It's been seven years since the introduction of the Liberty by famed off-road pioneer, Jeep. Originally added to the line-up as a replacement for the aging Cherokee, the Liberty continues Jeep's iconic vertical slat grille and prominent greenhouse body architecture. The split-opening rear lift gate adds functionality and access to the rear cargo area.
Its rugged heritage is also suggested by the bulging fender lines and squared-off wheel wells filled with 16 or 17-inch Aluminum wheels shod with all season radial tires. Both Sport and Limited versions of the Liberty carry Jeep's "Trail Rated" designation; aided in part by a ground clearance of 7.4 inches, its telescoping drive shaft and available skid-plate package.
The Liberty comes equipped with a 3.7 Liter V6 that produces 210 horsepower and 235 pound feet of torque. Power is sent through a 4-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels or electronically controlled 4-wheel-drive.
Fuel economy for the Liberty ranges from 15 miles per gallon city, up to 22 miles per gallon highway.
All Liberty models come with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist and electronic stability control.
60/40 split folding and reclining rear seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat add convenience when it comes to carrying passengers and cargo.
Standard and optional electronics include Chrysler's 30-gigabyte hard drive multi-media system with GPS and DVD player sharing the 6.5 inch touch screen LCD display as well as in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 player routed through an 8 channel, 368 Watt premium sound system.
Base MSRP for the 2009 Jeep Liberty is $22,715. A fully loaded Limited model can cost as much as $35,000. The Liberty is backed by an impressive unlimited powertrain warranty.
The Jeep Liberty: Next generation thinking by America's pioneer SUV manufacturer.