2008 Jeep Liberty Review

The Jeep Liberty was redesigned for 2008. This Jeep model offers a good compromise between road-worthiness and off-highway capability for a compact SUV, which is something that many consumers are looking for. The new look was meant to appear more rugged, while still maintaining the classic Jeep look. This new generation Jeep Liberty addresses the chief concerns of the first generation, riding and handling better on the road. It also has more passenger room and offers more convenience features. The cute styling of the first Liberty has been replaced with a more traditional, square-jawed Jeep look. For 2008, the Liberty comes in two trim levels: Sport and Limited Edition. Each is offered with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive systems. Standard on all models is an electronic stability program, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, all-speed traction control, and electronic roll mitigation. EPA fuel economy for the '08 mode; is 15 - 16 mpg city and 21 - 22 mpg highway. One of the more interesting features in the five-seat Jeep Liberty small SUV, which was redesigned for 2008, is its optional Sky Slider movable canvas roof.

'08 Liberty Power and Handling

The Liberty is powered by a single 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 engine that teams with a standard six-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 uses regular unleaded gas. The only engine for 2008 is a carryover from the previous generation. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Sport trim; the Limited Edition gets a four-speed automatic. When it comes to fuel economy, the Liberty's weight and powertrain provide numbers that are on the lower end of the class. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but two four-wheel-drive systems - part-time Command-Trac and full-time Selec-Trac II - are offered. Hill Descent Control, which keeps vehicle speed to a minimum when traversing treacherous terrain, is included on four-wheel-drive models. 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.

Redesign of the Liberty

 Differences between the new, slightly larger Liberty and the old model are most evident up front, where the 2008 model has a different face thanks to its new grille and headlights. Behind the A-pillars the Liberty has the same upright, boxy look as its predecessor. Sport models get 16-inch aluminum wheels, while the Limited has 17-inch rims. Chrome 18-inch wheels are optional on the Limited. Roof rails are available. The most noticeable aspect of the front end is Jeep's characteristic seven-slot grille, which is taller on this model. The grille is body color on Sport, chrome on Limited. The front fascia is body color on all, and the front air dam is removable to provide more ground clearance for off-roading. Unlike many panoramic sunroofs offered today, Jeep's Sky Slider roof is made of canvas rather than glass. The fabric roof f olds on itself as it opens, and Jeep says the top is leak-proof. A notable feature of the rear is the lack of an exterior spare tire. Jeep has moved it under the floor for 2008.The tailgate also changes from a swing gate to a liftgate design, and separate opening rear glass is newly standard.

Jeep Liberty Cabin

The new interior of the 2008 Liberty is basic but functional. Sport models have cloth seats, while the Limited gets two-tone YES Essentials stain- and odor-resistant fabric. Leather seats are optional on the Limited. Cargo room behind the second-row seat measures 31.5 cubic feet but can be expanded to 64.2 cubic feet by folding the seat.
Available features include remote start, a memory feature for the seats and a MyGIG navigation radio. MyGIG has a 20GB hard drive that can store music and photos, as well as a navigation component that can, when teamed with Sirius Satellite Radio, reroute the SUV around traffic problems.

Jeep says the available MyGIG system can hold 1600 songs. It can also hold pictures to use as screen savers, and it contains the navigation system's map information. Songs and pictures can be taken from a CD or loaded from an integrated USB port. The 6.5-inch navigation screen is a bit smaller than most. It absorbs some of the audio controls, but is generally easy to use. Cargo space is about average for the class. The second-row seats fold flat in an easy one-step process to yield 64.6 cubic feet of cargo space. With the seats up there is 31.2 cubic feet of cargo room, which is plenty of room for hauling groceries with the kids in the vehicle.

Conclusions

True to its tough, capable Jeep off-road lineage, the Jeep Liberty was designed to actually venture off-road -- a trait not shared by many of its lighter-weight, car-based sport-utility competitors. It does so confidently thanks to steep approach and departure angles and exceptional suspension travel and articulation. Combined with an independent front and solid axle rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, a new or used Liberty works best for those who want a versatile, go-anywhere utility vehicle and plan to take advantage of its all-terrain prowess on occasion.