Jeep's charismatic Liberty has proven to be a true success with all kinds of buyers from the most aggressive off-road enthusiasts to the most demure of young families. Its bright-eyed styling makes friends easily, and it's tall rear cargo area swallows a generous amount (69.0 cubic feet) of sports gear, baby stuff or shopping bags.

The Liberty comes with your choice of rear- or four-wheel-drive, four- or six-cylinder engines and manual or automatic transmissions. The 150-hp four-cylinder is a weak match for the Liberty's hefty weight, but the strong 210-hp six is more than up to the task. Ride quality is on the bumpy side-truckier than most in this group-a sacrafice made to ensure excellent off-road prowess. Hey, it's a Jeep after all.

Now, in terms of interior equipment, the base Liberty is as utilitarian as they come, although well-optioned versions come with dressy metal interior trim pieces and leather seats that will lightly toast your tush at the touch of a button. A Renegade model was added late last year, slotting nicely between the base Sport and top-of-the-line Limited models. The Renegade has a decidedly assertive flavor, with four floodlights crowning its roof, standard skid plates and side steps that detach in case you're doing some serious off-roading.