- Doors and Seats
NA
- Engine
NA
- Engine Power
180kW, 297Nm
- Fuel
Petrol 11.1L/100KM
- Transmission
NA
- Warranty
NA
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2009)
2004-2009 Subaru Liberty 3.0 used car review
In a lot of ways, Subaru's Liberty 3.0 model was weird cattle.
It didn't really match up in all respects to the main competition of the day, nor did it comply fully with what we'd come to expect from Subaru itself.
For a start, it used a relatively large capacity six-cylinder engine in a class of car that was dominated by four-cylinder engines, and was from a brand known for its four-cylinder powerplants.
Secondly, even though it had those six cylinders, they weren't arranged in a vee like every other comparable car on the market. Okay, so in that sense it was every inch a Subaru with the cylinders laid flat in two banks, but even so, it was definitely the odd man out when it came to a direct specification comparison.
Throw in the fact that it could be had as a six-speed manual when many of the others had already ditched the manual option altogether (or certainly didn't promote the manual option) and you had yourself a car that definitely stood out.
Of course, being a Subaru, the Liberty 3.0 was also all-wheel-drive, another standout feature, and while it could be had as a sedan or station-wagon, there was, unlike the Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo, no five-door hatchback variant.
Given that it had the biggest (although not quite the most powerful) engine in the Liberty line-up, the 3.0-litre version was more or less the range-topper and was equipped accordingly. Over and above the rest of the range, the 3.0 got 17-inch alloys, a better stereo, leather trim, powered front seats, a sunroof and other leather interior bits and pieces.
The one you really want to find second-hand now, however, is the variant dubbed 3.0R-B. The B more or less stood for Bilstein and, as well as even bigger, 18-inch alloy wheels, that model got high-end Bilstein suspension and sportier front seats.
Because the 3.0-litre Liberty had slightly less power than the concurrent GT model, the former was marketed as an upmarket variant while the later was the sporty driver's choice. But while that should have suggested a relaxed, torquey powerplant with plenty in reserve, in fact, the three-litre unit produced its power and torque quite high in the rev range. As a result, you needed to spank it to get it moving quickly and it's here that the option of the six-speed manual transmission makes a bit of sense.
That said, the vast majority of these were sold with the five-speed automatic, but, Subaru buyers being the slightly left-of-centre people they tend to be, you will find manual versions around if you look. The other caveat is that you'll need to track down a 3.0R-B to get one with a manual transmission but the high-end suspension is worth the small amount extra you'll be charged these days.
Like any Subaru, the real secret to a long and happy relationship is to keep the engine in the thing full of fresh, clean oil. The engines in Subarus tend to have quite intricate oil passages and allowing the lubricating oil to become dirty and sludgy is asking for these passages to become blocked.
That's particularly true of these later generation Subaru engines which also feature variable valve timing and lift. If and when that oilway narrowing happens, the oil flow to critical parts of the engine is restricted and permanent damage occurs. If you can hear a tapping noise from the top of the engine at idle, there's a fair chance that irreparable carnage has already taken place.
So the first thing to look for is a service record that confirms all the required oil changes have been carried out and that the rest of the big-picture stuff has been attended to also. But even if the service record seems spot on, it's still worth taking a look at the dipstick to see exactly what colour the oil in the engine is right now.
It's also worth mentioning that the 3.0-litre Subaru six used a timing-chain, rather than a timing belt, so no periodic replacement of that is necessary, reducing servicing costs over the life of the car. Around this point in time, Subaru was experiencing a rash of head gasket failures which, ultimately, required a new gasket design to ultimately solve the issue. However, the affected engines seem to have been the four-cylinder units and we haven't heard of the same problem occurring with the six-cylinder unit here. That said, it would still be worth checking for any oil contamination in the coolant and vice-versa.
Another area to look at closely is the condition of the interior. This was not a particular high-point in the history of Subaru interiors and more than a few owners have reported rattles and squeaks as the car's interior ages. The plastics used, too, seem to be off the pace compared with the Japanese competition and, in fact, in the US, Subaru was forced to extend the warranty on the Liberty's dashboard because the plastic itself began to break down.
It doesn't seem to have been such an issue here, but given our levels of UV light and heat, it would be worth checking. The test is to actually touch the plastic on top of the dashboard. If it's sticky or slimy to the touch, then the plastic has started to break down. Even a particular patch of the dashboard that looks shinier than the rest is a sign that this process has begun.
A handful of recalls have been issued for this generation of Liberty, but not all of them affected the 3.0-litre variant we're talking about here. But the ones that did include a recall to check the rear door latching mechanism, a potential transmission cooler leak in automatic variants and, of course, the widespread recall among many Japanese car brands for potentially faulty air-bags. Check with a Subaru dealer if in doubt.
Our rating: 3/5
Nuts and bolts
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol
Transmissions: Five-speed automatic/Six-speed manual
Fuel economy (combined): 11.1 litres per 100km
Safety rating (courtesy of www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au): 4 stars
Likes:
- A good looking car from most angles.
- Good size for urban families.
- Station-wagon option maximised potential.
- All-wheel-drive for secure handling.
Dislikes:
- GT model was a sportier drive.
- Can be slightly thirstier than you may have imagined.
- Engine is smooth but really needs a rev.
- Questionable extra-cost versus benefit graph.
Competitors:
Ford Mondeo – Huge inside and station-wagon was cavernous. Entry level engine was nothing to write home about, but was saved by clever six-speed auto. Unloved, so good value second-hand. 3/5
Mazda 6 – A classy, well resolved mid-sized car at a time when such things were still selling. Sedan is good, hatch is better and wagon is the most sensible of the lot. Lacks a little oomph with a full load on board. 3/5
Subaru Liberty GT - Stablemate of the Liberty 3.0, the GT used a smaller four-cylinder engine and a turbocharger to make up the difference. More sporting to drive and about the same price. More about, too. 3.5/5
What to pay (courtesy of Glass's Guide):
Model Year New Now
3.0R 2004 $50,990 $7900
3.0R-B 2004 $51,990 $8000
3.0R 2005 $50,990 $8800
3.0R-B 2005 $51,990 $8900
3.0R 2006 $50,990 $9500
3.0R-B 2006 $51,990 $9500
3.0R 2007 $50,990 $9900
3.0R-B 2007 $52,490 $10,500
3.0R 2008 $50,990 $10,600
3.0R-B 2008 $52,490 $11,000
3.0R 2009 $51,990 $11,800
3.0R-B 2009 $53,490 $12,300