Jeep Liberty — Review

The 2010 Jeep Liberty ranks 20 out of 22 Affordable Compact SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 44 published reviews and test drives of the Jeep Liberty, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Liberty’s strong suit is its excellent off-road capabilities. In spite of that, it can’t match the raw power and refined handling of rivals and probably won’t be a very comfortable daily driver.

The 2010 Jeep Liberty stands out with its macho-looking exterior, trail-rated off-road capabilities and unique Sky Slider full-length canvas roof (an industry first). With a base price around $23,000 and a 16/22 mpg fuel economy rating, the Liberty is a good value when compared with other off-road SUVs. If you don’t need off-road capabilities, however, there are plenty of cheaper compact SUVs that offer more comfortable rides and much better fuel economy.

Other SUVs to Consider

The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, both class leaders, offer better on-pavement driving experiences, net more than four extra miles per gallon and cost slightly less than the Liberty.

However, what the RAV4 and CR-V won’t do is take you off road. For more rugged options, consider the Jeep Patriot. You’ll get the same boxy Jeep styling and off-road prowess without the poor fuel economy. The Patriot achieves 23/28 mpg city/highway, which is the best of any off-road SUV. At around $17,000, it even costs considerably less than the Liberty. For a more refined on-road ride along with off-road chops, consider the Nissan Xterra. It costs slightly less than the Liberty, though it achieves slightly worse fuel economy.

Details: Jeep Liberty

New for the 2010 Liberty is a system that shuts off the engine when decelerating to improve its gas mileage, as well as an indicator on the dash to show when it’s being driven efficiently. This may make the 2010 model worth your money, but if gas mileage isn’t a concern you can probably snag a discount by buying a 2009 model. Dealers may be more willing to negotiate since they’re making room for 2010s on their lots. Check out our Jeep deals for the best incentives.

The Liberty is available in three trim levels — Sport, Rocky Mountain and Limited — which come with a choice of two different four-wheel drive systems.