New high-riding Subaru Liberty sedan for Australia

[Brazen]

Interesting, certainly not going to win any beauty contests - but I suppose no Subarus do. Australia is the only market outside China to get this variant because of our roads being 60% unsealed.

With 210mm ground clearance it has 25mm more clearance than a Ford Territory.

I think the idea would work with the Falcon, give rural buyers a reason to get back into a large Australian sedan.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/169492/2...for-australia/

A higher-riding version of the Subaru Liberty sedan will join the Australian line-up later this year, adding extra versatility to the all-wheel-drive mid-sized range.

The new Liberty variant sits 60mm higher than the standard sedan and is 70mm higher at the hip point. Its minimum ground clearance of 210mm makes it just 3mm lower than the Outback and 10mm lower than the Forester and XV.

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior said our market and China would be the only two regions in the world to get the high-riding model, a decision influenced by the two countries’ unique road conditions.

“It is still an enlightening statistic that around 60 per cent of our roads are unsealed,” Senior said.

“We see its main market to be in rural areas, but it will also be ideal for those with tricky driveways, those who travel with trailers and caravans, or just those who want a sedan where you can sit a bit higher.”

[Chopped]

That thing had challenging looks to begin with but now it looks really woeful.

(Buy a Landcruiser/Patrol if you have to drive on roads like that all of the time.)

[Brazen]

Rarely do you need a full ladder chassis dual range 4wd for most unsealed roads - heck 50 years ago no one even used 4wds out here and the roads were a lot worse.

A bit of clearance helps when negotiating washouts or dips at higher speeds - also when towing. Also better to have the car sitting a little higher when you hit an animal.

[Chopped]

^ That's true, but I know what I would rather.

Rental cars are also good at going places normal sedans fear to go.

[scottyg938]

I can't see these selling too well, there's no real need for them. A standard Liberty is capable of enough.
If you're planning on going off road you'd be getting a proper 4WD, for most anything else a normal sedan won't struggle too much

[Windsor342ci]

I can see a market for this but not so much in our metro areas.
I use to love the looks of Libertys but there losing me with each newer model.

[Oxa384]

"honey"!! subaru shrunk our wheels lol

[blueoval]

I thought the high top subaru wagons were pretty woeful looking, but increasing ride height for suburban drivers will turn a lot more people off including myself. Sure sounds ok for regional purchasers but most regional people tend to go straight for the 4WD rather than muck around with a sedan.

[EDManual]

Would be a heck of lot more fun than a normal 4wd down normal dirt mountain roads. If it was a company car, and i had the choice I think I'd chose that over real 4wd's or suvs.