The new generation Subaru Liberty (Legacy) wagon has been awarded a four star rating in a road test published in the latest edition of UK magazine Autocar.

Testing a 2.5-litre version of the Liberty, known as Legacy in the UK, Autocar said: "Traction, as you'd expect, is superb - so good, in fact, that it can make a mockery of the power output at times…."

It adds: "The big surprise is how Subaru has really ramped up the interior quality and design. The plastics, moulded dash and laser-tight shutlines are impressive, but it's the details that really stand out. All the controls are logical and well finished and the stereo sounds and looks good."

Autocar concludes: "With the new Legacy, Subaru has built a credible alternative to the established prestige brands. Apart from a few niggling issues with the ride, it's not only involving to drive, but pleasant to be driven in, too. And we suspect it'll be good to own too."

The Autocar verdict: "The Legacy goes upmarket at last."

The full road test can be seen in the 3 February edition of Autocar or see

http://www.autocarmag.com/RoadTest_Summary.asp?RT_ID=206596