2009 Jeep Liberty Review
As the economy went down and gas prices road, many traditional SUV buyers turned to crossovers for better fuel efficiency. Jeep offers three small SUVs and the longest-serving and probably the best well known of the bunch is the 2009 Jeep Liberty. The Jeep Liberty 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. Liberty's main competitors include the Nissan Xterra and Suzuki Grand Vitara. For 2009 the Jeep Liberty no longer has a manual transmission option. The brakes and suspension have been retuned in an effort to improve ride and handling performance. The Liberty's off-road image and attendant styling treatment also set it apart from the rounded, often cutesy compact crossovers with which it competes. For those who want a small SUV that stakes out the middle ground between off-road vehicle and family-friendly compact crossover, the 2009 Jeep Liberty may be suitable. However, because the Liberty hits the middle ground of both, there are many compromises on both sides of this equation.
The 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. Also
optional on the Limited with the Premium Group II is the uconnect
hard-drive-based navigation system, which includes real-time traffic,
digital music storage, a USB audio jack and Bluetooth. Optional on both
trims are a towing package, a sunroof and the Sky Slider full-open cloth
roof.
All
Liberty models are powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 210
horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Properly equipped, the Liberty
can tow up to 5,000 pounds. All models now come with a four-speed
automatic transmission; the six-speed manual is no longer available.
The Liberty has a cabin that is very similar to the Dodge Nitro's. 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. Both left and right rear panels have cargo tie-down loops for securing items to the load floor. 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.
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. Rear-wheel drive is standard. Hill Descent Control, which keeps vehicle speed to a minimum when traversing treacherous terrain, is included on four-wheel-drive models. Although the 2009 Jeep Liberty exhibits better on-road manners than in previous years, there's still plenty of body roll to contend with. 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. The Liberty's unspectacular acceleration would be tolerable if it achieved good fuel mileage, but it doesn't -- quite the opposite.
You know the Liberty is a Jeep when you see the traditional seven-slot grille and trapezoidal fender flares that enhances the vehicle's side profile. 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. After last year's overhaul, the Liberty is now bigger and therefore more spacious for passengers. 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. This is within an inch of the Grand Vitara and Xterra in width, but the Xterra's body is longer by a couple of inches.
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.
As the most macho of this Jeep trio, the 2009 Liberty boasts a robust chassis, steep approach angles, impressive suspension articulation and proficient four-wheel-drive systems. Unfortunately, the Liberty is not nearly as well-suited for on-pavement use as other vehicles in this segment. Although ride and handling have been improved for 2009, this compact Jeep still isn't as comfortable, controllable or generally "carlike" as its competition is. Read a Motor Trend Jeep Liberty review for more research.