2010 Used Jeep Liberty UT

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The Jeep Liberty has better off-road capability and more towing capacity than most of its competitors. It offers generous cargo space and a high seating position. But it's heavy for a compact SUV, and it lacks the handling and fuel economy of most of its rivals. If off-road capability is important, the Liberty is a good choice. 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. For 2010 the changes are minor in nature. Front seat active head restraints are standard on all models, and the Limited trim level has leather seating surfaces and power and heated front seats. There have also been changes to some option groups and there are some detail feature enhancements.  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, other small SUVs will deliver better fuel economy and better handling, but few will match the Liberty's capabilities.

Driving the 2010 Liberty

All Liberty models come with a 3.7-liter V6 that makes 210 horsepower. A four-speed automatic is standard. Off road the Liberty performs well. With generous approach and departure angles and low-range gearing for 4x4 models, it can crawl over large rocks and logs. Four-wheel-drive models have Hill Descent Control, which pulses the brakes through the ABS to limit the vehicle's speed when driving down steep grades. Hill Start Assist is also standard. It holds the brakes on hills when the driver releases the pedal to prevent the vehicle from sliding backward. The ride is generally firm, but the Liberty smooths over most bumps and is never punishing, even with the available 18-inch wheels.

'10 Jeep Liberty Design

On the outside, the most noticeable aspect of the front end is Jeep's characteristic seven-slot grille. The grille is body color on the Sport and chrome on the Limited. The front fascia is body color on all, and the front air dam is removable to provide more ground clearance for off-roading. From the side, the Liberty has tall windows in a squared off greenhouse. The Limited's chrome theme extends to the side with chrome side trim and roof rails. These components are black on the Sport. In an attempt to give the Liberty the open feel of a Wrangler, Jeep offers the Sky Slider sunroof. Jeep says this canvas power sunroof is four times the size of an average sunroof.

Inside the 2010 Liberty

Inside, the Liberty has plenty of room for five. However, we view it as not quite up to expectations in terms of materials quality and fit and finish, with a lot of hard-plastic surfaces. Still, it's not an unpleasant cockpit. 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. Most drivers will like the high seating position. Head room in the front seat is plentiful, but the tallest drivers will want more available front leg room. The side mirrors are large and the cabin has a lot of glass, making for fine rear visibility. Cargo space is about average for the class. The second-row seats fold flat in an easy one-step process to yield 60.9 cubic feet of cargo space. With the seats up there is 25.2 cubic feet of cargo room, which is plenty of room for hauling groceries with the kids in the vehicle. The available fold-flat front-passenger seat allows for loading long items. In back, Jeep provides a shallow under-floor storage area with a reversible cover that is carpeted on one side and formed into a plastic tray on the other. This is a useful feature for stowing muddy boots. Cargo tie-down hooks are also provided to secure loose items. The load floor is fairly low, making it easy to load heavy cargo. The rear glass panel opens separately, so groceries can be set inside without opening the tailgate.

Jeep Liberty Lineup

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. The Sport features include cloth upholstery, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, 65/35 split folding rear seats, heated 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. Floor mats come standard.

The Renegade includes skid plates for the transmission, transfer case, front suspension, and engine; transmission oil cooler; tow hooks; and fender flares. It is fitted for the more rugged off-roading experience. Its options are similar to those of the Sport.

The Limited comes standard with a 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, anti-theft alarm, fog lamps, and 235/65R17 all-season tires on aluminum wheels.

Conclusions

Safety features include dual front airbags, plus head-protecting side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors, front side airbags for torso protection, and active front-seat head restraints. 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. The Jeep Liberty is quite capable off road, one of the best in its class, with terrific off-road prowess and bold, upright styling. It's tall and angular, somewhat reminiscent of the much-loved, rugged but crude 1990s Jeep Cherokee. It rides nice and smooth, as well, but maintains the ruggedness for which Jeep is famous. Visit the official Jeep Liberty site for the latest updates on this model.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com