The 2008 Jeep® Liberty is bigger, badder and better in all ways. Redesigned for curb appeal and engineered to be the real deal, the Jeep Liberty plays many roles, from family wagon to business commuter, while always ready for off-road adventure.
Restyled for 2008, many say the Jeep Liberty looks like a proper Jeep. With its macho sheet metal, upscale interior and improved suspension, the Liberty is a lot of Jeep for the money. What’s more, you’ll be thrilled with unique features such as the Sky Slider full-length canvas roof, an industry first. It’s hard to believe this much value carries an MSRP of just $21,785 for the Sport 4x2.
The Liberty is available in two trim levels - Sport and Limited - and both come with a universal V6 engine and an optional choice of two four-wheel drive systems. Both models benefit from significant chassis and suspension improvements. As 4-Wheel & Off Road magazine wrote, "All-new independent front suspension, all-new five-link rear suspension and a power rack-and-pinion steering system contribute to the all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty's blend of on-road ride comfort and nimble, confidence-inspiring handling."
The Liberty comes with a 3.7-liter V6 engine that puts out 210 hp and 235 lb/ft of torque. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, and a four-speed automatic is optional. The test drivers at 4-Wheel & Off Road found the V6 provides "competitive peak power and torque while providing smooth, quiet operation and proven durability." The Environmental Protection Agency expects the 2WD Liberty with the automatic transmission to net 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway. The manual is expected to produce similar figures. The Liberty’s V6 uses regular-grade fuel.
Reviewers agree that the 2008 Liberty is smoother on pavement, thanks in large part to its new chassis and suspension. NewCarTestDrive.com says the new suspension can "improve ride quality on pavement without hampering Jeep's trademark off-road capability."
In 2007, the Liberty's new rack-and-pinion steering replaced the previous reciprocal ball system. For 2008, it includes a quicker ratio. Result? "The Liberty offers quick, precise steering with moderate effort and produces a pleasant overall feel," says Cars.com.
The most impressive capabilities of the Jeep Liberty come out in the rough. It’s Trail-Rated, a certification that Jeep confirms with testing on serious off-road challenges like the Rubicon Trail. To tame such terrain, the Liberty offers Jeep’s vaunted Selec-Trac II® 4WD that consists of a full-time "on demand" transfer case that can be engaged even on smooth pavement. The system includes 4WD AUTO mode to instantly detect tire slip and distribute engine torque accordingly in all driving conditions, including on pavement. It also includes 2WD High and 4WD LO for maximum traction on rough terrain. The system comes standard with traction control, an electronic stability program and hill start assist. Hill descent control also comes on the Limited model. For those with less ambitious adventures in mind, Jeep offers Command-Trac II® 4WD, which includes a part-time transfer case with shift-on-the-fly capability. Its modes include 2WD High, 4WD Lock and 4WD LO. Though it's the less versatile of the two systems, it still offers more than its rivals. The Liberty has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped with the Trailer Tow Package.
In addition to the 4WD options, the Liberty is well equipped with maneuvering aids such as all-speed traction control, an electronic stability program, antilock brakes with brake assist, a tire pressure monitoring system and hill start assist. The Liberty gets a top score of five stars for driver and passenger safety in frontal crash tests. In side crashes, the Liberty also earned five stars for front- and rear-seat protection.
The five-seat Liberty provides 100.6 cubic feet of passenger interior volume, which includes an extra inch-and-a-half of rear legroom, thanks to the wheelbase stretch. The base Sport model comes standard with speed-sensitive power locks, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, a single-disc CD player with four speakers and a tilt steering wheel. Power windows with driver and front passenger one-touch up/down now come standard on the Sport as well. The Limited model adds such conveniences as a power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, speed control, eight amplified speakers with a subwoofer and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. The 2008 Liberty's most talked-about feature is its all-new Sky Slider scrolling canvas roof, which is optional on both trims. It's controlled via a one-touch switch.
Reviewers also love the new optional MyGIG system, an audio, navigation and entertainment network that includes a 20-gigabyte hard drive for storing music and photos. Customers use the touchscreen or voice commands to control the system, which even includes a voice-memo recorder and CD-ripping capability. It also shows real-time traffic information through SIRIUS Satellite Radio and can provide alternate driving routes based on traffic conditions.
Every reviewer gives brownie points to Jeep for the Liberty's rear gate design, which debuted with the 2007 model. The back hatch is a split design with glass on top and a solid gate on bottom. A button on the key fob opens the glass hatch, and the bottom gate swings open from the side, allowing for easier loading. Pulling the bottom gate handle will also automatically trigger the glass hatch to open. "It's a simple idea that works," says the Detroit Free Press.
Cargo capacity in the new Liberty is 31.5 cubic feet with both rows of seats in use or 64.2 cubic feet with the 65/35-split second row folded down. There's also a reversible panel in the cargo area that can be flipped to reveal a waterproof, rubberized mat with a spill-containing lip.
The 2008 Jeep Liberty is one very capable vehicle no matter what role you have in mind. With today’s issues and uncertainties, it’s nice to know you have a Jeep that’s ready for anything.
