Last year, Jeep redesigned the Liberty’s seats, and they do offer more comfort. However, hard plastic trim on the upper door panel gets uncomfortable if you rest your elbow there while driving.
The backseat space is tight. The seat itself is fine, and everyone aboard the Liberty benefits from more headroom than they’ll know what to do with, but rear legroom is not generous. Plus, getting into and out of the backseat through the narrow space between the rear wheel-well and the center vehicle pillar takes a bit of contortionism.
Around back, Jeep uses a side-hinged cargo door with a flip-up rear window, and the spare tire is hung here for several reasons, ranging from easier access to the preservation of cargo space. The Liberty provides 29 cubic feet of cargo room behind its rear seat, and up to 69 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. These figures are reasonable for the small SUV segment.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, power side mirrors, remote keyless entry, and a tilt steering wheel. The Liberty Sport sits on 16-inch silver-painted steel wheels.
Ripping a page out of the Nissan Xterra playbook, the Liberty Renegade is all dressed up with places to go. Up front, the Renegade adds awkwardly placed fog lights, while up on top a robust tube-style roof rack is ready for adventure. Fender trim that looks bolted on, unique 16-inch aluminum wheels in Mineral Gray, and rock rails help even the 2WD Renegade to look the part. Options include all-terrain tires, skid plates, tow hooks, and a cool overhead light bar.
If the Renegade looks tough, the Limited is the upscale version of the Liberty. It wears plenty of chrome trim, has shiny 17-inch aluminum wheels, and features nicer interior materials. Plus, it gets a power driver’s seat, a cargo cover, and a spare tire cover. So classy.
Options, depending on the trim level, include leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power sunroof, power heated and folding side mirrors, and dark-tinted glass. A premium sound system is also available, as is a Trac-Loc locking rear differential.
