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2005 Jeep Liberty Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Jeep Liberty Renegade takes the high road
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New Car Review of the 2005 Jeep Liberty Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $19,480-$25,325
Base Invoice Range: $18,307-$23,646
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MSRP As Tested: Not Available
Versions: Sport, Renegade, Limited Edition
Vehicle Category: Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Four-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel drive.
Standard Engine: 2.4-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 16-valves, I-4, 150 â€' horsepower at 5200 rpm and 165 lb-ft torque at 4000 rpm.
Optional Engine as Tested: 3.7-liter, Single Overhead Cam, 24-valves, V-6, 210 horsepower at 5200 and 235 lb-ft torque at 3,250 rpm.
Optional Engine: 2.8-liter, Single Overhead Cam, 16-valves, I-4, 160 horsepower at 5200 and 235 lb-ft torque at 3,250 rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic, Five-speed automatic, Six-speed manual.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 4-speed automatic 17/22, 5-speed automatic 21/27, 6-speed manual V-6 18/22, 6-speed manual I-4 20/24.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Four-wheel anti-lock brake system.
Competition: Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, Subaru Forester.
You've got to love Jeep. At a time when most SUVs are becoming watered down, carlike "crossover" vehicles, the Jeep Liberty is staying true to its roots as a real off-road machine.
Jeep probably could have sold more SUVs if the Liberty were designed for shopping malls and freeways -- places where comfort takes precedence over ruggedness and off-road dependability -- rather than building an SUV to tackle the Rubicon Trail. But Jeep continues to look to its heritage, making the biggest changes for 2005 to the Liberty's most rough-and-tumble model, the Renegade.
For hardcore off-road enthusiasts, it's hard to find a more practical vehicle for mountain climbing this side of a Hummer or Land Rover. The Renegade -- which starts around $23,000 for two-wheel drive and $24,500 for a 4x4 -- now includes a beefed-up suspension, functional rock rails and four skid plates. It also has an updated look with a taller grille, flatter hood, more prominent fog lamps and tail lamp guards, along with several new options, like taller tires, a GPS navigation system, and an overhead light bar.
This is the real thing, not some tough-looking poser.
Thankfully, Jeep designed the Renegade to be relatively comfortable around town, too. Its interior is surprisingly quiet, especially compared to the noisy Jeep Wrangler, and new seats keep your backside happy over long stretches of Interstate. Its ride is stiffer and bouncier than in a crossover SUV that's designed strictly for city driving, but it's not unreasonably rough riding.
That's the key to what makes the Liberty so good. It's definitely not the most comfortable vehicle you can buy for the morning commute, but it's comfortable enough to keep you satisfied until the weekend comes -- when you can really let the Liberty shine on the trails.
It also has the reassuring heft of a real SUV, complete with a commanding view of the road and solid-feeling doors that shut like those on a Brinks armored car. It generally doesn't feel flimsy or plastic -- although there are a few pieces of trim that could use some improvement -- and there are virtually no annoying squeaks and rattles. It's an all-around, solid SUV.
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