Jeep Liberty Preview – 2007 New York Auto Show: Combining a cute face with a small curvy body doesn't work as well for rugged SUVs as it does, say, your kid's prom date, so when the Liberty arrived to replace the boxy, grizzled Cherokee way back in 2002 Jeep's customer base began skewing wildly toward women despite the new ute's trail-rated capabilities. For 2008, the Liberty is liberated from this marketing misstep. All new from the ground up, the more masculine 2008 Jeep Liberty shares its underpinnings and architecture with the Dodge Nitro and is available in Sport and Limited trim levels. However, where the Nitro gets an exclusive 4.0-liter V6 engine choice, the Liberty reserves a slick Sky Slider full canvas roof for that traditional open-air Jeep feel.

Jeeps should be rugged and tough, not cute and curvy. With this redesign, the Liberty gets the more traditional appearance it should have had all along. Jeep is also taking this opportunity to balance the Liberty's off-road capability with the ride comfort and responsive handling buyers crave when driving on pavement. Furthermore, the Liberty gets more standard safety features and upscale amenities than ever before, adding to its appeal and refinement levels.

Jeep's unrefined 3.7-liter V6 is the sole engine for the 2008 Liberty, so forget about the Nitro's hotter 4.0-liter or the old Liberty's common rail diesel option. That's a shame, because the 210 horsepower generated by the 3.7-liter doesn't seem worth an EPA rating of 16 in the city and 22 on the highway (15/21 with 4WD and an automatic). At least there's a six-speed manual transmission to make better use of the power than the optional four-speed automatic. The good stuff comes in the form of a new suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and a choice between part-time Command-Trac and full-time Selec-Trac 4WD systems. The new Liberty also gets standard stability, roll mitigation, and traction control systems; ABS with brake assist; and side curtain airbags.

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