It isn’t often that we get to test a brand new car against its outgoing counterpart,

Old Liberty, meet New Liberty. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

but that’s exactly the situation we had with the new 2008 Jeep Liberty. Redesigned on a platform shared with the Dodge Nitro, we were struck by its baby Commander styling, and its broad shouldered stance – what a contrast to the ’07 model. That got me thinking. I picked up the phone and called up my dad, the owner of a recently purchased 2007 Liberty, who was more than pleased to donate his trucklet for scrutiny and analysis against the newest kid on the Jeep block.

Our anonymous donor could best be described as a dyed in the wool traditionalist. He claims that it took him a while to warm up to the Liberty, claiming “it wasn’t Jeepy enough”. While we’re not sure that “Jeepy” is a word, it’s not hard to see where he’s coming from. Jeeps were born out of the need for a rugged military vehicle. They were designed to be driven in some of the worst conditions, and what’s more is that they were designed to be durable. This mandate is, unfortunately, all too clear when driving an older Jeep on city streets and pavement. As excellent as they may be for fording a river or climbing a rutted, muddy path, old Jeeps are not civil. Potholes

Fear not winter, bathtub-sized potholes or the occasional trail. And also fear not being shaken apart thanks to the new suspension setup. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

and imperfections cause them to buck and bound around where regular cars glide. This is, of course, besides the fact that they’re very noisy. If you’ve ever done a long distance trip in an old Cherokee or Wrangler, it’s rare that you’ll emerge rested and rejuvenated from your drive.

But the marvels of engineering and huge advances in technology mean whatever you know about Jeeps of the past, you can go ahead and forget it. These buggies are still very comfortable off-road, but their on-road behaviour is vastly improved. Most people have already figured that out, as a look around ones local automotive landscape will surely reveal a large concentration of the brand. People are enamored with the ruggedness that a Jeep represents, although most owners still don’t venture onto anything more aggressive than a cottage driveway. Should they change their mind however, the “Trail Rated” badge on the front fender means that their Jeep has been rigorously tested in the most unforgiving of road

A box on wheels alright... New Liberty also loses its spare tire. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

conditions and lived to tell about it.

So how different is the new Liberty versus its older counterpart? Let’s start with the styling, because that feature alone is wither going to lure or repel many buyers. Despite being labeled as too girly, most folks that we spoke to found that the ’07 Liberty was a better looking vehicle. There’s just something about the way that its round headlights and moulded hood look. Cute? Friendly? Either way, it’s a more pleasing shape than the new model which could be best described as a box. Mind you, it’s a fairly aerodynamic box, improving over the outgoing model and bettering the Dodge shadow (no, not the economy car from the '80s... the Nitro). The 2008 Liberty is more in line with the rest of the Jeep family from a styling standpoint, and it looks more robust than before. Styling is still very much a matter of one's personal preference, so you may find you're smitten by the new kid, as some fellow motorists’ – many of which were currently Liberty drivers – longing gazes did well to enforce that idea.

Inside, the gap between the two models widens considerably; the new Liberty gained nearly unanimous praise. Where the old model is utilitarian in appearance, the new one speaks (rather, whispers) of luxury. The door panels look as though they were sourced from the 300, and materials and textures make an effort to please. The instrument panel is extremely legible and straightforward; no frou frou here, please. Although the interior overall is an improvement, there are a few changes that deserve mention.

The old four-wheel drive transfer case lever, a staple in Jeeps past, disappears in favour of a more modern, electronically activated rocker switch. Many vehicles in the segment strive for simplicity when it comes to selecting 4-wheel drive, and some don’t have any levers to pull or buttons to push at all. The Liberty offers different 4WD systems, but all have electronic control

The interior is a big improvement. Everything's in its right place. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

over the transfer case. Despite the ease of use of a switch, some felt that not having that hard-to-pull lever didn’t provide the same mechanical feel or mental security as forcing one cog into another cog by hand.

Next up, and arguably the most important interior change is to do with the window switches. They’ve finally been moved from the centre console to the door panels. It’s funny how a fairly small change can have such a profound impact on someone – the owner of our ’07 example was delighted to find that the switches on the door opened his windows instead of unlocking the doors at the drive thru. The relocation of the seat heater switches to a more logical dash-mounted location drew praise as well, as did the memory settings for the power driver’s seat and mirrors.

The new Liberty is also substantially quieter than the outgoing model. Noise – wind, tire, engine and other mechanical components – have been muted to a hush, quite noticeably when stepping out of the ’07.

Hooray for good ergonomics. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

Although the new kid is longer than the old model, improving legroom for those who ride in back, the front suffers from front footwells that are more confining than a full commuter train during rush hour.

Standing around and walking around, it’s pretty clear that the new Liberty is a big step forward over the old model, but for a few folks being torn over a few details. Before we could make an educated final call, we decided to take both medium 'utes onto the road for a good mix of city and highway driving, with some twisty bits thrown in to make things interesting. As the kilometers ticked by, we began to realize that the difference in performance we were looking for didn’t exist.

The new Liberty borrows much from the old in the powertrain department. Look under the hood of any new Liberty and you'll find the familiar 3.7-litre V6 (the four-cylinder has been discontinued). It still musters 210

If it were a movie, it'd be, "No Country for Old Engines". It, like the gearbox, is reliable though. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

horsepower and 235 pound feet of toque in the same wheezy, anemic fashion. We must call the powertrain of the Liberty its weak point because it’s unrefined and not very efficient. Despite our best efforts, and Jeep’s best efforts to reduce power losses to drag and rolling resistance, we achieved fuel economy that was nothing to write home about. The four-speed automatic, while smoother than before, isn’t really a four-speed but a three-speed with the world’s longest overdrive. Competitors offer 5-speed automatics (in some case six speeds), so Jeep had better ante up for the next redesign, or at least until a mid-cycle refresh. We can, however, see why Jeep stuck with the same old gearbox, because there’s nothing wrong with how it operates, and it’s durable and sturdy. This powertrain delivers when it’s needed, where it’s needed and it does it without fail.

As an optional engine, we would like to see the 3.0-litre CRD diesel from the Grand Cherokee. It’s a wonderfully powerful and efficient engine, and the only thing it shares from the outgoing Liberty’s Italian diesel is its fuel type.

No automatic all wheel drive - the Liberty sticks to its guns and offers a transfer case. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

We think Jeep has done a good job with the chassis, and the new SUV's off-roading bias is just about right for this day and age, enough so that you know it’s not just an image thing. Yes it’s softer than an old XJ series Cherokee with dual live axles, but this thing can take you places that almost no other vehicle in the segment can, except for perhaps the Hummer H3, FJ Cruiser and perhaps an Xterra could. For something with a live rear axle, the Liberty rides quite well; it’s remarkable how much more stable this thing is to drive than the old, much less stable Liberty. Although the steering is blunt and vague, you can really hustle it along without worrying that it’ll collapse under the stress and roll over like an eager puppy. That said, a sports car the Liberty is not. Underwhelming brake feel round out a dynamic package that will make no apologies for what it is. We feel we deserve an apology in light of us not being able to fully disarm stability control. It intervened annoyingly during a day of snowy weather, firing the brakes constantly when quite frankly, a little wheelspin wouldn’t have hurt. It made us think of the brakes and how they would stand up to

Let the sun (or lack thereof) shine in. Liberty with this option feels as open as a convertible. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

a life under the rule of an ultra conservative electronic nanny. We imagine this feature will, uh, disappoint some hard core off roaders, but it'll certainly benefit most people who will drive it.

It’s also too bad that we tested the Liberty in the throes of winter because we would have liked to take better advantage of the SkySlider sunroof. Where most automotive sunroof applications use glass, the Liberty uses a thick cloth with metal spars to separate occupants from the elements. When it rains, it will remind those who have done any camping of rain falling on a canvas tent. It’s a pretty cool trick, and it opens quite wide, although the price that’s paid is a bit more wind noise. Some people remarked that it reminded them of something they’d see on a Citroen in the south of France. Alternatively, a regular sized glass sunroof is available, giving buyers another aspect of choice.

A solid improvement over the old one, without losing its off-road credentials. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

To some, the Jeep Liberty will be the right-sized off-roader that can really take you off-road, while for others it will be the perfect inner-city runabout. But there’s one thing that most people can’t argue with, and that’s the price. Jeep has slashed a massive amount of money off its asking price. The base sticker has been slashed from over $30k to $27,695 (incentivized to a little over $25k at the moment). That’s a whole lot more Jeep for the money. The two vehicles we had on hand – the ’07 and the ’08 – were essentially identically equipped, but there’s a big difference in price. The older vehicle, when new cost $39,450 before freight and taxes, where as the new Liberty retailed (excluding incentives) for $35,420, for a much better vehicle no less.

The new Jeep Liberty may still be a humble, rudimentary vehicle, but the improvements made on it for 2008 make a good, easy to live with SUV even better. While it may be more comfortable and more luxurious than before, the Liberty does its Jeep name justice; it will command respect both on the road and on the trails.

Specifications (Jeep Liberty Limited):

• Price range (MSRP): $32,795 - $39,010
• Price as Tested (MSRP): $35,420
• Body Type: 5-door SUV
• Layout: front engine, 4WD
• Engine: 210 hp, 235 lb-ft of torque, 3.7L, 12-valve SOHC V6
• Transmission: 4-spd auto
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS w/Off Road Sensors
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,493 / 1,838 / 1,795 / 2,694 mm (176.9 / 72.4 / 70.6 / 106.1 in)
• Curb Weight: 1,915 kg (4,222 lbs)
• Tires: 235/65R17 (opt. 235/60R18)
• Trunk: (seats up/down): 883 / 1,829 L (31.2 / 64.6 cu-ft)
• Fuel Economy (est. city/hwy): 13.4 / 9.2 l/100 km (21 / 31 mpg)
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive; 60/160,000 powertrain
• Competitors: Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Dodge Nitro, Honda CR-V, Hummer H3, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-7, Toyota Highlander / FJ Cruiser
• Website: www.jeep.ca

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