Overview & Reviews

Sold from 2002-'12, the Jeep Liberty was the successor to one of America's original compact SUVs, the Cherokee (which returned in 2014). True to its tough, capable Jeep lineage, the Liberty has considerable off-road capability, thanks to steep approach and departure angles and exceptional suspension travel and articulation. The Liberty was also rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds, a robust figure for its class. These are qualities not found in most other small utility vehicles from this time period, which saw the rise of crossover SUVs optimized for the suburban lifestyle.

Demerits for the Jeep Liberty include a weak engine lineup, with sluggish acceleration and dismal fuel economy from both the four-cylinder and V6 engines offered over the years (the first generation's briefly optional diesel engine is impressively fuel-efficient, however). Interior quality and comfort are also lacking, and by today's standards, the Liberty's general lack of refinement leaves much to be desired.

User Reviews:

• 

  great - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By dominic - December 6 - 4:13 am

  I love this Liberty truck and it is wonderful drive and easier to park than midsize trucks. If you are single you should buy compact suv to save space; if with kids thats different.

• 

  Love my Liberty! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Jo4Lola - December 5 - 9:26 am

  I bought my Liberty when they first came out. I was two weeks shy of getting the 100,000 warranty which really irked me. I love to drive my Liberty. Its great for one or two passengers, but would be too small in the back seat for a larger family. The lack of legroom in the back is my only real issue, but that allows for a lot of cargo room in a relatively small SUV. I have had no significant problems except for two: My radio dies and replacement tires are too expensive!

• 

  Patriot Blue Jeep Liberty 4x4 Limited - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By meprofbos - December 4 - 10:53 am

  This vehicle is FUN! Well built, great drive on and off the roads! Loaded with all the extras sunroof, chrome package etc! A really well built vehicle!

• 

  Liberty CRD - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By CRD - December 3 - 1:53 pm

  My CRD is a blast to drive and gets good mileage. Just took it in for the first oil change, that was a bit of a shock ($90). The A/C works great. My wife claims to hate the diesel clacking under the hood, but I cant keep her out of it. Fuel economy is good, between 24 and 26 MPG with 4000 miles on it. It is maneuverable and easy to park. Havent towed anything yet but I am sure I will have no problem when I do. It has lots of torque.

• 

  Love my jeep - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By mugsy44875 - November 29 - 4:29 pm

  I have to say i love my jeep and am keeping it till it falls apart. I have owned a 2005 bought used in 2005 with only 5000 miles on it and now has 56000 miles. I usually only do city driving. It wonderful in the snow. The biggest downfall is the mpg. Horrible! That would be the only reason not to buy one. Fun car to drive and small/compact. No major problems at all.

• 

  FAILS OFF ROAD - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By Jack Kavanaugh - November 28 - 3:53 am

  The "Trail Rated" designation for this vehicle is a joke. This vehicle is fine; in fact very good, on pavement but a complete dud off road. The Sky Slider roof is noisy at highway speeds but the dealer tells me that that can be fixed. There is no way to fix the off road performance even with lifters. The ground clearance is just inadequate; a moderate two track ranch road results in intolerable high centering. Jeep trails are out of the question.

• 

  Poor on Gas - Great Otherwise - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Alleygal65 - November 22 - 9:20 am

  Ive been hit and my Liberty comes out smelling and looking like a rose. It handles beautifully on and off-road and in snow. Its great looking too. BUT the gas mileage is a REAL problem.

• 

  2005 Jeep Liberty - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Tomk - November 13 - 8:10 am

  This vehicle is fun to drive. I love the size although the cargo space is a bit limited. The rear seats fold down easily for more storage area. The ride is smooth and tight without being stiff. The seats are well padded and sit comfortably, but are very narrow (and Im only 160 lbs). I have the leather trim option which means the seats are mostly vinyl with a little bit of leather on the sides. The back and seat bottoms become very hot and "sweaty" in the summer. The highway ride is comfortable but has a lot of wind noise above 60 mph. I have 7000 highway miles since purchased new in Sept 05. The EPA sticker boasts 22 mpg highway and I cant even break 16 mpg.

• 

  i enjoy it - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By its a good vehicle - November 12 - 7:06 pm

  My 2002 Liberty Limited has served me well since I purchased it. Only minor (and mostly normal) issues have arisen in the past 40k miles (+/-). Its got great off road ability and its very fun to drive! My only cons about the Jeep are the gas mileage, interior design, and comfort of the ride for the passengers. Overall, its a great vehicle for these 122k miles so far!

• 

  1 Year with our Liberty - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Larry Hogelie - November 10 - 10:00 am

  We have been quite happy with our Liberty. We have had very few problems (rear hatch window blew out, power locks cycling, brake sqeak. All repaired without incident. This Jeep has amazing off-road ability. It will climb a rock strewn creek bed better in 2WD than than other brands in 4WD. Amazing. This is the my 9th 4x4 I have owned. My biggest disappointment is the fuel economy. I get the same highway mileage as my I did with my 93 GMC Suburban. To me this inexcusable. I know that a full size Chevy 4WD extended pickup delivers a real 2-3 mpg better than my Liberty. If it wasnt for the poor mileage I would have given our Liberty a much higer rating.