SUBARU Liberty Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The Australian version of the fifth generation of the Subaru Legacy had a different name, and it was a mix of a Japanese and a European vehicle.

When Subaru introduced the 2008 Liberty, it decided to put a sure-foot into the mid-size segment with a car that deserved more attention from its customers. Even though Australia was not the snowiest country in the world, the Japanese carmaker insisted on offering it with a standard all-wheel-drive system. But there was more than that.

The Liberty used the hood and the bumper from the Japanese version at the front, with wider side-scoops in the lower apron. The rest of the car used the same new design language that included rounded shapes. Subaru insisted that a Japanese warrior inspired the car's look, but the closest image was a Sumo fighter. It wasn't the sleek shape from the fourth generation anymore.

Inside, there was more room for passengers than on its previous model, due to the longer wheelbase. Unlike that one, the frameless doors were gone, and that spoiled the classic Subaru image. It was just another mid-size vehicle. The dashboard featured a complicated design with rounded shapes that embraced the infotainment system's squared screen mounted on the center stack. Due to the high transmission tunnel that crossed the cabin, there was little room in the back for the center passenger.

Under the hood, the Liberty featured a wide range of engines with four or six cylinders, with or without a turbocharger. Most versions were paired as standard to a five or six-speed manual gearbox with an option for a CVT or a 5-speed auto. The full-options model featured a 3.6-liter flat-six paired exclusively to a 5-speed automatic gearbox.