Driving Impressions

The 2008 Jeep Liberty offers a pleasant driving experience. The ride is generally firm, but the Liberty smoothes over most bumps and is never punishing, even with the available 18-inch wheels. When it comes to handling, the Liberty is less capable than most of its competitors. The Liberty is relatively tall and heavy, so it is not as nimble as most of its compact SUV competitors. It leans more than most in turns and struggles to regain composure in quick changes of direction. Its solid axle rear suspension is designed for towing capability and off-road capability. In off-road conditions, the 2008 Liberty is quite capable. With generous approach and departure angles and low-range gearing for 4x4 models, it can crawl over large rocks and logs. Four-wheel-drive models have Hill Descent Control, which pulses the brakes through the ABS to limit the vehicle's speed when driving down steep grades. Hill Start Assist is also standard. It holds the brakes on hills when the driver releases the brakes to prevent the vehicle from sliding backward. We drove the Liberty on a technically challenging off-road trail where it performed well. With the available towing package, the Liberty is capable of pulling a load up to 5000 pounds. This towing capability combined with the Liberty's off-road prowess make it a good choice for families that like to camp, ski, or vacation at locations off the beaten path. The 3.7-liter V6 is only adequate in this vehicle. It has decent pickup from a stop, but doesn't provide the willing punch to make passing easy. The four-speed automatic transmission kicks down readily to provide what passing power there is, but the standard six-speed manual transmission's extra gear ratios let the driver keep the engine in its power band more often. The manual gearshift has long throws, however, so you'll have to stretch your arm a bit. With EPA fuel economy rating of 16 mpg City and 22 Highway (15/21 for automatic-equipped 4x4 models), the Liberty is harder on fuel than most of its competitors.

Final Word

The 2008 Jeep Liberty has better off-road capability and more towing capacity than most of its competitors. It offers generous cargo space and a high seating position. All-new for 2008, the latest version is more refined than the previous generation. But it's heavy for a compact SUV, and it lacks the handling and fuel economy of most of its rivals. If off-road capability is important, Liberty is a good choice; otherwise several rivals will handle better and go easier on gas. NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Kirk Bell filed this report on the 2008 Jeep Liberty from Indianapolis.