Jeep Liberty Review

The Jeep Liberty is the successor to one of America's original compact SUVs, the Cherokee. An evolutionary departure from that earlier, more traditional sport-utility design, the Liberty features a large greenhouse, a high roof line and aggressive, flared wheel arches.

True to its tough, capable Jeep off-road lineage, the Jeep Liberty was designed to actually venture off-road -- a trait not shared by many of its lighter-weight, car-based sport-utility competitors. It does so confidently thanks to steep approach and departure angles and exceptional suspension travel and articulation. Combined with an independent front and solid axle rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, a new or used Liberty works best for those who want a versatile, go-anywhere utility vehicle and plan to take advantage of its all-terrain prowess on occasion.

Demerits for the Liberty include (short-lived diesel version excepted) a "worst of both worlds" combination of lackluster performance and dismal fuel economy. Also, compared to the well-finished cabins of its competition, the interior ambiance of the Liberty is best described as Fisher Price, as it's a design exercise in hard plastic.

Current Jeep Liberty

The current Jeep Liberty addresses the chief concerns of the first generation, riding and handling better on the road. It also has more passenger room and offers more convenience features. The cute styling of the first Liberty has been replaced with a more traditional, square-jawed Jeep look, and the cabin boasts more available luxury features such as rain-sensing wipers, remote starting, driver memory settings and a power-sliding sunroof made of canvas that allows a huge opening. There's also more room for backseat passengers, thanks to a 2-inch wheelbase stretch.

Underneath, the newest Liberty has a revised suspension (independent front, multilink rear) that provides a smoother ride and more confident handling on road, while off-road ability is still a strong point thanks to traditional Jeep features such as generous ground clearance, plenty of suspension travel and aggressive approach and departure angles.

As before, trim levels consist of the base Sport and luxury-themed Limited, and the sole engine choice is a 3.7-liter, 210-horsepower V6. Sport models offer a choice of either a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic, while the Limited is automatic only. Buyers can choose either two- or four-wheel drive for either trim.

Still, even with all the improvements, the latest Liberty falls short of chief rivals such as the Nissan Xterra and Toyota FJ Cruiser in terms of overall performance. Furthermore, for those who don't require such serious off-road ability, models such as the GMC Terrain and Subaru Forester offer much better fuel efficiency and more agile on-road handling along with plenty of room for passengers and cargo.

Used Jeep Liberty Models

The current Jeep Liberty was introduced for 2008. The Limited trim got some upgraded interior materials for the following model year, and it received Bluetooth, leather upholstery and heated power front seats for 2010.

The first-generation Jeep Liberty debuted for the 2002 model year. The original Liberty's styling recalled the original off-road Jeep Willys via its trademark vertical Jeep grille and round headlamps. Available with either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, this Jeep Liberty is a small SUV that was offered in base Sport and upscale Limited trims. The Limited offered features such as leather trim, a sunroof, heated and powered seats, an Infinity sound system, a navigation system and hands-free cell phone connectivity. Antilock brakes and stability control were standard on all models, while side curtain airbags were optional.

Under the hood of most of these Jeeps you'll find a 210-hp, 3.7-liter V6 gasoline engine, backed by either a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. A 150-hp, 2.4-liter gasoline four-cylinder was also available from the vehicle's launch through 2005. Weedy and underpowered, this engine is best avoided on the used-car market. Buyers had a choice of either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and the 4WD system came equipped with low-range gearing to improve off-roading ability.

In 2003 and '04, the Liberty was refined through trickle-down improvements. A Grand Cherokee-inspired overhead console and an available six-disc in-dash CD sound system was introduced, as was a special-value Columbia Edition that featured graphite-painted 16-inch wheels and exterior trim, a sunroof and foglamps. Stability control and side curtain airbags became available on the Jeep Liberty for 2006.

Of special note is that Jeep offered a diesel engine option for 2005 and '06. This 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel provided 160 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque. Although it was noisier than the gas-powered V6, Edmunds editors found that the diesel-powered Liberty CRD provided most of the performance of the V6 while delivering vastly improved fuel economy -- up to 50 percent better. The diesel Jeep Liberty was also popular with buyers; it was discontinued only because of tightening U.S. emissions standards.

In reviews and road tests, our editors have found the Jeep Liberty to be well suited for compact-SUV buyers who actually plan to venture off pavement or use their vehicle primarily in the wilderness. Otherwise, more urban-oriented buyers will find most of the Liberty's car-based competition to be better at day-to-day drivability, usability and refinement.