Liberty returns to its roots
I’m sure you already know that the Liberty is the direct descendent of the Cherokee. And the fact that the Cherokee is now a clone of the Dodge Nitro (almost totally revamped for 2008) is probably not news to you either. Indeed, it looks like the folks at Chrysler made do with what they had to create this icon which, despite its faults, has eked out a decent reputation for itself in the last few years.
To clone or not to clone, that is the question. In a sense, it isn’t a bad move. Cloning allows manufacturers to use tried and true parts to make a vehicle. The problem occurs when you clone a vehicle that is, in essence, profoundly incompetent. And sadly, that’s the case with the Nitro.
After covering some 340 km with different versions of the 2008 Liberty, I concluded that, while unimpressive overall, this vehicle carries its weaknesses better than its Dodge counterpart. First off, the square body that defies any and all principles of aerodynamics fits in better with the rest of the series. The masculine front end evokes the Cherokee, while the rest is more reminiscent of the legendary Wrangler. Basically, while the Nitro plays the tough guy for the city slickers downtown, the Liberty just seems to conform with Jeep tradition.
More choices in Canada
Three versions of the Liberty are offered in Canada. There’s the Sport and Limited, available both here and in the U.S., and then there’s the North, which was made just for us. With three versions and a wide selection of equipment, buyers have plenty to choose from.
When the Liberty was introduced, Chrysler emphasized the many improvements made to it. More space, more storage and more cargo, and so on ... What remained unsaid, of course, was that the older generation really didn’t offer much in these regards. Anyone who’s been inside the “old” Liberty can attest to its narrow, claustrophobia-inducing cabin. After all the marketing hoopla, it comes out more or less the same as the Nitro. That much is clear as soon as you slide inside.
Both driver and passenger get passably comfortable seats, though they could have used a little more padding. Plenty of headroom is a plus, while a large gearbox eats up a good portion of the legroom. The dash and instrumentation are very similar to those of the Nitro, but again, these can be chalked up to Jeep tradition in the Liberty. The fit and trim is a far cry from ideal, another trait shared with the Dodge. The plastics used are of questionable quality and the assembly varies from one vehicle to another.
At the back of the vehicle, the picture isn’t pretty for passengers. First off, the back wheels cut into the rear access space, and the door doesn’t open as wide as it should, which means getting in and out is tricky. Then, once you’ve managed to get aboard, you’ll find that the back bench is so uncomfortable it’s only suitable for kids in car seats. And as for space, there’s isn’t much to speak of, especially for your legs; however, there is a large storage compartment, which can be made bigger by folding down the back seat. You can even fold down the front passenger seat if you need to! It’s just too bad that the Liberty didn’t inherit the Nitro’s Load ’N Go system, which is essentially a sliding cargo floor to help you load heavy or awkward objects.
All Chrysler products come with some type of newsworthy gadget, and in this case it’s the Sky Slider that makes up most of the Liberty’s roof. This feature is made of canvas and slides and folds like the roof we used to see on the now-defunct Renault 5. Controlled electronically, it can move either forward or backward.
Major disappointment
The title of this article, “Returns to its Roots,” is a reference to the esthetic and mechanical aspects of the vehicle, as well as its road performance. The Cherokee was a square box, and the new Liberty is too. Unfortunately, the Cherokee offered rough, noisy and fuel-thirsty mechanics, and the Liberty followed suit.
So don’t expect to find a new, modern, high-performance six-cylinder engine in the Liberty, much less a pleasant and fuel-efficient turbo diesel engine. Nope, instead Jeep opted for a simple, cheap solution — namely the old 3.7-litre V6 offered in the last generation. Coupled with the cursed four-speed automatic transmission, the technology is totally out-dated. To be fair, I’ll admit that this drivetrain is reliable and good for towing, but it’s my duty to remind you that we’re living in an era of environmental awareness and fuel conservation.
If those were the only concerns, we might be able to forgive this vehicle for its sins. Unfortunately, the Liberty’s road performance is also a flash to the past. Not only is it shaky, unstable and extremely noisy, but it’s very uncomfortable to boot! The suspension seems a touch better than that of the Nitro SLT I tested less than a year ago, but it could have had better control all the same.
What about off road?
It’s important to give credit where it’s due, and the solidly built Liberty is an excellent off-road trooper. Like the Nitro, it comes with a very efficient four-wheel-drive system with differential lock for part-time use. But setting the Liberty apart from its cousin is a low-gear mode and a very impressive drive-assist system for use on slopes. These differences earn the Liberty the Trail Rated badge. Believe me, this Jeep will take you almost anywhere. There’s no sleight of hand at work here — Chrysler has really proven it to us!
Now, let there be no question — the Liberty is not a talented contender. Sure, it respects brand tradition in terms of style and off-road capabilities, but its on-road performance and drivetrain are very disappointing. The passenger compartment is far from blemish-free, but that’s not such a major issue. To have truly met the needs of its target clients, the Liberty should have come with a turbo diesel engine, a more pleasant ride and a higher comfort level. As it stands, the only markets this vehicle speaks to are either people living in mountainous areas or those willing to put up with a lot of flaws just to sit at the Liberty’s wheel. The thing is, there are more masochists out there than you’d think.
Fact File
2008 Jeep Liberty Sport
As tested, before tax: $31,310
Configuration: front engine/4WD
Engine/transmission: 3.7-litre V6/4-speed automatic
Horsepower: 210 hp at 5,200 rpm
Torque: 235 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm
Options: 4-speed automatic transmission ($1,120); towing package ($550); luxury 16-in. alloy wheels ($450); Sky Slider sunroof ($1,525)
Freight: $1,230
Fuel required: 74 litres, regular unleaded
EnerGuide ratings (L/100 km): 13.4 city, 10 hwy
Basic warranty: 3 years/60,000 km
Competitors: Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Nitro, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda Tribute, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Xterra, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn VUE, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4
Strengths: Good looking, excellent off-road capabilities, robust, good for towing, reasonable price
Weaknesses: Outdated drive train, uncomfortable, thirsty, disappointing road performance, noisy
MSRP range: $27,695 to $32,795
Engines available: 3.7-litre V6
Transmissions available: 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic
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