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:

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  Cant figure this thing out? - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Ben - June 30 - 1:30 am

  When I bought my Liberty I made the mistake of thinking I was getting a nice new smooth running vehicle. Well not exactly, I bought and Jeep and thats what I got. While its been reliable, very useful for hauling things and plenty powerful, it can also be somewhat annoying. In my opinion it has too many squeaks and rattles for such a new vehicle - or maybe it is just one of my OCDs. Bottom line, if you want a vehicle that is truly ready to go offroad straight off the lot and want a true Jeep, then this is the SUV for you. If you like the more cushy and refined driving experience then you should look at one of the more car like SUVs

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  Things to know - 2009 Jeep Liberty
  By herc - June 24 - 10:14 am

  People say they used to drive a crossover and dont like the Liberty ride. The first thing to know is that the Liberty is a real Jeep. It will not ride like a car based crossover. That said, it actually does pretty darn good on regular roads. Our Liberty has 90k miles and the drive train has been solid. No squeaks or rattles. Overall our Jeep has been reliable. Weve owned Hondas and other brands so being objective here. Items that will likely be a problem sooner or later on the Liberty include automatic climate controller, trans cooler, and totally integrated power module (when this goes bad the car seems haunted). Wife loves driving the Liberty year round. We would buy another one.

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  Love My Jeep - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Blake - June 21 - 7:13 pm

  What an amazing vehicle this is. I purchased it used from the original owner and have not put a great deal of miles on it (so I have yet to see long term reliability). This is a true SUV with luxury appointments for interior comfort. It motivated a cross country power on the freeway and capable for trip and did not disappoint. Great the off road excursion along the way.

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  Best Jeep Ever! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Jacques - June 17 - 2:00 am

  As a former owner of a Grand Charokee, I was drawn to the new Jeep Liberty. So I bought one and love it! Its the best car Ive ever owned. Its a blast to drive, its got great pick-up-and-go, and it handles like a dream. Its rugged and comfortable. And best of all... its AFFORDABLE!

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  A solid SUV - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Dave in DC - June 11 - 8:36 am

  This car is very well made. I have had it for almost 4 years and never had trouble with the car, nor has any of the trim fallen off or failed. I would keep this car a very long time if it werent for the gas mileage - not so great. I average 12mpg +/- in city driving. Thats the only negative to a great small SUV.

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  Practical and Fun - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By M. Swinehart - June 2 - 11:30 am

  As we shopped, we drove every vehicle in the class but were blown away by the gap between the "Liberty" and even its closest rival. A solid machine with plenty of leg room and cargo space and still fun to drive. We initially had a problem with a transmission computer but since that was corrested...it has been nothing but pleasure to own. We took a 2000 mile drive up north for Christmas and it handled the road and the passengers with ease and in comfort (although a bit more seat padding would be appreciated.) My Navigator is still the more comfortable of our two cars but it ought to be for twice the cost.

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  Great all-rounder - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Vlad - June 2 - 10:00 am

  Jeep has serves me well. Used in Arizona/New Jersey in all sorts of weather/road conditions. Pros: Excellent aircon; Comfortable ride; Unpainted fender and bumpers on sport model still look new even though bumped and scratched; Reliable: only replaced rear window motor under warranty and ball joints (recall). Replacing engine and transmission oil is important to great running; Brakes are good good but keep in mind weight of vehicle on wet/icy roads. Cons: must slow down in wet; mediocre Premium CD/radio

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  Jeep - 2009 Jeep Liberty
  By Jeepers - June 2 - 4:13 am

  I traded in my 97 140k mile Grand Cherokee for the 09 Liberty. In the 140k miles I drove that car it had NO problems. Those who rag on the Libertys gas mileage should go buy themselves a hybrid and keep moving.I was looking for an upper-teens priced SUV that was fun to drive, dependable, and didnt look like a soccer mom drove it. The comparing cars (ie: Rav4, Forester, CR- V) looked and felt unappealing to me. The Liberty drives great and comes with some nice options like the 30GB multimedia storage for mp3s/jpegs, internal CD burner, usb port, voice command, bluetooth, satellite radio, sunroof, ect. The outside is stylish and the off-road capabilities are top of the line. Glad I went Jeep

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  Works for Us - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By RandyM - May 27 - 2:16 pm

  I bought this 2006 Jeep Liberty as my wife and I wanted a small SUV with 4WD. We wanted something in which we could go off roading in the local mountains and deserts. Overall its been a very good performer for us for off-road use as well as street use. I am 6-4 and for me its quite comfortable. The mileage is fair, we tend to drive cautiously on street and as a result stand at 16 MPG city, 21 freeway. The one issue we have had is the window issue as oft reported by others. Four times thus far, we are going to have an independent mechanic do whatever it takes to lock them in the up position as we dont use them. Overall we quite like the Liberty, it serves our needs very well.

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  Power Window Regulator - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By I did love my JEEP - May 20 - 6:23 pm

  From reading most of the reviews, everyone really likes this vehicle and so do I. There is one thing you need to know (and you can check it out on Google) The power window regulators have some parts made of plastic. This week was the third time my back windows broke (dropped down) First time it was under warranty. Second time dealer charged me $200 and I hope the third time will not be more than last time. Just thought you might want to check this out. I would trade it on a new one, but I understand they all have the same problem. Guess you could look at it this way. Seems only one breaks each year, Oh I forgot to tell you. The brake has nothing to do with use, they just drop down.Back to Shop