Ever notice how Subaru dealers hardly ever offer extra icing on the cake? No special deals, no "free" this or "free" that?

They don’t have to, because there’s no shortage of buyers for one of the best value for money brands on the market.

Always respected, they’ve steadily evolved through the years, each model an improvement on its predecessor.

The test Liberty was the luxury Heritage model, with the added refinement of leather trim, climate control, six speaker stereo with six-stacker CD, cruise control, wood finishes, body kit, foglights and a set of 16-inch alloy wheels.

Standard safety fare includes dual airbags front and side, anti-lock brakes, seatbelt pre-tensioners and there’s a three-point seatbelt in the middle rear seat, perfect for kiddie seats.

The cabin is spot-on, nicely appointed without being ostentatious and there’s ample space for driver and up to four passengers.

I seldom use cup holders, but thought the one in the Liberty’s dash was quite neat.

It’s a slim panel which, when pushed, glides out and twists itself sideways to proffer a holding facility for the water bottle or whatever.

The seating is European-style: A bit on the firm side, which I prefer, but some passengers found it a little too hard during a longish drive.

It produces 115kW and a handy 223Nm of torque to give it good performance, pulling power and economy.

Its flat layout also allows a lower than usual bonnet, giving excellent visibility.

The motor last year replaced the earlier 2.2 litre version, which put out the same amount of power and only marginally less torque.

The improvement is in driveability, where the new model shines, particularly in the mid-range.

The motor is also quieter and smoother, though the characteristic and rather pleasant thump of the horizontal powerplant remains.

Our testbed Heritage came with four-speed computer-controlled automatic transmission, smooth and fuss-free.

On the road the Liberty proves the value of its constant all-wheel drive system.

It gives a composed ride, taking corners in its stride at a pace that would have two-wheel drive rivals scrabbling for traction and there’s no lurch when changing lanes.

Nor is there embarrassing wheelspin under hard acceleration, or in wet weather. It adds up to great handling, and a car that handles well is obviously safer than one that doesn’t.

All-wheel drive generally means a big turning circle, but not so on the Liberty. The 4.6m long car turns in about the same distance as its opposition and is easy to park.

Build quality is top-drawer and Subaru, of course, has long been one of the stalwarts in international reliability and safety tests.

I thought the Heritage’s asking price more than reasonable, but some of the accessories were a bit steep. For instance, the test car had mudflaps fitted—at $412 for the set.

Overall, however, it’s a car that exudes quality and class. It rightly belongs in the five star bracket.