This means the entire Subaru range now boasts standard VDC, underpinned by symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and independent five star occupant safety ratings from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).

Satellite navigation is now standard equipment on several variants, including Liberty 2.5i Premium, Liberty GT, Liberty GT spec.B, Liberty 3.0R Premium, Liberty 3.0R spec.B and Outback 3.0R Premium. This represents added value worth $3,000.

Entry-level Liberty models also add leather trim. A cloth option is still available at the same price.

All MY09 Liberty and Outback variants also gain an auxiliary jack, located in the centre console, as standard.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “Liberty and Outback now represent even greater All-Wheel Drive value and are among the most comprehensively-equipped cars in their respective classes.

“Combined with excellent safety ratings, this makes them irresistible packages at a time when many buyers are turning to medium size cars, particularly those with impressive whole-of-life costs such as Liberty and Outback.”

In addition to VDC the following specification is also added:

Liberty 2.5i:

• Leather upholstery
• Power driver’s seat with dual memory
• Rear privacy glass

Liberty 2.5i Heritage:

• McIntosh premium sound system

Outback 2.5i:

• Self levelling rear suspension
• Leather upholstery
• Power driver’s seat with dual memory
• Rear privacy glass

• Leather upholstery
• Power driver’s seat with dual memory

Despite additional specification, only minor price increases have been added to some models.

Full range pricing* is as follows:

Liberty 2.5i

Liberty 2.5i manual sedan - $32,990 (+$500)
Liberty 2.5i manual wagon - $34,990 (+$500)
Liberty 2.5i automatic sedan - $34,990 (no change)
Liberty 2.5i automatic wagon - $36,990 (no change)

Liberty 2.5i Heritage manual sedan - $36,490 (-$1,500)
Liberty 2.5i Heritage manual wagon - $38,490 (-$1,500)
Liberty 2.5i Heritage automatic sedan - $38,490 (-$2,000)
Liberty 2.5i Heritage automatic wagon - $40,490 (-$2,000)

Liberty 2.5i Premium automatic sedan $42,780 (-$10)
Liberty 2.5i Premium automatic wagon - $44,780 (-$10)

Liberty 3.0R Premium automatic sedan - $51,490 (+$500)
Liberty 3.0R Premium automatic wagon - $53,490 (+$500)

Liberty 3.0R spec.B manual sedan – $52,990 (+$500)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B manual wagon – $54,990 (+$500)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B automatic sedan – $52,990(+$500)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B automatic wagon – $54,990 (+$500)

Liberty 2.5GT automatic sedan – $55,490 (+$500)
Liberty 2.5GT automatic wagon - $57,490 (+$500)

Liberty 2.5GT spec.B manual sedan – $56,990 (+$1,000)
Liberty 2.5GT spec.B manual wagon - $58,990 (+$1,000)
Liberty 2.5GT spec.B automatic sedan - $56,990 (+$1,000)
Liberty 2.5GT spec.B automatic wagon- $58,990 (+$1,000)

Outback 2.5i manual wagon – $36,990 (+$500)
Outback 2.5i automatic wagon - $38,990 (no change)
Outback 3.0R automatic wagon – $46,990 (no change)
Outback 3.0R Premium automatic wagon - $54,790 (+$500)

*Recommended retail pricing, excludes dealer delivery and statutory charges.