Subaru Liberty (Gen 3)

by Dominic Franco

It would take until 1999 for Subaru to release their 3rd generation Liberty. All models in this series would now come standard with the All Wheel Drive system, and Subaru went to great lengths to promote the safety aspect. The engine options included the 2.0 and 2.5 liter normally aspirated overhead cam engines.

The growing list of standard safety features included ventilated front and rear disc brakes, ABS and driver & passenger SRS airbags.

The Liberty wagon won the desirable Wheels Magazine Car Of The Year in 1998 (please note that the wagon was released prior to the sedans in 1999).

In 2001 Subaru released the wonderful (read awesome) Liberty "B4". Powered by the EJ20B 69H turbocharged, intercooler, DOHC, 16-valve, 2-liter engine (it being the same basic design as the engine found in the Impreza WRX and the Generation 1 Liberty RS), the B4 quickly became king of the wagons, a real drivers car with blistering performance.

It sure looked the part too, with the fitment of 17" alloy wheels, a body kit that included front and rear spoilers, skirts, rear apron and an air intake bonnet scoop - it certainly was no wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The increased compression ratio (to 9.0:1) and sequentially-staged twin turbochargers allowed for a good spread of torque, the B4's 190 kW being delivered at 6400 rpm.