by such technologies as traction and stability control. The only major assistance you get with this car is ABS. Personally, I prefer it this way...other may not... … Read more

The car itself seems quite rigid and, in conjunction with the AWD, allows for spirited corner exits, although it does exhibit some understeer during corner entry to apex (as with most AWD cars). From about 3,500rpm to about 6,000rpm, the turbo engine really punches out some good power (190KW) and torque numbers on this car are nothing to scoff at (330nm).

On the down side, the stock suspension on the GT is sub-standard for more-spirited driving (KYB struts) compared to the spec B (Bilstein struts) and tends to be quite "floaty" with substantial pitch and roll. The brakes are also a bit of a let down, with a soft, spongy feel to then under foot. The good news is that these things can be remedied and there is quite a number of aftermarket parts out there to do this for not too much money (such as sway bars and a master brake cylinder stopper).

Overall, definitely a car worth investigating if you are planning on a second-hand car purchase and you want WRX performance in a luxury package that doesn't cost the earth. AWD drivetrain performs well, especially in the wet. Well appointed interior. Great build quality. In the right rev range, the engine can be quite punchy. Suspension is quite "floaty". Brakes soft and spongy. Fuel consumption can go through the roof if you put your foot down too much. Turbo lag evident at the bottom end of the rev range. Cold start tune not exceptional.