2010 Jeep Liberty Sport 4X4

Mid-sized sport utility vehicle with full off-road capability

By Nina Russin

2010 Jeep Liberty

Off-road driving is the heart and soul of Jeep, going back to the brand’s World War II Willys roots. Today most models in the Jeep line-up still carry the automaker’s trail rating, which certifies capability to traverse extreme off-road terrain and ford deep water.

The Liberty is Jeep’s mid-sized sport-utility vehicle, positioned between the compact Wrangler and full-sized Grand Cherokee. Its longer wheelbase makes it slightly less maneuverable on trails than the Wrangler; none-the-less, the Liberty is fully off-road capable.

The Liberty’s larger passenger and cargo areas suits families with children better than the Wrangler. At the same time, the Liberty is small and light enough to offer decent fuel economy: about 17 miles-per-gallon on average.

The Liberty can easily hold a couple of road bikes with the second-row seats folded flat. An optional towing prep package gives the SUV 5000 pounds of towing capacity: well in excess of our minimum ALV standards.

The current model is the second generation, which rolled out two years ago. This year, engineers enhanced the Liberty’s gas mileage with a fuel shut-off feature that cuts fuel during deceleration. The concept is similar to that used on the Dodge Durango hybrid, which cuts out fuel delivery to certain cylinders when power needs are low. An “eco” lamp in the gauge cluster helps the driver adjust his style to maximize fuel economy. Read the rest of this entry »