Jeep Liberty

Impressions: The five-passenger Liberty is Jeep's answer to the off-road challenge posed by the numerous competitors that have sprung up since the meteoric rise of the sport-utility-vehicle market. Created for the 2002 model year, the Liberty's advantage remains that it can go where most others only dream of travelling, thanks to a mandatory two-speed transfer case with a low range when you select a four-wheel-drive model. For 2007, the Liberty lineup faces a couple of casualties: the Renegade model; and the 2.8-liter diesel engine. That leaves the base Sport and the up-market Limited to be powered by the tried-and-true 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V6. The Sport comes with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic that's standard on the Limited. As for the diesel, if you believe everything you see on TV, one will reappear in the Liberty, most likely as a mid-year addition. It's chief advantages will be increased fuel economy and brute torque that the 3.7 gas motor just can't match. The base Sport actually comes well equipped with air conditioning, power windows, locks and mirrors and stability control, which also includes "electronic roll mitigation" that detects the difference between where the driver wants to go and where the vehicle is actually headed and selectively applies the brakes (even at just one wheel) and adjusts the throttle to bring the Liberty back to the intended line. The system is tied into and operates with the standard anti-lock brakes and traction-control. The Limited adds (most of) the rest of the gear necessary to deck out your Liberty, save for heated leather seats (power driver), 17-inch chrome wheels, side-curtain airbags, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, tow package and DVD-based satellite navigation, all of which are optional. Base price: $21,600 (est.) Type: Four-door sport-utility vehicle Base engine (hp): 3.7-liter SOHC V6 (210) Optional engine: None Layout: Front-engine, rear-/four-wheel drive Transmission: Six-speed manual; four-speed automatic (opt.) Mileage (city/hwy): 17/22 (AT) Safety: Front airbags; side-impact airbags (opt.); anti-lock brakes; stability control Weight (lb.): 3,850 Basic warranty: 3/36,000 Roadside assistance: Yes Web: jeep.com