Best overall value in its class, it's a Jeep...'nuf said.

Gas milage could have been better. I averaged around 17.5-18.5 mpg regardless of where or how I drove it. Could be a little quiter ride, but it is better than the competition. The window controls in the middle are odd, especially if you smoke. The short wheel base and tight suspension make the ride pretty rough in the city. Blue Book was only $12k after 1 yr and 15K miles...sticker new was $22K.

This was my first new car after college. It is a great SUV for less than $20K. It is safe, reliable, and gives more bang for the buck than similarly priced SUVs. The V-6 is quite powerful, visibility is great, and it does not feel top-heavy when you drive it. It can pass anything but a cop. I was pulled over more (3 times)in this vehicle than anything I have ever driven, despite being a pretty good driver. If >20K is what you can afford, this is the SUV for you. If you can afford a little more...try to up-size to a larger SUV with a little more room. I traded mine yesterday for a Mercury Mountaineer. I don't know why people pay $28K for the loaded Libertys. You could get a lot bigger SUV for that much. DO NOT BUY AT KINGWOOD CHRYSLER in Kingwood Texas. I went out of town to buy my Jeep. It was a nice dealership in a very up-scale area. The sale went smoothly, but it took them 2 months and a dozen phone calls to get them to pay off my trade-in. Luckily, it was financed through Chrysler and they gave me an indefinite extention while I worked with the dealership. Had the trade-in been financed anywhere else, I would have had major problems. I had to threaten to sue to get things resolved.

Similar Products Used:

This was my 11th vehicle, 5th new one and 3rd Chrysler product in a row...first SUV. Beware, Chrysler in general offers a lot of bang for the buck, but the resale value is awful. I thought Jeep was better, but the Liberty seems to be the exception.

Solid, weighty feel (nothing like a RAV-4) Quiet interior Truck-like, high ride Auto windows POWERFUL (v6 version) Maneuverability Expensive feel Bang for buck Engine gets downright rumbly under acceleration (purportedly due to 90 degree piston opposition (where 60 is normal)), but the engine sound is almost imperceptable at idle. Nice big rear wiper Fog lights Long throw high-beams Humungo Side-view mirrors Visibility Head room (I'm 6foot4) Leg room is just enough for driver and good in back (I can't drive small toyotas for longer than 15 minutes due to leg cramping) The dash is well layed out with refined guages(a big compliment considering that I gave up the touch screen monochrome computer and bright lcd dash that was stock on my Buick)

The vehicle seems somewhat long *I refuse to put MPG in this category when other midsize (not compact) SUV's obtain the same MPG. Engine sound may not please everyone Wipers could be faster A rear air deflector would be nice stock

This is mostly a first impressions review of the 2005 Liberty. I bought it fairly stock except for some alloy wheels, ash tray (just came with the color I wanted, and 3.7L v6. This vehicle has a beast under the hood, and that is what struck me the most when I drove it. However, it isn't terribly obvious in around town driving. But it's got the torque when you need it. Interior: The center mounted window controls are nice (I like the auto down on the front windows), and my last vehicle, and 89 buick Riv, had them anyway. The guages look expensive, but the stock stereo could use lighted buttons, and the inside door handles look flimsy. The console, shifter, and command-trac area all look nice, and the leather wrapped steering wheel is pleasing in a tactile manner. The 05's rear seats do fold perfectly flush and flat with the cargo area in the back. The cargo area is pretty massive with the seats folded. Exterior: I really like the plastic fender flares and bumpers. They look modern to me. The fog lights' new location just under the head lights (as compared to previous model years) seems to work well, but I always thought of fog lights as being much lower on the vehicle. The hood is nicely contoured, as are the tail lights. The roof rack also has a smooth contoured shape. The wheel on the back also adds style (assuming you didn't get the stock pressed steel wheels), but I would really have liked an included anti-theft system for that wheel. Driving: The torque is there when you are going from 0mph on a steep grade. The ground clearance is nice to have. It is somewhere around 9 inches (either 8.9 or 9.4). The ride is tank-like. The suspension has bounce to it that comes out on highway imperfections or around town cruising. At low speeds, big bumps are soaked up, but little bumps seem to be magnified at high speeds. I drove over short median one day accidentally at night and barely noticed it at around 15mph. The vehicle corners well in all honesty, and body roll seems less pronounced in it than in the Element I test drove. That said, it is no car. But I only slid around a corner one time in the rain when I pushed it to 30mph around a cloverleaf that my low-riding buick couldn't even pull off at that speed. The turning radius is BETTER THAN MY CAR WAS, but then again my car had a turning radius worse than an 89 blazer. But I can pull onto country roads that run parallel to the one I'm on even when I'm facing the wrong direction to enter it. Test drive this thing and you will fall in love. I'm not a hardcore offroader...yet, and I was just searching for a vehicle with room to haul stuff, bikes, and maybe some 4wd capabilities. Four wheel disks offer firm braking, and I hear that the ABS (which I don't have) recalibrates when put into 4WD to avoid engagement lag. The transmission is not very unsure anymore, there was some reference to this in auto magazines I read that talked about the newly tweaked auto (I got the 4sp) transmission that should be smoother. It is smooth and powerful feeling, but not sloppy. I do get an occasional burst of power during either very low speed acceleration on a rapidly changing grade or on a very steep grade where I am driving up at an unnatural speed (where the tach doesn't look happy). This thing feels expensive. I can't stress that enough. The interior, while spartan, feels fairly sophisticated. The car feels solid in corners, on bumps, or on the highway. The ride is bouncy/stiff at times, but this isn't a cadillac, it is a jeep. I was driving a delapidated luxury car, and this utility and ruggedness is what I unconsciously craved. I drove a subaru forester (carlike, ugly, underpowered if not xt), PT cruiser (engine was pathetic for a 2.7L, and poor MPG), honda element (Traction control, skid control, and "real-time 4wd" didn't stop me from sliding on a wet cobblestone corner at 15mph, and the body rolls badly in wide corners, and the rear passengers sit higher than the driver which impedes rear visibility), and scion xb (weak engine that redlined at 65mph DOWNHILL when trying to pass) before I settled on the Liberty. I loved it the second I drove it, and I was out to get a fuel efficient stuff mover. I feared the bad gas mileage, but the power, ruggedness, solidity, $2000 rebate, and 0% financing made it a no-brainer. My last car was a Buick that was so low I scraped everywhere there was a pavement dip. The engine was a 3.8L (165hp /210lb-ft tourque) and the MPG was about 21 in mixed driving. This Jeep is a 3.7L and it drinks almost the same amount of gas, but the fact is that it feels so much more powerful despite its added weight and size.

Similar Products Used:

Buick Riviera 89(AKA BOATCAR) 05 Toyota Rav4 (peppy, but feels like a jacked up import car)

True off-road capabilities. Fantastic in city driving- shorter wheel base, tight turning radius. Great value. Good looks. FULL SIZE SPARE!

Transmission is a bit sloppy. Sometimes bangs into gear- has trouble deciding what gear to be in when 'hovering' at speeds of 35-45 mph and going up hills. Sometimes requires punch of gas-pedal, or turning off overdrive. Vehicle is heavy for its class. Acceleration not great.

This is my second review of the Jeep Liberty. I originally wrote my first review only after driving the Jeep for about a week. Here is my impression of the Jeep after driving for 7 months, and putting 8,000 miles on it. I still find the Jeep Liberty to be a fantastic car/value combination for its class. All of my initial impressions of the vehicle remain exactly the same. (see my previous review for greater detail- user name: Paul) After over 8,000 miles, I've not had a single mechanical malfunction or problem in the slightest. The Liberty's off-road capabilities are extremely impressive. Since owning the vehicle I have taken it on some significant trails- steep, wet, muddy etc., and my stock Liberty has performed nearly flawlessly. I am occasionally limited by terrain based on the stock road tires. For anyone wishing to take the vehicle for significant off-road journeys, I would suggest a good off-road tire. The four-wheel drive capabilities of the vehicle are outstanding with the Command-trac system. Thus far my gas-mileage has been, on average- dead on to what the EPA sticker reported: 17 city, 21 highway. There have been times where my gas mileage has dipped below the 17 in the city- and I suspect it was due to long periods in traffic jams. I'm not the only one who drives the vehicle, so it could be driving style. I still read reviews where people claim dismal gas mileage- but now that I've driven 8,000 miles- I'm convinced it has something to do with their driving style. One review claimed as little as eleven miles per gallon. I'm sorry, but at this point, anyone getting this kind of mileage either has a physical problem with the vehicle, or doesn't know how to drive. Living in Seattle with some of the WORST traffic in the nation, the LOWEST mileage I've ever gotten was 15.5- and that was after sitting in hour long traffic jams. To repeat my previous review, the turning radius is amazing. One gets used to the capabilities of the Jeep to such a degree, that when you find yourself in another vehicle (Saturn VUE), a U-Turn on a narrow Seattle street can turn into a harrowing experience of being stuck in the middle of the road with traffic bearing down. Not so with the Liberty. U-turns in very narrow circumstances are easily performed. I have been able to do quick K turns on what would probably be considered motorcycle trails in the woods. Parallel parking is a snap- again a bonus in city driving. The Jeep is not a long SUV and has practically zero overhang- making parking between small spaces on narrow streets a simple affair. Again, also a bonus when off-roading in very cramped conditions. Transmission is still the biggest weakness, overall. Sometimes bangs into gear and feels sloppy. Many owners complain of this.

Similar Products Used:

Saturn Vue, Ford Escape, Nissan Maxima, pre 2005 xterra.

Fun to drive, great offroad, comfortable on the road (even for long trips), great owner community (http://p087.ezboard.com/bkjjeep).

Poor fuel economy.

This is the most fun I've ever had in a vehicle, and it has been extremely reliable. The Jeep KJ is a great daily driver that also is a blast offroad. Unfortunately, most Liberty owners don't know how capable a KJ can be offroad, with a few relatively inexpensive modifications. I've invested less than $2,000 in aftermarket modifications (including a 2" lift kit, all-terrain tires and skids) and I'm able to keep up with more aggressively modified Wranglers and Cherokees. I've even been able to climb over obstacles that a stock Wrangler and modified Toyota LandCruiser couldn't make it over. To give you an idea of how versatile these vehicles are: On one Saturday, I used my KJ to tow a 20' trailer filled with 3 ATVs about 40 miles to a trailhead. Then we unloaded the ATVs and detached the trailer, and then spent the entire day climbing hills and crawling rocks--including some that the aforementioned Cruiser couldn't handle. Then we packed up and went home, and I drove to work the following Monday as usual--a 25-mile round trip commute. All in the same vehicle. After 32,000 miles, I haven't had any mechanical work done to it outside regular maintenance. I did install a pair of ceramic brake pads at 30K miles, to reduce dust. All in all, though, a very reliable, trouble-free SUV. I'd recommend a Jeep Liberty to anyone who needs a daily driver that can tow 5,000 lbs. and kick some tail offroad. And, if you already have a Libby and haven't taken it off road yet...what are you waiting for? Visit http://p087.ezboard.com/bkjjeep to get started.

Looks Off-road capability

Way too heavy Stiff/bouncy ride Dismal gas milage Cramped interior Pricy for what you get Typical American quality

My brother bought this vehicle last year and I had the chance to take it on several road trips with him. We shared the driving so I probably have about 1000 miles behind the wheel and 1500 in the passenger seat. The Liberty is a nice looking vehicle. The wheel flares and aggressive stance give it a nice presence on the road. My brother never goes off road but I borrowed it once and snuck off to my favorite trail. Its off-road capabilities are pretty impressive for a stock vehicle (but still no match for my slightly modified Trooper). However, overall I would not recommend this vehicle for several reasons. First the vehicle is heavy. Its heavier than most of the SUVs out there. So heavy that even the 3.7L V6 feels sluggish. Handling is slow with a lot of understeer when pushed to the limits. The weight also wreaks havoc on the gas mileage. We average about 14mpg on the highway and 11mpg in the city. Those are dismal numbers for such a small SUV. Heck that’s worse than most large SUVs. Second, interior space is tight. The area for your legs in the front seats is too narrow and the rear seat back to short. Cargo space is just barely enough for 2 people’s luggage. The thick “A” pillars block the forward view somewhat but otherwise it has ok visibility. Also, the ride is too stiff and bouncy for long distance traveling. The Liberty is for a good vehicle for a couple or a small family that needs a capable off-roader and doesn’t mind the heavy handling, stiff ride and dismal gas mileage. Everyone else would do better with one if its competitors.

Similar Products Used:

Everything

Build quality Suspension Handling in snow

as everyone says - gas mileage, if it got what the sticker said it would get then i wouldn't put it on here pulling to right

The Jeep Liberty is a solid SUV. The build quality seems very good, and it gives you the feeling that it can do anything, on and off the road. The suspension on the Liberty (I had the Renegade model) was probably one of the best suspensions I've ever felt. It was extremely comfortable on all surfaces, not too tight & not too loose. The front two windows rattled when I first took the car. It only happened when they were between fully up and halfway down. I had to take it in a couple times to get it fixed. The first time the dealer said they could not reproduce the issue. But in the notes on the service order the tech drove with the windows almost all the way down, which they didn't rattle because they were mostly inside the door at that point. I had to ride in the car with the tech for awhile to make him listen to what i would hear. They ended up replacing some guide rails or something and that fixed it. The only other rattle I had in the car was from the read passenger side door panel. Ok, we all know the Liberty doesn't get good gas mileage, but I would have been happy to get at least close to what the sticker claims it gets city and highway. For both city and highway I averaged between 13 and 14MPG. I couldn't make it from Chicago to St Louis on one tank, and it's not even 300 miles. The maximum miles I could get on one tank was about 250, and that was with the gas light on for quite awhile. For the milage the Liberty gets, it should have a V8 in it. It gets the same mileage, maybe even worse the the GC's that have the V8. Just my thoughts. The Jeep also handles like a champ in sloppy snow. In 4 wheel part time, it never had any problems. I was extremely impressed with its performance. The interior was fine, nothing special, but still much better than most other cars in its class. However, the fact that the back seats don't fold flat is really irritating. I didn't think it would bother me when I got it, but after a couple times of hauling large loads, it got old real quick. The biggest problem I had with my Liberty is the fact that it did pull to the right about 75% of the time. The dealer did an alignment, but that did nothing. This is going to be one of those issues that Jeep will never resolve, no matter how many times you take it in. And here's what they'll tell you: it is all to spec. That's all they look at, the specs that it's supposed to be built to. So you're on your own if your Liberty pulls to the right. I didn't notice any abnormbal tire wear, but it's only been 13k miles. So only time will tell. To wrap up, I ended up trading in my Liberty. At times I really do miss it, especially with the winters here in Chicago. I got rid of it because of the mileage and the pulling to the right, that might sound lame, but I didn't want to get stuck with something that got worse as time went (and honestly these things are actually in good demand, so you shouldn't have any trouble selling). It's definitely a good looking SUV. I wish it were a little bigger for more hauling ability, but it is what it is.

Similar Products Used:

2000 grand cherokee

Reliable. Solid. Great gas mileage with the 2.4L manual. Fun to drive - especially out in the country!

Noisy - especially with the windows partially down. Handling - strong crosswinds on an open highway are scary!

An update to my October 2002 review. My Liberty just passed the 30K mark. Aside from the recalls, I have had no mechanical problems with this vehicle. The 2.4L manual transmission has been an excellent performer: averages 22 MPG city / 27 MPG highway (so long as I keep the RPM below 3000). Exterior paint still looks great. Some interior plastics have not worn well (scuffs are almost impossible to rub out) - materials seem to be cheaper than any of the trucks I've owned. Power windows / locks have stood up to heavy use. Considering what I paid, the Liberty has been a fantastic value!

Similar Products Used:

Tested all major SUVs in this class prior to buying the Liberty.

Pretty much everything! (Read above)

+Gas milege (just like any other SUVs) +Tiny glove compartment that can put hardly anything in it.

My wife and I just bought a brand new 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade last month. It's a great car/truck! The Renegade came with Wrangler ST (All Season) tires which aren't really for off road use. So, we upgraded to Wrangler AT/S (All Terrain). I thought of getting MT tires but I thought it wouldn't be practical and/or safe for city/freeway use. The ride of Renegade with Wrangler AT/S is kind of stiff and feels more like driving a big truck than a passenger car but I like a lot... a little bouncy, and the commute to work makes fun! (The Renegade with original ST tires is less stiff and a little less noisier.) It's so fun to drive on off road! We've went for a off road test drive a couple of times already in Cascades. It drove through cray-like mud, cross the water paddle (about 1ft. deep), drove up the steep gravel hill EASILY without any problem... all with 4WD High. We haven't go to use 4 LO yet...need to be more extreme condition to use it. (Maybe after heavy snow in the mountain!? Of course, driving on freeway or in the city in the rain and/or wind is very stable! The brake is excellent. The car doesn't skid and/or slide on stop and go on steep hills in Seattle. Never have to worry about bumps, potholes and standing water on freeway and highway (which so many in Seattle). I also like the look of the Renegade. Unlike other Liberty line, it got more ragged look, and the face looks more like Jeep Wrangler than Liberty. It's not as cute as other Libery but it's very handsome! It's just perfect for our lifestyle. We go backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, snowshoeing, skiing etc. in the backcountry a lot...even in the winter. It seems like the Renegade will take you to the trailhead and bring us back to home safely. If you go to outdoors a lot, you'll love it!!! For off road, we basically use the car to get to the trailhead and we use the foot from there. If you want to rock crawing or want to drive serious 4x4 trail such as Rubicon trail, I think Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is better choice. I've seen many Liberty pics that driving/crawing seroius 4x4 trails but it seems like you need to invest a lot of money to modify it.

Similar Products Used:

+We own 2004 Toyota Prius. We bought it last year as primarly car. It's a good car. As everyone know, unlike Jeep, it has excellent gas milege, but it just not fun or comfortable to drive (read my review at Prius). It's very unstable in rain/wind. So, now we drive Jeep more than Prius! +1988 Jeep Cherokee Limited. Loved it! It's the reason we bought Jeep again (instead of Xterra). +2002 Saturn SL2 Good gas milege. Low maintainance. Good customer service. It's much better than people think! Made it many National Forest trails. Drove Black Rock Dessert, Death Valley etc. Love little Saturn! +2005 Nissan Xterra (test drove...pretty good one too!) +2005 Ford Escape (Test drove. Not a real 4x4. Good if you don't go off road much)

Power and visibility. The vehicle seems to have larger side-view mirrors than most in its class. Vehicle is tough, and feels tough. A plethora of modifications and upgrades can be purchased at the factory and third party- especially in the off-road accessory department. Towing capacity of 5000lbs. The Ford Escape's capacity is only 1500lbs. So if towing is in your future and you're buying a vehicle in this class, the Liberty is a no brainer.

Very few. Engine is powerful: 210 horse power. However, it needs all of it. When doing freeway driving, and the vehicle starts going up hill, the speed will back off- and more gas pedal is required to maintain your highway speed. I have seen this mentioned in professional reviews as well. But most (including myself) don't consider it a major issue. Shifting is a bit slow, and I've found that when hovering or moving slowly through speeds in the 40-50mph range AND going uphill, that the transmission sometimes struggle to figure out what gear it needs to be in. Again, vehicle is built for power and torque, not so much highway speed. Interior is a bit spartan in the Sport model. Luxury options are available (heated/power seats) as options. Front seat Nick-nack storage is a bit limited. Everything will end up going in the center console as the glove box will fill up fast. Dash won't support placement of any object as it has no flat surfaces- so clever mounting options have to be used for things like GPS or Cell phones.

I've only been driving the jeep a week, so I may have to review later, say after six months. After doing a fair amount of research on many vehicles within the Liberty's class, I feel that this was the best vehicle to purchase for our needs. It's a vehicle which has TRUE off-road capability not present in almost every other vehicle within its class, plus several ABOVE its class. The engine is powerful, but it has to be because the Liberty is a fairly heavy vehicle. I find the ride slightly harder than other vehicles (primarily tested Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute), but I don't mind it knowing it's suspension and engine are built for serious performance. Acceleration is decent, but won't give you whiplash, but I don't suggest buying this vehicle for sports car street performance. Handling was better than the Escape and several other vehicles (not in SUV class) that we drove. Turning radious is fantastic. Passengers marvel at the tight turnarounds. Engine is fairly quiet, and accurately reflects the professional reviews indicating that it sounds more like a rear engine because you hear the exhaust system more than the engine itself. Interior: The interior is very simple, but adequate. I would prefer a couple more gauges such as oil pressure and battery charge, instead of 'idiot lights'. Seats are rather firm (could be more comfortable) so long trips might be uncomfortable for some more picky passengers. Storage compartments are not particularly spacious. Dash board is pretty much non-existent as a storage medium. The glove box is startlingly small. Some reviews I had read indicated there wasn't space enough for the manual. The 2004 has a slot above the glove compartment built just for the manual. This feature may be new but older liberty owners should check for this. The dealer said it was a common oversight by owners. There's a center console which is fairly deep and has decent storage capacity. Two large cupholders are between the gear-shift (auto) and console. General interior is fairly roomy- and seems on par with the this class of SUV. Some suv's MIGHT have an inch or two in one area, but lose an inch or two in another. Back seats fold down nicely (not absolutely flat- some owners complain bitterly about this- to me, it's a relative non-issue). Head room is fantastic. I'm tall but have surprisingly short legs. I'm long bodied, so head room is ALWAYS a major issue for me. Tall passengers with long legs might feel slightly cramped in the back seats if front passengers push front seats way back. The rear seats can accomodate two normal sized adults well. Three full sized adults might feel a little 'close'. I have read a number of complaints in these reviews about gas mileage, and frankly, it worried me. Sticker indicated 17/21. I'm consistently getting between 17 and 18 in what amounts to be largely city driving. My guess is that people who were having trouble with below normal mileage could be living in hot areas and using the air-conditioner at all times. Also, I drive relatively conservatively, but not like a grandma. My highway speeds are consistently 70. ON acceleration I don't floor it. I drive with many people who do this under normal driving conditions I have no idea why. But I advise against it, regardless of the vehicle you own. 17/21 mileage isn't winning any Ralph Nader awards, but you CAN maintain these numbers. If you live in a sweltering climate and need constant air and to all in-city driving- you may see some numbers below the sticker averages. I would advise using cruise control whenever possible for people who live under these conditions. Some reviewers in this forum noted that the shifting was slow. I'd have to agree. I believe this is called 'kickdown' in auto transmission lingo. I would agree that the auto-transmission feels sluggish, especially when slowly accelerating through the 40mph mark. Again, for me, I can live with minor mechanical 'quirks' if: a. The vehicle works. b. The quirk isn't a sign of an impending failure. c. It doesn't diminish the vehicles overall performance. Overall, I've never been more excited over a vehicle purchase. The Liberty feels 'tough' on the road. It has a kind of 'growl' when it drives. Its lines are unique. We were initially in the market for an XTerra, but the XTerra had lesser performance numbers, lower gas mileage, and even the SUPERCHARGED version comes in at 190hp vs the liberty's 210hp. The SuperCharged XTerra is much more expensive. I rate this vehicle 5 stars despite the weaknesses because of the 0% financing. That makes any negatives REAL small.

Similar Products Used:

For Escape, Mazda Tribute, Saturn Vue, XTerra.

Strong engine and off road perfomance. Great value and standard options. Not bad gas mileage for a 4x4.

Very poor automatic transmission (slow shifting and lots of noise) Lost ride height from 2002 to 2003. Questionable build quality with window seals and materials.

While I am impressed with the Liberty's style and off road performance I have experienced some quality and build issues. It took 3 times to fix the back flip window from rattling (which still makes noise). The automatic transmission shifts very slowly and I was told that all the noises it makes is the cellanoid packet trying to figure out what gear to be in. I do believe it is the best value for your dollar with great standard options especially on the Sport Model. I have had good experiences with the Libery during winter driving and some light off road driving. The 3.7 engine appears to be strong but once again I wish the transmission was better mated with that engine. Lots of room with the back seat folded down. We have taken it on a couple of extended trips and the gas mileage is not bad for a 4x4. Overall I am happy with my purchase of the Liberty Sport..but I do wish I would have done some more shopping around. Possibly for a Nissan, Toyota or Ford Escape.

Similar Products Used:

2002 Jeep Wrangler Sport