Jeep Liberty 2009 Review

Summary

The all new 2009 Jeep Liberty is a semi replacement for the discontinued Jeep Cherokee of old. It has trail rated attitude which is a strength in the Jeep line over the years. For Liberty, less is more with the design. It is boxy, it is comfortable, it is a Jeep. The 09 Liberty is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the past iteration. If you are looking for a comfortable vehicle with the ability to drive in deep snow and go off road if necessary then the Jeep Liberty might be for you.

Full Review 2009

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. 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.

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.

First Drive 2009

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 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 Liberty's won't even get their tires dirty. Thankfully for those types of buyers, the Liberty is reasonably at home on the pavement. 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.

You have absolutely no need for an off-road vehicle and you prefer refinement over utilitarian.

Styling and Interior Design

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. 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.

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 drive train 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.

Exterior Styling and Look

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 its 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.

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. 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. The Liberty finishes off with an appropriately square rear end.

Conclusions

The Liberty is fun, it goes where others can not. It is comfortable for the everyday drive at the same time as being able to muster the versatility to go off road. "Since the new one is easier on the eyes, a bit more fuel-efficient and has a few new convenience features, it should continue to appeal to its soft-core demographic." says New York Times "The all-new Jeep Liberty is designed to appeal to customers who are looking for Jeep 4x4 capability as well as comfort and convenience. It is targeted to young couples and new families, as well as professional, young single men and women between 30 and 40 years of age, balanced male to female." adds  4-Wheel & Off-Road If you fall into one of these categories, give the Liberty a try, otherwise give it a second glance, it just might catch your interest.