real deal: a decent car-like ride, almost 9 inches of clearance, off-road performance and a 210-hp torquey V6 combine to make the Jeep Liberty a real option in this business. At under $30 000 well dressed, it's also good value, The

Canadian Forest Industries, May/Jun 2002 by Jamieson, Scott

The small-scale Jeep Liberty stands apart in its "sport-ute" class thanks to its bold styling (more off-road rally rugged than urbanized SUV), tall stance, and the confidence it inspires off-road compared with such car-based competitors as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 or even the Ford Escape (which we managed to get stuck twice).

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Off the beaten track, Liberty's got it all or could have it with the addition of the off-road package - almost 9 inches of clearance, guarded undercarriage (front and rear), beefier, iron-clad suspension with 8 inches of travel, simple-to-use and versatile 4WD system (with low range and Trac-Lok rear diff.), minimal front and rear overhang for impressively high approach (38.2[Symbol Not Transcribed] [degree]), departure (32.4[Symbol Not Transcribed] [degree]) and breakover angles (24.3[Symbol Not Transcribed] [degree]), tight turning radius (35.9 ft), high-mounted air intake, breather/vent tubes and electrical components to allow water crossings, tow hooks, 16-in all-terrain tires, and excellent down-to-the-ground visibility. You'd have to work pretty hard or be where you shouldn't to get this one stuck.

Despite that Jeep-like performance, the Liberty is easy to manage on-road as well, whether around town or on long highway cruises. We took our Liberty on two long commutes during our weeklong test, and even after three straight hours behind the wheel felt comfy and relaxed (tall drivers might find the seats a tad short, however).

The base Liberty ($22 600) comes with a 2.4L (150 hp) 4-cylinder and manual 5-speed, but upgrading to the amply powerful 210-hp V6 ($875) and very smooth 4-speed automatic tranny ($1 000) is a no-brainer. Given the Liberty's size, the V6 provides more than enough passing and acceleration power, and is far and away the torque leader in its class with 235 lb-ft at 4 000 rpm. Combined, the engine and auto transmission allow 5 000 lbs of towing capacity, also very good for this class.

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The ride is smooth, and handling is better than expected both in town and beyond 135 km/hr, thanks in part to a much stiffer frame design, independent front suspension, and Jeep's first ever power rack-and-pinion steering system. It might be much smaller than the venerable Grand Cherokee, but I prefer the Liberty's ride any day, an indication of just how much value is packed into this little wonder. In fact the Liberty's confident handling might be too much of a good thing - forget this SUV's short wheelbase and high centre of gravity while charging into a corner or off-ramp, and you might test its safety features and optional side air bags sooner than you'd like.

Small Crew

The upscale Liberty interior is well finished, although the base models we've looked at are a little bare. To spruce it up, you can either add the $2 500 options package to the Sport model for almost all you'd ever need, or start with the Limited model, which at $28 910 includes auto tranny/V6, AC, electric group, cargo cover, cruise and a wide range of goodies. Our Liberty Limited tester had a leather group package on top of all that, with attractive and heated leather seats; Selec-Trac part-time/full-time 4WD rather than Command-Trac (allowing you to use the 4WD mode in mixed or high traction conditions); steering wheel audio controls (behind the wheel Dodge style, and still among the best); in-dash CD with rear 6-CD changer tied to a booming sound system, and plenty more. With every option known to man aside from a sun-roof, our tester priced out at $34 390, but you could get a very nicely appointed auto V6 Liberty Sport with optional ABS, offroad group and tow package for just under $30 000.

The Liberty is well suited for four adults or two adults and three children. Thanks in part to the door-mounted full-sized spare, cargo space behind the second row is decent at almost 30 ft[Symbol Not Transcribed], and the 65/35 folding seats allow all sorts of combinations. The Liberty allowed us to carry loads of cargo and magazines to a trade show without any clever packing required. With one tug on the handle, the rear glass pops way up and the door opens fully to allow quick and wide access to the cargo area.

Passengers all have their own storage options, as well as cup holders. The dash and controls are great, except for the window controls. These are placed on the front sloping surface of the centre console, and even after a week I couldn't get used to them.

The only other faults include an engine that, while a fantastic performer, is a little rougher and noisier than sixes we've tested (but not annoyingly so), a rail-style roof rack that is not very practical, and a 70-litre fuel tank that only gave us a safe range of 500 km during our test, possibly an issue in this industry (although less pedal-to-the metal driving would also help).

As a totally new model, we'll have to wait to get an idea of the Liberty's long-term reliability. If Jeep's looking for a long-term test site, however, we just might volunteer. First impressions indicate this is the best Jeep yet.