THE JEEP LIBERTY WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS SIXTH BIRTHDAY IN 2007 AND THE COMPACT SUV WHICH REPLACED THE VENERABLE JEEP CHEROKEE IN 2002 HAS ACQUIRED ITS OWN WORTHWHILE REPUTATION FOR RUGGEDNESS AND DURABILITY. THE LIBERTY IS A GENUINE TOUGH GUY THROUGH AND THROUGH, AND WHILE SOME OF ITS CATEGORY COMPETITORS ARE AIMED AT MORE OF A CROSS BETWEEN OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY AND EVERYDAY TRANSPORTATION, THE LIBERTY IS A JEEP THAT HOLDS FAST TO THE IDEA THAT SUV'S SHOULD BE READY TO GO ANYWHERE THE PAVEMENT ENDS.
THE 2007 JEEP LIBERTY WE TESTED WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE TURBOCHARGED 2.8-LITER CRD OR COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE. THE LIBERTY IS AVAILABLE IN TWO TRIM LEVELS, IN FOUR-DOOR BODY STYLES--LIMITED AND SPORT, AND ALONG WITH THE 2.8-LITER DIESEL, THERE IS ALSO JEEP'S 3.7-LITER V6 ENGINE TO CHOOSE. THE DIESEL PRODUCES 160 HORSEPOWER AND 195 FOOT-POUNDS OF TORQUE. THE 3.7 V6 CHURNS OUT 210 HORSEPOWER AND 235 FOOT-POUNDS OF TORQUE. VEHIX.COM REPORTS THAT THE EPA MIOLEAGE ESTIMATES FOR THE DIESEL-EQUIPPED LIBERTY LIKE THE ONE WE'RE SHOWING YOU ARE 21 MPG CITY AND 26 MPG HIGHWAY.
THERE'S A SIX-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION STANDARD ON THE GASOLINE ENGINE AND A FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS OPTIONAL. THE DIESEL COMES WITH A FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC AND FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY. THE GAS JOB CAN BE ORDERED IN EITHER TWO-WHEEL DRIVE OR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SELECTOR LEVER WAS WITHIN EASY REACH FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
THE LIBERTY IS BUILT WITH GENUINE TRAILBUSTING CAPABILITIES. THE APPROACH AND DEPARTURE ANGLES ARE STEEP SO ROCK CRAWLING OR ANY OTHER HARDCORE OFF-ROAD ACTIVITY IS NO SWEAT. THERE'S FULL 8-INCHES OF SUSPENSION TRAVEL WITH INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION AND A COIL-LINK REAR SETUP. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JEEP HISTORY, THE LIBERTY IS FITTED WITH A RACK-AND-PINION STEERING BOX, AND IN OUR OPINION, THE LIBERTY MAY BE MORE ADEPT AT MANUEVERING THROUGH THE ROUGH STUFF THAN OFFERING A CUSHY, PAMPERING ON-PAVEMENT EXPERIENCE.
THE USUAL ASSORTMENT OF JEEP OPTIONS AND ACCESSORIES ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL. THE LIBERTY WE TRIED RODE ON 17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE TOWING PACKAGE GOOD FOR 5000 POUNDS MAX, A SUNROOF, AND A TILT STEERING COLUMN. ANOTHER FEATURE WE LIKEDWAS THE UNIQUE FOLD-UP CARGO ORGANIZER IN THE BACK THAT HELPS TO STOW ANY NECESSITIES OR CONVENIENCE ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE ALONG. OVERALL, THE INTERIOR OF THE LOBERTY IS COMFORTABLE FOR FOUR ADULTS, AND WITH THE REAR SEAT FOLDED DOWN, THERE'S 69 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO SPACE. A LEATHER INTERIOR IS AVAILABLE, IN FACT, ANY JEEP DEALER CAN OFFER A SLEW OF OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES TO PERSONALIZE YOUR LIBERTY FROM A ROOF OR GRILLE LIGHT BAR TO CHASSIS-MOUNTED SKID PLATES.
JEEP'S SUGGESTED BASE PRICE AS SEEN ON VEHIX.COM FOR THE 2007 LIBERTY IN SPORT TRIM WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IS $21, 290. IF THAT'S A FIGURE THAT YOU FEEL IS WORTH OWNING A COMPACT SPORT UTE THAT CAN GET YOU ANYWHERE YOU'RE HEADED, REGARDLESS OF THE ROAD SURFACE, AND GET YOU HOME AGAIN, A JEEP LIBERTY JUST MIGHT BE IN YOUR FUTURE.