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The compact-class wagon from Jeep brings
an unusual combination of attributes.
It's
easy to drive on pavement but highly
agile in tough off-road situations,
which makes it a rare vehicle of multiple
personalities. The unibody structure
creates a strong container that resists
flexing and twisting when set in motion
on pavement or dirt and ultimately enhances
Liberty's smooth-riding manners.
Four
doors provide a separate entry for every
seat, and the tall structure carves
out ample room for heads and legs of
all passengers. The tailgate consists
of two pieces with a flip-up window
and swing-out door. Together, they offer
flexible access to the cargo bay.
Liberty
in debut issues divided into two trims
of the base Sport and luxury-lined Limited,
although now there are two more versions
with Renegade and the Freedom Edition.
Sport remains the price-leader. It draws
from a 2.4-liter in-line four-cylinder
engine that develops 150 hp through
a manual five-speed stick.
Jeep's
V6 becomes an option for Sport but is
the standard plant for Liberty's three
other trims. The six-pack displaces
3.7 liters and runs up to 210 hp. Either
a heavy-duty manual five-speed or optional
four-speed automatic works with the
V6. Power from the engine channels to
rear wheels exclusively in a RWD system
or to all four through one of two Jeep
4WD transfer cases - a part-time Command-Trac
system keyed to either engine or the
Selec-Trac full-time system with V6
and the automatic transmission.
A monochromatic Liberty Limited rolls
on 16-inch chrome wheels and features
brushed aluminum trim elements in the
cabin plus a leather-wrapped steering
wheel, power windows and locks, remote
keyless entry system, and exterior embellishments
like foglamps and a roof rack. Limited
packs the V6 and automatic four-speed
transmission exclusively.
Liberty
Renegade looks tough wearing a two-tone
front fascia, unique wheels and bolt-on
wheel flares, plus removable tubular
side steps and a rooftop cargo basket.
Renegade's cabin gets luxury gear including
leather seats and power controls for
the driver's bucket. It comes in either
2WD or 4WD with the part-time Command-Trac
equipment.
A limited-production Freedom Edition
stands out with a grille tinted to graphite
with special fascia, plus bolt-on wheel
flares, curvy side moldings painted
in the body color and Mopar tail lamp
guards. Graphite-tinged aluminum 17-inch
wheels on Freedom Edition are capped
by black sidewall Goodyear Wrangler
all-season. Freedom draws from the V6
and is available in 2WD or 4WD with
Command-Trac transfer case.
For
safety, a new Enhanced Accident Response
System (EARS) works through Liberty's
electrical system to automatically shut
off the fuel pump, unlock doors and
turn on cabin lights in five seconds
following deployment of front or side
air bags. |
Big
block letters spell J-E-E-P on the prow
of three vehicles to denote the DaimlerChrysler
brand devoted exclusively to four-wheel-drive
(4WD) vehicles. Each of the three Jeeps
takes a unique slant to a sport-utility
wagon set for off-road forays as well
as urban excursions on pavement. 
