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.
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