Subaru Outback and Liberty 2015 review

Assaults on liberty are usually met with forceful reactions. Such is the case at Subaru, which has responded to an attack on its heartland by cutting up to $14,000 off the Liberty/Outback duo.

It had little choice; everyone from Mazda to Mercedes-Benz is chasing its buyers. It has to counter "conquest sales" by encouraging some brand-swapping of its own.

And it has a couple of aces up its sleeve. A favourable dollar-yen exchange rate and a free-trade agreement with Japan allow it to sharpen its pencil.

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior is canvassing all options — including picking at the bones of the locally made cars — as he looks to boost the brand's mid-sized sales.

Liberty will at one end undercut the Toyota Camry and Mazda6, and at the other end become a premium six-cylinder player that could take sales from the Hyundai Genesis.

The Outback, meanwhile, is being pitched as a big, sporty alternative to Holden Commodore wagons and the Ford Territory.

"Those locally made cars won't exist in a couple of years," Senior says. "We can see plenty of growth as the local car manufacturing sector shuts down."

Senior predicts sales of 400 Outback and 150 Liberty models a month — and is intent on expanding the reach of the Liberty/Outback.

A factory bolt-in cargo barrier will allow trade reps to carry their wares without worrying about OH&S compliance on the base models.

The 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol engine powering the flagship models is now deemed to be $12,000-$16,000 better value than the outgoing model. That won't impress anyone who just bought the Subaru sedan but will certainly push the brand higher up the shopping list for prospective buyers.

Senior says the Liberty in particular should be considered alongside large premium sedans. "We may not match them for rear leg room but that's about it," he says.

"In terms of quality and equipment the Liberty is a top pick. The Outback gives the flexibility of an SUV without the visibility issues — this was a car that started the crossover market in Australia and has always been in demand.

"Our biggest immediate problem is going to be supply — the US is selling around 20,000 cars a month, so we're capacity constrained and that won't change for a year or two."

If any car can get buyers back into big Subarus, the Outback/ Liberty duo should do it

The Outback will remain as the headline act. The existing big news is the new body style and pricing. The range starts at $35,490 for the 2.0-litre diesel engine with a six-speed manual gearbox; the 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder paired with a CVT is $500 dearer. Premium variants add $5,000-$6,000.

The Liberty sedan will start from $29,990. It is a price cut of $3,000 on the outgoing version and gives Subaru a cost advantage in the segment compared with a Ford Mondeo or Mazda6. The 2.5i Premium will sell for $35,490 and the 3.6R sedan will cost $41,990.

"We expect sales to increase and we expect to see new customers with our entry level pricing and...3.6R," Senior says.

As CVTs go, Subaru's is far more liveable than most — the horrible drone plaguing most examples is thankfully absent.

As in all such units, there's a tendency to hover around a fairly small rev range — usually corresponding with peak torque — that doesn't allow for much aural character in the first place.

This iteration of the Subaru mid-sized pair at least has some solid character lines.

After the last generation's ride and looks were widely criticised for being too US-tailored, the balance is better on these cars.

The old model was notable for its pillow-y suspension, however this one won't wallow through corrugations and existing owners may initially think it is set too stiffly. It isn't, most of the time at any rate.

There's a little bit of patter at 30-40km/h over broken city streets but the composure is now much more assured.

The look is athletic, the tyres now fit the wheel arches and the already impressive shoulder room and cargo capacity has been pushed out.

It is a similar story inside, where the focus on noise and vibration enables the driver to appreciate the cabin upgrades rather than worrying about tyre roar or the constant ping as pebbles are flicked into the undercarriage on gravel roads.

Both sounds are all but absent from the cabin, despite CarsGuide pushing hard on the vehicle's launch around Metung, Victoria.

The cabin upgrades run from improved fabric selection with far more padding on contact surfaces, to an enhanced Eyesight driving assistance pack and a more intuitive 6.2-inch infotainment display that responds to double-tap and pinch finger inputs in the Premium versions.

The Eyesight safety system gives Subaru scope to leverage its reputation. Eyesight is not yet available on diesel Outbacks as the company works on engine management issues.