The Jeep brand has arguably been Chrysler’s brightest star over the last few years, but that doesn’t mean the iconic off-road brand hasn’t seen its share of setbacks. In Chrysler’s attempt to grow the nameplate from a niche brand to a mainstream label, the Jeep name has been watered down with the inclusion of some less-than-spectacular crossover vehicles. But Jeep is looking to get back on track with a redesigned version of its Liberty, so we decided to take a second look at the second-generation SUV.
What is it?
Don’t think of the Liberty so much as a “Grand Cherokee minus,” but rather a Wrangler Unlimited plus – a modern day Cherokee of sorts. If you’re looking for a plush luxury SUV, keeping looking because that’s not the Liberty’s style. But what the Liberty lacks in luxury amenities it more than makes up for with a Trail Rated attitude.
What’s it up against?
The Jeep Liberty is among the dying breed of ‘true’ SUVs, which means there aren’t a whole lot of direct competitors. But the Liberty straddles the line of compact and mid-size SUV, so you could lump it together with the Nissan Xterra, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander, Ford Escape and Saturn Vue.
Any breakthroughs?
Introduced for 2008, the 2009 Liberty is by no means a technological tour de force, but it could be just the breakthrough Jeep has been looking for since the Daimler-forced death of the iconic Cherokee in 2001. Unlike the first-generation Liberty, the redesigned SUV doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to uphold the legendary Jeep name. Jeep took a simplistic approach to the redesign of the Liberty and it truly comes off as a case of less is more.
How does it look?
Compared to the cartoonish exterior of the last-generation Liberty, the ’09 model is a breath of fresh air. Jeep designers must have taken a quick look at their history books and realized that ‘boxy’ and ‘Jeep’ go together like ‘peanut butter’ and ‘jelly’. Although the Liberty’s styling isn’t all that different from its Dodge Nitro platform mate, it comes off as pure Jeep, unlike its cartoonish predecessor.
The Liberty’s new look is set off by Jeep’s signature front grille, which is flanked by new-style headlamps. Whereas the previous Liberty did with Wrangler-style round headlights, the redesigned SUV does with more Commander-esque square units. However, two circular housings do peer out from beneath the clear lenses.
To remind you that the Liberty is Trail Rated, the 2009 model features bold fender flares and door handles that would feel at home on the more rugged Jeep Wrangler. Aerodynamics was clearly not the priority here. The Liberty finishes off with an appropriately square rear end.
And inside?
Jeep designers absolutely nailed the Liberty’s interior design. The last Liberty definitely ventured a little too far down the crossover/car path when it came to interior design, but the new rig is all Jeep.
The Liberty’s dash and center stack have strong ties to the Wrangler, but with a slightly more upscale feel. It’s not enough to confuse the Liberty with the Grand Cherokee, but it definitely doesn’t have the same hose-off feel of the Wrangler.
That theme continues on the center console, with a vastly improved gated shifter and a toggle switch for the four-wheel drive system that lends credence to the Liberty’s Trail Rated badge. A well executed two-tone finish also adds a bit of an up-scale air to the SUV’s cabin.
Although the Liberty’s interior design is much improved, it still suffers from low-rent materials. Hard plastics abound, with the only soft material to speak of covering the center armrest. We like the idea that Jeep designers borrowed from the successes of the Wrangler for the Liberty’s interior, but we just wish they would have left the cheaper materials for the rugged Wrangler.
The Liberty’s front seats are comfortable and offer plenty of support, but a lack of adjustability makes it extremely difficult to find a comfortable seating position. The driver’s side seat on our Sport tester is only a four-way adjustable unit, with no way to change the seat height. Smaller drivers might not have a problem with the factory setting as it is on the high side, but drivers over 6-feet will want to consider the optional Sky Slider retractable roof for a bit more head room.
Our tester was optioned with that Sky Slider roof, and it turned out to be a really unique feature – even if you don’t need it for additional headroom. Although the canvas top – which almost spans the entire roof – can create some extra wind noise at highway speeds, it’s not excessive and we’re sure its sunny day benefits outweigh any negatives.
Another gripe we have with the Liberty’s interior is the intrusion of the SUV’s drivetrain on interior space. Whether it’s from the transfer case, drive shafts or otherwise, the Liberty’s driveline requires a massive bulge below the shifter and center console, which can cramp front-seat legroom.
Back seat comfort is par for the course, but a rear seat 115-volt power outlet really helps qualify the Liberty as a road trip machine.
Cargo space in the Liberty is downright cavernous thanks to its boxy design, with fully foldable rear seats offering enough room to put any Liberty owner in serious jeopardy of the dreaded moving day detail.
But does it go?
The Liberty handles daily driving duties pretty much like every other vehicle in its class, but offers something rare in today’s world of car-based crossovers – true off-roadability. Engage the Liberty’s four-wheel drive system via the console-mount toggle switch and it almost feels like a mini Wrangler. Our test car’s standard Command-Trac II part-time four-wheel drive system felt sure footed in snowy conditions, although its lockable feature makes tight parking lot turns clumsy due to the center differential lock. A pavement-acceptable full-time mode would make it a better all-weather driver. A 3.73 axle ratio and a standard hill descent control further ensure the Liberty is more than capable of the occasional two-track adventure.
The Liberty can be further fitted for off-road duty – as our Inferno Red tester was – with a skid plate option that includes tow hooks and skip plate protection for the vehicle’s transmission, fuel tank, transfer case and front suspension.
But even though the Liberty is more than capable of handling much rougher conditions than the grocery store parking, we’re sure most Libertys won’t even get their tires dirty. Thankfully for those types of buyers, the Liberty is reasonably at home on the pavement. The Liberty’s 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 isn’t the thing dreams are made of, but it’s more than up to the task of getting from point A to B. Although our test car did with a rather archaic four-speed automatic transmission, we were fully surprised at how smooth the unit was.
Why you would buy it:
You need a capable four-wheel drive vehicle that won’t break the bank and you don’t mind a vehicle that drives more like a truck than a car.
Why you wouldn’t:
You have absolutely no need for an off-road vehicle and you prefer refinement over utilitarian.
2009 Jeep Liberty Sport 4×4 base price, $24,325. As Tested, $28,270.
Inferno Red Crystal Paint, $225; Trailer Tow Class III Group, $580; Skid plate group, $225; Popular Equipment group, $1,095; Sky Slider full open roof, $1,075; Destination, $745.
Words and photos by Drew Johnson.
01/09, 11:21 AM
posted by:
Mike the loser
Or you can buy a family sedan.
01/09, 11:40 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Boy ….. it’s a good thing Jeep has a faithful following.
01/09, 11:51 AM
posted by:
Jon Luc
Your Comment
01/09, 11:56 AM
posted by:
Jon Luc
Actually, it depends on your geographical location. I’m in Northern Alberta, & this Jeep doesn’t seem too bad. A little more refinement as in the suggestions above, & I’d consider it. The family sedan that Mike had suggested would be a waste of money up here. It would only be good for 4 – 5 months of the year.
01/09, 12:49 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
That’s actually a pretty tough and versatile little rig for 28k large. However, every V6 in Chrysler’s lineup needs to be kicked to the curb yesterday. Bring on the Phoenix V6s- and hurry!
01/09, 1:11 PM
posted by:
Fit19
Perhaps a turbo Subaru Legacy would fit the bill, Jon Luc?
01/09, 1:11 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
Mike the loser,
Your comment is pointless.
johnnycanuck
You are absolutely right. I own a 2008 Wrangler Unlimited(4door) Rubicon with that crap V6 in it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s smooth and has a good amount of torque(which is important when offroading), but it is extremely underpowered. And that you can see in the MPGs. I’m not saying it should have a big gas-guzzling V8 in it with 300HP+. But another 40-50HP wouldn’t hurt with maybe the same or alittle bit more torque. No need to add two more cylinders with. That number can be obtained with a 6.
Jeep is one of the few companies, along with Nissan(Xterra) & Toyota(FJ), who actually makes a REAL SUV anymore. Everything out there(ex H2) is watered down and designed to pick up kids at soccer practice and go to the mall(modern-day mini vans). They have become SEMA-whores and are Chrome-clad wastes of money & fuel.
I love my Wrangler. I gave up an ‘06 Evolution IX MR for it. But it’s a different type of fun. I can hook up my mountain bikes up to it, my snowboards, kayak,etc. I can take it off on virtually every trail out there, the beach down in FL, or plow through 5 feet of snow. Take the top off and now you got a convertible. What more can you ask for!
Hey LLN, wheres that review on the wrangler you talked about a while ago?
01/09, 1:32 PM
posted by:
inline6
Andre,
The V6 in your ‘08 Wrangler is a 3.8L, which – IIRC – is still based on the old “Trans-4″ Chrysler engines of the ’80s. It’s out of their minivans. The V6 in the Liberty is a more modern 3.7L V6, which is a bit more refined.
If course, none of them quite match the legendary torque monster that the 4.0L I-6 was. And when it was under the hood of an XJ Cherokee, there was lots of fun to be had.
I’ll never forget it when I had a chance to drive a 2001 Cherokee Sport and a 2002 Liberty V6 back-to-back. The Cherokee was FAR more responsive and felt FAR more powerful than the Liberty – which felt like a wet sponge – did.
All of that said, the re-skin of the Liberty for 2008 (it’s not new for ‘09) really wins me over. It’s attractive again. Now if they could just put a good engine in it.
01/09, 1:38 PM
posted by:
key4wheels
I thought this story was going to Chrysler’s improvements to the Liberty from ‘08 to ‘09 but after reading the article, does anyone see any changes?
01/09, 1:41 PM
posted by:
key4wheels
whoops, “…going to show or discuss Chrysler’s improvements…”
01/09, 1:55 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
i would rather buy a kia than this POS!!!!
01/09, 2:01 PM
posted by:
chester-joe
Aren’t the 2009s supposed to have a redesigned interior? I had one of these as a rental in July. Took it on a group camping trip and even though the interior was horribly cheap and it could use more oompn, I came back impressed for reasons I wasn’t sure of. There’s a sort of “I can do anything” attitude about it. Everyone else loved it. Maybe it’s because they were driving a Fusion, a Mustang, and a Prius to the campsite.
01/09, 2:22 PM
posted by:
LDMAN
I had two Jeeps, Cherokee XJ and a Wrangler TJ. the spirit is to customize them to fit your needs (improve on stock form). Quality is not the best but once properly sorted out and looked after these cars tend to look after their owner on and off road, too.
Regarding the 3.6 V6, granted it is a bit of a dog but there is wild array of after-market performance upgrade parts that will help.
@Andre Neves, you might have forgotten to mention Land Rover as a manufacturer of true off-road vehicles. Defender is still being sold around the world, Range Rover and LR3 are actually quite good off-road and Freelander far from being ridiculous when used properly.
01/09, 2:30 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
LDMAN,
Ahh yes. Land Rover…I did forget about them. You have to understand that I am from NJ. All you see around here are Ranger Rovers with big chrome wheels driving around. They have become modern day Hummers in other words.
01/09, 2:35 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Still a Chrysler. Who cares, the company is bankrupt. Death by the American Revolution
Cue Helmet/HoP “Just another Victim”
01/09, 2:44 PM
posted by:
Andrew
Andre Neves, We’re scheduled to be in a Wrangler Unlimited in a couple of weeks. Keep checking back.
01/09, 3:28 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
Good truck for the soccer moms. Compass is the hideous creature of mismatched panels that I cannot understand.
01/09, 3:44 PM
posted by:
Struggle
Soooo unappealing to me.
Are these designs intended to go retro 80’s?
01/10, 2:00 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Jeeps are old-fashioned, unrefined, plain, unreliable, slow and clumsy.
But they are just so good. They are the Alfa Romeo of the true SUV world.
Chester-Joe hit it on the head with the “I can do anything” attitude, because he’s right. These things can do anything you dare to do, and that’s what’s great about them.
01/10, 11:57 AM
posted by:
jayjc08
Come on, you gotta admit at some point that Jeep isn’t looking to regain that “off-road, back trail charisma” when they launch products like the Compass and at some extent, the Liberty and Patriot. The only true off-road vehicle they have anymore is the Wrangler. GC is good off-road, but I’d be scared to scratch the thing, get a log or tree smashed into it or dirty up the interior. It’s like the Land Rover Range Rover. Most people aren’t willing to take it off-road. The few that do have tons of money to spend.
Only real off-road vehicles anymore are the Jeep Wrangler, Liberty, Toyota FJ and Nissan X-terra. Other than that, there are a lot of good off-road vehicles, but I wouldn’t consider taking them off-road.
Anyways with that said I want to like a lot of Chrysler products. I can’t stand their styling. Nearly all their products look like someone took an etcha-sketch and drew a “car”. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day Chrysler comes out with square “wheels”.
I honestly didn’t care if the Jeep Liberty looked cartoonish. I always thought the hood should have been shorter and a little more interior room, but it was a classic design.
Only complaints:
-Interior could have better quality plastics. A big deal, NOT a big cost.
-More refined mechanics. New six cylinder, and a large four pot wouldn’t be bad. I don’t want anything fancy, it’s more to break down, but most people won’t be driving it off-road very often. Great to have the option between something like a 180hp 4-cyl and a 260 hp 6-cyl.
-New transmission.
-Lower glass tailgate. Getting groceries into the back tail-gate if your under 6′0″ looks to be a daunting task. Maybe just one that the top half folds up, bottom half down. Be more useful.
-Doesn’t need to be spartan in a few places.
Reading what I said earlier about true off-road vehicles, would that make it less of an off-road vehicle? Yes, but it’s gonna happen sooner or later.
01/10, 6:03 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
I forgot to mention, the only transmission available is a four speed ‘matic, they had a six speed manual but discontinued that, and the Liberty is one of the least reliable vehicles on American roads?
01/11, 2:01 PM
posted by:
moparsalesman
i have been selling these for over three years. living in an area where most of my customers commute to nyc from pennsylvania we sell a lot of jeeps. i cant say i have had customers complain about reliability of the jeep. also jeep is one of the most capable off road vehicles on the market now.