A Rugged Jeep with Authentic Abilities

The 2009 Jeep Liberty

First rolled out in 2002, the Liberty was Jeeps answer to replacing the long-serving Cherokee. It is now in its second generation, with its redesign in 2008.  The 2009 Liberty has classic Jeep brand style, thanks to those much-loved design cues?the seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel openings, round headlamps and ready stance.  The new look appears rugged and boxy, much like its platform mate, the Dodge Nitro.  For 2009 the four-cylinder engine option is dropped; this was done as Jeep introduced its four-cylinder Patriot and Compass models. An interesting feature of the 2009 Liberty is the Sky Slider roof, an optional full-length canvas roof.  It is 3.5 times larger than a regular sunroof.  Fuel economy for two-wheel-drive models is 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway. Four-wheel-drive models achieve only slightly lower numbers, at 15 mpg city and 21 on the highway.  Starting MSRP for the 2009 Liberty is $23,015 ? $27,730.  The benefits of the Liberty for 2009 are its excellent safety features (standard side curtain airbags and standard stability system), and it 5,000-pound towing capacity.  The downsides include its not-so-great gas mileage, and the unknown durability of the optional canvas roof.

Jeep Liberty Drive

Rear-wheel drive is standard.  Both the Selec-Trac II and Command-Trac II four-wheel-drive systems are very well integrated into Liberty's various systems, including traction control, Electronic Stability Program, hill-start assist, hill-descent control and available trailer tow package. A 19.5-gallon fuel tank provides an approximate driving range of 389 miles. The Liberty is most definitely trail capable, it now drives even better on the road due to a stiffer rear axle shafts, and new shocks, springs, and anti-roll bars.  Hill Descent Control, which keeps vehicle speed to a minimum when traversing treacherous terrain, is included on four-wheel-drive models.  Like other Jeeps, the Liberty receives top marks for its off-road prowess, but on road driving lags behind competition and may not be the best daily driver.

Liberty Power

With the discontinuation of the V4, the only power source for the Liberty is now a 3.7-liter V6. Featuring lightweight aluminum components, it produces 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Properly equipped, the Liberty can tow up to 5,000 pounds.  The V6 is connected to a standard fully synchronized six-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic, which transfers power to either two wheels or all four. The automatic has a special tow-haul button to adjust gear shifting for better efficiency when towing.

Inside the 2009 Liberty

Features available on the Liberty include rain-sensitive wipers, automatic temperature control, a six-speaker sound system and remote start. For 2009, the leather package on Limited models gets a soft-touch armrest on the door, upper-door trim pieces, and upgraded grained plastics on the instrument panel and center console. Liberty offers outstanding cargo flexibility; and its seats a very versatile with their six-way power adjustable front driver seat. The left rear panel houses a concealed compartment for jack storage and tools. 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.  Liberty?s 60 / 40 split-folding rear seat includes a 12 degree recline feature for enhanced versatility and rear seat comfort. The front passenger seat also folds flat for even more versatility.

Lineup Features and Options

There are two trims for the 2009 Jeep Liberty, Sport and Limited. Sport trim includes 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, automatic headlamps, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a 65/35 split-folding rear seat, a trip computer and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio. The Popular Equipment Group is optional for the Sport, and it adds roof rails, cruise control, upgraded cloth upholstery, a fold-flat front passenger seat, foglamps, rear privacy glass and a cargo cover.

The Limited comes standard with the Sport's Popular Equipment Group and tacks on 17-inch wheels, a power driver seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an eight-speaker upgraded stereo that also adds steering-wheel controls.

Other optional items are grouped in a confusing array of packages. The optional Premium Sound Group adds a six-CD changer and Bluetooth, while the Premium Group I adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power front passenger seat, remote engine start and driver memory settings. The Premium Group II includes all the Premium Group I items plus 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control and automatic wipers.

Design of the Liberty

The Liberty has various safety features included.  Both of Liberty?s Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems regularly check inflation levels for optimal safety, security, performance and fuel economy. If the levels are off, a warning light will illuminate on the instrument panel.  The Skyliner is a unique feature on the Liberty.  Unlike many panoramic sunroofs offered today, Jeep's Sky Slider roof is made of canvas rather than glass. Rear legroom and shoulder room are particularly improved. Cargo space is quite good with 31.5 cubic feet with the rear seats raised and 64.6 cubic feet with them lowered. The Liberty and Dodge Nitro share a common underpinning, yet the Jeep Liberty is made shorter and narrower than the Nitro to distinguish the pair. The Liberty comes in at 176.9 inches long and 72.1 inches wide.

Summary


Overall, the Jeep Liberty is a vehicle with a fun personality. Anyone looking for offroad fun and traditional Jeep styling with a modern twist will be satisfied with the Liberty. For another view on the Liberty, check out Car and Driver's Liberty Review. Standard on the 2009 Liberty are antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, electronic roll mitigation and side curtain airbags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTS) awarded the Liberty a perfect five-star rating in both front and side impact crashworthiness. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Liberty its highest rating of "Good" for frontal offset impacts. For pricing and specification details, click here.