Jeep Liberty

The Jeep Liberty may be the successor to 1 of America's unique compact SUVs, the Cherokee. An evolutionary departure from that earlier, additional common sport-utility design, the Freedom attributes a big greenhouse, a higher roof line and intense, flared wheel arches.

Accurate to its difficult, capable Jeep off-road lineage, the Jeep Liberty was designed to basically 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 method and departure angles and exceptional suspension travel and articulation. Combined with an impartial front and solid axle rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, a brand new or utilized Freedom performs greatest for those who want a versatile, go-anywhere power automobile 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" mixture of lackluster performance and dismal fuel financial state. Also, compared for the well-finished cabins of its competitors, the interior ambiance on the Freedom is ideal described as Fisher Price, as it is a design exercise in tough plastic.

Present Jeep Liberty

The recent Jeep Freedom addresses the chief concerns in the first generation, riding and handling better about the path. It also has far more passenger area and gives you additional convenience characteristics. The cute styling on the primary Freedom has been replaced having a a lot more common, square-jawed Jeep appear, and also the cabin boasts additional obtainable luxury attributes just like rain-sensing wipers, remote commencing, driver memory settings along with a power-sliding sunroof made of canvas that enables a huge opening. There's also more space for backseat passengers, many thanks to a 2-inch wheelbase stretch.

Underneath, the newest Freedom carries a revised suspension (impartial front, multilink rear) that provides a smoother ride and additional confident handling on path, even though off-road capability is even now a strong point thanks to traditional Jeep attributes such as generous ground clearance, lots of suspension travel and aggressive tactic and departure angles.

As prior to, trim levels consist in the base Activity and luxury-themed Minimal, plus the sole motor option can be a 3.7-liter, 210-horsepower V6. Activity models provide a choice of possibly a six-speed guide or four-speed automated, although the Minimal is automated only. Purchasers can pick both two- or four-wheel generate for either trim.

Still, even with all the improvements, the newest Freedom falls brief of chief rivals including the Nissan Xterra and Toyota FJ Cruiser when it comes to total overall performance. In addition, for people who do not need these kinds of significant off-road power, designs just like the GMC Terrain and Subaru Forester provide a great deal much better energy effectiveness and much more agile on-road managing coupled with lots of area for passengers and cargo.

Applied Jeep Liberty Versions

The latest Jeep Liberty was introduced for 2008. The Minimal trim got some upgraded interior materials for that following design year, and it received Bluetooth, leather upholstery and heated ability front seats for 2010.

The first-generation Jeep Liberty debuted for your 2002 model yr. The original Liberty's styling recalled the unique off-road Jeep Willys by way of its trademark vertical Jeep grille and round headlamps. Readily available with either two-wheel generate or four-wheel generate, this Jeep Liberty is often a little SUV that was offered in base Activity and upscale Constrained trims. The Limited provided characteristics for instance leather trim, a sunroof, heated and driven seats, an Infinity seem technique, a navigation program and hands-free cell phone connectivity. Antilock brakes and balance control were standard on all versions, whilst part curtain airbags had been optional.

Below the hood of most of these Jeeps you will locate a 210-hp, 3.7-liter V6 gasoline motor, backed by possibly a six-speed manual or four-speed automated transmission. A 150-hp, two.4-liter gasoline four-cylinder was also offered in the vehicle's launch through 2005. Weedy and underpowered, this engine is very best avoided about the used-car market. Purchasers had a decision of both rear-wheel generate or four-wheel drive, and the 4WD process came equipped with low-range gearing to improve off-roading potential.

In 2003 and '04, the Freedom was refined via trickle-down improvements. A Grand Cherokee-inspired overhead console and an readily available six-disc in-dash CD seem method was released, as was a special-value Columbia Edition that featured graphite-painted 16-inch wheels and exterior trim, a sunroof and foglamps. Balance control and part curtain airbags became offered on the Jeep Freedom for 2006.

Of unique note is the fact that Jeep offered a diesel engine alternative for 2005 and '06. This two.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel supplied 160 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque. Although it had been noisier than the gas-powered V6, Edmunds editors identified that the diesel-powered Liberty CRD provided most of the efficiency from the V6 while delivering vastly improved energy economic system -- as much as 50 percent much better. The diesel Jeep Liberty was also well-liked with purchasers; it was discontinued only due to the fact of tightening U.S. emissions standards.

In reviews and road tests, our editors have found the Jeep Freedom to become perfectly suited for compact-SUV buyers who actually strategy to venture off pavement or use their automobile primarily in the wilderness. Otherwise, more urban-oriented buyers will discover most on the Liberty's car-based competitors to be improved at day-to-day drivability, usability and refinement.