2010 Jeep Liberty - Introducing the Liberty Renegade

The Jeep Liberty is a small SUV that offers a good compromise between road-worthiness and off-road capability, something that is rarely found in the compact SUV class. The Jeep Liberty, which is related to the Dodge Nitro, comes in Sport and Limited editions, and a new for 2010 Renegade trim. Also 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. Both two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive systems are offered on the Sport and Limited trims, while the Renegade is equipped with four-wheel drive only. Compared to other road designed Jeeps, such as the Patriot and Compass, the Liberty is more of a true Jeep, with off-road prowess and bold, upright styling. Overall, the current Jeep Liberty addresses the chief concerns of the first generation, riding and handling better on the road. It also has more passenger room and offers more convenience features. The cute styling of the first Liberty has been replaced with a more traditional, square-jawed Jeep look

Liberty Power and Handling

 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. When properly equipped, the Liberty can tow up to 5,000 pounds. When they redesigned it for 2008, Jeep engineers set out to give the Liberty pleasant road manners and, when it comes to ride quality, they succeeded. The Liberty rides firmly, but irons out most bumps quite well and is stable on the highway.

Jeep Liberty Off Road Features

 The Jeep Liberty was designed to actually venture off-road -- a trait not shared by many of its lighter-weight, car-based sport-utility competitors. It does so confidently thanks to steep approach and departure angles and exceptional suspension travel and articulation. Combined with an independent front and solid axle rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, a new or used Liberty works best for those who want a versatile, go-anywhere utility vehicle and plan to take advantage of its all-terrain prowess on occasion. The Jeep Liberty is quite capable off road, one of the best in its class. The Jeep Liberty's  new Renegade trim for 2010 features Select-Trac II full-time, shift-on-the-fly, active four-wheel-drive system, in a unique rugged new design. 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, a full-time system that allows use of four-wheel drive on dry pavement. Both systems have low-range gearing. Both four-wheel-drive systems make the Liberty highly capable off road, and they are aided by Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control. Within its class, only the Nissan Xterra can claim as much off-road capability.

Design of the 2010 Liberty

 The Jeep Liberty is the successor to one of America's original compact SUVs, the Cherokee. An evolutionary departure from that earlier, more traditional sport-utility design, the Liberty features a large greenhouse, a high roof line and aggressive, flared wheel arches. The Liberty features Jeep's traditional seven-slot grille and trapezoidal fender flares that enhance the vehicle's side profile. One of the more interesting features in the five-seat Jeep Liberty small SUV is its optional Sky Slider movable canvas roof. 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. The current generation model is bigger than the previous generation: 2.5 inches longer overall, and 2.0 inches longer in wheelbase. It rides smoother, too; but it maintains the ruggedness of the previous version.

Jeep Liberty Cabin

The Liberty's interior features a large floor console with cupholders, armrest and a storage area with a removable top tray. 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. 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. A multimedia infotainment system with 30-gigabyte hard drive and navigation system is available. 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. Sport trim 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. Limited come 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 with heated front seats, leather upholstery, six-way power driver's seat with memory, and remote starting.

Conclusions

The Jeep Liberty was redesigned for 2008, and is further improved for 2009, with refinements to its suspension, steering, and brakes. Liberty competitors include the Nissan Xterra and Suzuki Grand Vitara. Safety features include 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. Optional safety features include trailer sway control and rear obstacle detection. The Jeep Liberty is a great vehicle for solo commuters or small families looking for a traditional Jeep that is both road-worthy and capable beyond the road. And with the new Renegade trim, you can select a Liberty that is designed specifically for more off-roading capability.