Item: 2009 Subaru BR Liberty Exiga
Rating: 3

Comfortable ride
All-wheel drive traction makes for competent dynamics
Spacious interior, especially headroom
Accurate steering

Six seat layout limits interior versatility and boot space
For CVT, droning noise under acceleration
For 2.5-litre petrol engine, CVT torque converter may cause low engine rpm when coming to rest due to worn thrust washer
For 2.5-litre petrol engine, rare cases of head gasket failure

Review: Subaru BR.I Liberty Exiga (2009-12)

Overview

Released in November 2009, the Subaru BR Liberty Exiga was an all-wheel drive wagon. Manufactured in Ota, Japan, the BR.I Liberty Exiga was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that was mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT, or Subaru’s ‘Lineartronic’).

EJ253 engine

The Liberty Exiga’s EJ253 engine had an open-deck aluminium alloy block with cast iron liners, an aluminium alloy cylinder head, a single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank (belt-driven), four valves per cylinder, Tumble Generator Valves (TGV) and a compression ratio of 10.0:1.

For the Liberty Exiga, the EJ253 engine included Subaru’s ‘Intelligent Active Valve Lift System’ (i-AVLS’) which could vary the lift of one intake valve per cylinder between low and high lift profiles. At lower engine speeds, the low lift profile increased the speed of the intake air and swirl within the combustion chamber. At higher engine speeds, the high lift profile reduced intake resistance for greater power.

Dimensions

Compared to the BR Liberty wagon on which it was based, the Liberty Exiga was 45 mm shorter (at 4740 mm), 5 mm narrower (1775 mm), a 125 mm higher roofline (1660 mm) and the same length wheelbase (2750 mm); wider-opening rear doors were also fitted for easier entry and exit. Inside, the BR.I Liberty Exiga had six seats, though the BR.II Liberty Exiga – released in July 2012 – was fitted with seven seats as standard.

Suspension

The Subaru Liberty Exiga had MacPherson strut front suspension and double wishbone rear suspension.

Subaru BR.I Liberty Exiga specifications
Variant	Editions	Engine	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
2.5i	[Unnamed], Premium	2.5-litre EJ253 petrol F4	CVT	123 kW at 5600 rpm	229 Nm at 4000 rpm

AWD system

The Liberty Exiga was fitted with Subaru’s ‘Active Torque Split’ AWD system which consisted of an electronically-controlled, hydraulic multi-plate transfer clutch (instead of the centre differential). In normal conditions, the system provided a 60:40 front:rear torque split but sensors – measuring wheel slippage, throttle position and braking – could anticipate a loss of front-wheel traction and transfer torque to the rear axle.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Subaru Liberty Exiga included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full length curtain airbags (i.e. for all three rows of seats), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill descent and ascent control, active front seat head restraints and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

ANCAP crash testing

In ANCAP crash testing, the Liberty Exiga received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 33.31 out of 37. In the frontal offset impact test, protection from serious leg injury was marginal. In the side impact and pole tests, however, the Exiga received maximum points.

Features

Standard features for the Subaru Liberty Exiga included 16-inch alloy wheels, a six speaker sound system with six-stack CD player, dual zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, front fog lights, automatic headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, second row DVD player with nine-inch display and wireless headphones, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable driver’s seat, privacy glass, two 12 volt power outlets, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

Inside, the Liberty Exiga featured 60/40 split and flat folding second row seats could also slide and recline; the third row of seats had a 50/50 split and flat folding configuration.

The Liberty Exiga Premium was only fitted with a single CD/DVD player, but added 17-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation with seven-inch touch screen, park assist display, leather seats, eight-way power adjustable front seats, a reversing camera and Bluetooth connectivity with voice commands.

January 2012: Liberty Exiga update

In January 2012, standard features were extended to include an auxiliary USB sound system input, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming (with voice command), reversing camera, automatic headlights and Bluetooth steering wheel controls.