REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Wild and urban jungles

Between progress and stagnation lies a gap in which the Jeep brand got stuck by keeping the Cherokee alive too long (more than 15 years) while competitors launched new, aggressive models (Escape, Tribute, Xterra, etc.).

The eldest of the category is taking a well-deserved retirement to be replaced by the Liberty, a new utility that not only must cater to true-grit Jeep lovers ’ expectations, but also invite city-sleekers like myself in driving it through the urban jungle.

Probably blinded, and somewhat enchanted, by the round headlights and the painted and striped grille of the Liberty, true-grit and newbies alike might think this is a toy. With attractive and popular looks, the Liberty refreshes a segment where all models end up looking alike.

The Jeep expert will find that in the Liberty, most accessories are optional. The list is so long that the Limited edition, priced at $25,560, quickly gains $6,745 to dress it up at the dealer.Rear seat passengers will benefit from the sunny interior ’ s wide windows. But like the former Cherokee, the rear doors are quite narrow, which makes access more tedious and limits legroom. The front seats are more welcoming. The surprisingly thin dashboard ( like on the TJ ) has a new look. Major controls are handy, with the exception of the power windows, located under the front seats. Finding a comfortable driving position is uneasy; the seat is de-centered and lacks support. On the Limited edition, leather seats are standard, and for $299 more, there are heated.

One word on the trunk, which is no larger than necessary. Fortunately, the rear seat can be partly folded to increase cargo space. The rear hatch is horizontal, which is less than practical in tight spaces. The problem can be partly avoided by lifting the rear glass open.

How does Jeep increase its client base without betraying its own legend among off-road drivers? This has been Jeep ’ s dilemma for many years. The now German-American firm has to find ways to preserve the roughrider qualities of its vehicles while satisfying a clientele merely looking for the look of the vehicle. Coil springs are at the root of this compact utility ’ s suspension, with the clear objective of stabilizing and making the ride more comfortable on asphalt roads. There are other improvement, too: the chassis is longer and more rigid than that of the late Cherokee, the wheelbase is longer, rear and front wheel spans have been increased and larger tires are used.

The objective is reached and it is a fact that the Liberty is clearly more pleasant to drive on a daily basis than its famous predecessor, which would faithfully transmit every jolt in the pavement at full strength. While the Liberty is more comfortable, designers are positive that off-road qualities re untouched and that this tough will get going when the going gets tough. A transfer box will help the Liberty get out of trouble, while most competitors may not.

Along with the brand new suspension, a brand new rack and pinion steering replaces Jeep ’ s traditional ball system. More accurate, it is nonetheless heavier at low speeds. Shorter than the Cherokee, the Liberty doesn ’ t seem one bit more nimble. Urban driving, with the huge 12-meter turning radius, is no easy task, especially in narrow places.

Jeep motorists are proving that nothing beats an old recipe with a touch of novelty. The 3.7-litre V6 found in the Limited edition (optional on the Sport trim) is derived from the 4.7-litre V8 found on the Grand Cherokee among others. If it proves reliable, this new power plant will have no trouble making us forget the 4.0-litre Straight 6. It comes with a choice of four-speed automatic, sometimes brisk, or a 5-speed manual. This last choice will be offered this fall, along with the PT Cruiser ’ s 2.4-litre four-cylinder on entry models. According to DaimlerChrysler, three of every ten buyers will trust the four-cylinder engine. But my warning is that considering the weight of the vehicle, the 4 ’ s 150 hp will soon be short of breath.

Let ’ s say a few words on fuel consumption, one of the weak points of this new Liberty. We didn ’ t drive this Jeep for long, but its best performance has been 13.1 L/100 km.

This is high considering the competition ’ s sobriety. Braking is done with a classic disk-drum combo, equipped with optional ABS. In spite of a few flaws, this Jeep Liberty is to be considered in the compact sport utility vehicle segment.

PROS
Visual appeal
Strong monoframe
Beefy components

CONS
Low fuel mileage
V6 needs more HP
Bad rear visibility