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The wide-eyed face of Jeep’s new Liberty unmistakably reflects DNA that goes all the way back to the original World War II Jeep, yet it is completely modern at the same time. Smaller than the Grand Cherokee and bigger than the Wrangler, it replaces the boxy Cherokee, which is being phased out.

Designing an all-new Jeep is a daunting challenge. It needs to embody traditional Jeep values and off-road capability, while being civilized enough to live happily in suburbia, where it will spend more than 90 percent of its time. To that end, Jeep engineers started with a unibody chassis and a 104.3-inch wheelbase, then developed a brand-new 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter, SOHC V-6 engine that will be the engine of choice for a majority of buyers. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder is available, but only the most price-conscious will choose it. Prices start at at $17,035 for a two-wheel-drive four-cylinder and range to roughly $27,000 for a fully loaded Limited with the V-6. The V-6-powered Liberty Sport that I drove is likely to be the most popular model, and it had a sticker of $23,350.

The Liberty’s styling reflects a new direction for Jeep. Its has an upright profile with tall windows, much like those that debuted on the Dakar concept vehicle a few years back. The signature seven-bar grille is flanked by big headlights. Nice details are evident throughout, such as beveled edges on the fender flares and a side-hinged rear tailgate that automatically flips up the rear glass before the door pivots to one side. The side-opening tailgate makes loading easy, and putting the spare tire on the door leaves the cargo area wide open.

Inside, the headlight’s circular design theme is repeated in the air vents, door handles and stereo speakers. The instruments have cream-colored faces, which brightens the look. On the Sport, a crosshatch texture wraps the center section of the instrument panel, whereas the luxurious Limited has a polished metal finish on door handles, instrument surrounds and the center console.

The body felt rock solid and the level of interior fit and finish was commendable. Side-curtain airbags are optional but the test vehicle did not have them.

The front bucket seats provide good support and have decent legroom. The instrument panel is close to the windshield, almost like it is in a Wrangler, and that creates a feeling of space. The back seat is fine for young families with children, but adults would appreciate a little more knee room.

The Liberty’s cargo hold is a bit small with the split-folding back seat upright, but it drops flat in one motion. Bottom seat cushions don’t have to be pulled forward nor do the headrests have to be removed, both aggravations suffered by some of the competitors. Shopping-bag holders are molded into the back of the rear seat, and the cargo area has tie-down hooks.

To create a comfortable ride both on and off road, a wishbone-style independent suspension is used in front while the solid rear a xle has coil springs. The ride is fairly taut so that rough, uneven pavement bounces passengers a bit. On curvy roads, body lean is minimized. The power, rack-and-pinion steering has good on-center feel without being overly sensitive. Sixteen-inch wheels are shod with tires whose tread was designed for low noise and good fuel economy, but I found them to be noticeably noisy in city driving. Overall, wind and road noise was on par with that of a good compact sedan.

At a press preview drive earlier in the year, I sampled the Liberty in moderate off-road conditions, and it proved it has more than enough off-road mettle. It is designed to be capable of fording 20 inches of water at 10 mph and did so with no trouble. People who do serious off-roading will want more aggressive tires, but they will ride rougher and louder.

The Liberty is the newest entry in a segment that also includes the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Its ride is rougher, its engine lar and its styling is uniquely Jeep.

Price
The base price of the Liberty Sport is $17,960. Options on the test car included air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, keyless entry, tilt steering column, all-terrain tires, 3.7-liter engine, four-wheel drive, skid plates, cruise control, AM/FM/CD player and tinted glass. Its sticker price was $23,350.

Warranty
Three years or 36,000 miles.

Point: The Liberty is a well-designed, small SUV that feels tight and solid. The interior is attractive and the new 3.7-liter, V-6 engine is smooth and powerful.

Counterpoint: The ride is a bit choppy, the all-terrain tires make noise and the back seat could profit from more knee room.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 3.7-liter, 210-hp V-6
Transmission: Automatic Four-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches
Curb weight: 4,115 lbs.
Base price: $17,960
As-driven: $23,350
Mpg rating: 16 city, 20 hwy.
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