2010 Jeep Liberty

The Jeep Liberty was all-new for 2008, and is further improved for 2009, with refinements to its suspension, steering, and brakes. For 2010, the Liberty gets a system that shuts off the engine when decelerating to improve its gas mileage, as well as an indicator on the dash to show when the Liberty is being driven efficiently. The Jeep Liberty offers a good compromise between road-worthiness and off-highway capability for a compact SUV. The Liberty is available in two trim levels, Sport and Limited, each is offered with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive systems. A multimedia infotainment system with 30-gigabyte hard drive and navigation system is available. The Jeep Liberty, which is related to the Dodge Nitro, comes in Sport and Limited editions. One of the more interesting features in the five-seat Jeep Liberty small SUV is its optional Sky Slider movable canvas roof. The SkySlider option is a full-length open canvas sunroof that can slide accordion-style forward, backward or partially opened to any position in-between. Liberty competitors include the Nissan Xterra and Suzuki Grand Vitara. It has a     starting MSRP of $23,255 - $28,735, and a fuel economy of 22 mpg Hwy, 16 mpg City.

Liberty Power

The standard powertrain in all 2010 Liberty models is a 210 hp 3.7-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission.  For 2010, the Liberty gets a standard fuel shut-off system that turns off fuel when the vehicle is decelerating. There's also a standard fuel-saving indicator that lights up in the odometer to notify the driver when the vehicle is being driven in a fuel-efficient manner. All models come with a four-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, the Liberty can tow up to 5,000 pounds

 2010 Jeep Liberty Design

The Liberty is all Jeep with a rather upright design, Jeep's traditional seven-slot grille, and trapezoidal fender flares that enhance the vehicle's side profile. The Liberty's special feature that helps it stand out from competitors is the Sky Slider. Unlike many panoramic sunroofs offered today, Jeep's Sky Slider roof is made of canvas rather than glass. The fabric roof folds on itself as it opens, and Jeep says the top is leak-proof.

Inside the Liberty

The 2010 Jeep Liberty carries five passengers and offers excellent utility. Its interior features a large floor console with cupholders, armrest and a storage area with a removable top tray. Cargo room is a plus. The Liberty's second row seats fold flat, as does the front passenger seat, to provide plenty of room for hauling boxes, bikes and life's other accessories. Both the left and right rear panels in the cargo area have tie-down loops for securing items to the load floor. The left rear panel houses a concealed compartment for jack storage and tools. Standard equipment includes SIRIUS satellite radio, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, all-speed traction control, and electronic roll mitigation.

Driving the Jeep Liberty

 The Jeep Liberty is absolutely capable off road, one of the best in its class. Compared to the Jeep Patriot and Compass, the Liberty is more of a true Jeep, with off-road prowess and bold, upright styling. The base four-wheel-drive system is Jeep's Command Trac, a part-time system designed for off-road use. Also offered is Selec-Trac II ($445), a full-time system that allows use of four-wheel drive on dry pavement. Both systems have low-range gearing.

2010 Lineup

The Sport features include cloth upholstery, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, 65/35 split folding rear seats, power mirrors, power locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo and auxiliary input jack, vehicle information center, and P225/75R16 all-season tires on aluminum wheels. For 2009, the stereo upgrades from four speakers to six and includes Sirius satellite radio. Floor mats come standard. Sport options include a Sky Slider canvas sunroof ($1,200); a regular sunroof ($850); Class III towing package with trailer sway control and a full-size spare tire ($580); 235/70R16 all-terrain tires ($180-350, depending on other equipment); and skid plates ($225) for the 4x4 model.

The Limited trim comes standard with Yes Essentials cloth upholstery, heated power mirrors, 368-watt Infinity sound system with eight speakers, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio and vehicle information center controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror, roof rails, six-way power driver's seat, fold-flat front passenger seat, universal garage door opener, antitheft alarm, fog lamps, full-size spare and P235/65R17 all-season tires on aluminum wheels. Limited include the Premium Group ($995) with heated front seats, leather upholstery, six-way power driver's seat with memory, and remote starting.

Conclusions

With a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, rugged off-road capability and plenty of cargo space, the Jeep Liberty is a good choice for small families or couples that tow boats or go camping. If your travels don't often take you off-road, the other small SUVs will deliver better fuel economy and better handling, but none will offer a more pleasant ride. For the latest updates on this model, visit the official Jeep Liberty site. Safety features include the mandated dual front airbags, plus head-protecting side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors and front side airbags for torso protection. Active safety features include anti-lock brakes with brake assist, hill start assist, traction control, and electronic stability control with rollover mitigation. The antilock brakes have rough road detection; when rough conditions are detected, the system holds the brake pulses longer to better slow the vehicle. Hill descent control is standard on 4x4 models. Optional safety features include trailer sway control and rear obstacle detection.