Jeep Liberty CRD

[Pritch]

Hello folks

Well, my review is up. Pretty impressive little machine, the Liberty. Im not a huge fan of off roaders, and I really enjoyed it.

Anyone ever try one or have any comments? Curious to hear what you think!

Pritch

[jww]

I like the CRD diesel, but have never been much of a fan of the Liberty. Seems so much smaller and more expensive than other small SUVs. Of course, because it's a Jeep, it's more worthy of off-roading than, say, a CR-V or Rav4, but still not convinced in the package (with the exception of the CRD engine).

jww

[Pritch]

Good point, and a common one. I've spent time with the Tucson, Rav4, and escape this year. I think thats just it though is the ruggedness and following the Jeep brand has going for it. Pricey yes, but no way in heck would you go do real offroading in much of its competition. And as I discovered there are people that still DO take their machines offroad.

Totally agreed about your comment though. I hear theyre stopping production anyhow....emissions laws or something.

[The General]

I love the diesel torque. The 2.8L CRD is strong however I was dissapointed in the truck's fuel consumption. If I recall correctly, I averaged about 14 L per 100 km. My biggest problem was with the 5-speed autobox: slow and lazy. With a 6-speed manual, it would have rocked!

[Pritch]

True...highway mileage wasnt bad IIRC....
but there are benefits to the engne without the mileage, torque being one yes, and that delightful sound....oh, and diesel was about 10 cents cheaper than gas all week long!

[big_block]

I hope that the new Gran Cherokee CRD next spring will have better fuel consumption, I mean closer to the numbers provided by the manufacturer. I read the article from auto123 and I'm not very impress too with the Liberty CRD. VW were doing a great job but their diesels will be gone for 2007.

[Crash]

Hey Pritch,

I enjoyed your review on the Liberty, nice to see that someone has the gusto to go out and give it a good "trail testing".

Oh by the way, the Liberty might not be super efficient on fuel but I'm in a Jeep Commander with the 5.7 Hemi this week....over $100 since Monday afternoon and I haven't been anywhere! Want to swop fuel bills??? :D

[Pritch]

No thanks!
Im sure its not just the engines fault. In the Charger i found it not bad (highway)

but the commander is about as aerodynamic as a shopping mall which probably doesnt help

[jww]

No thanks!
...

but the commander is about as aerodynamic as a shopping mall which probably doesnt help
I saw my 'first' Comander yesterday pulling out of our local Costco. I would place it in the same ugliness category as the Hummer. C'mon now - who really needs that kind of vehicle. When we were in Utah back in April of this year, we saw more Hummers than Minis in the UK??

jww

[jww]

No thanks!
...

but the commander is about as aerodynamic as a shopping mall which probably doesnt help
I saw my 'first' Comander yesterday pulling out of our local Costco. I would place it in the same ugliness category as the Hummer. C'mon now - who really needs that kind of vehicle. When we were in Utah back in April of this year, we saw more Hummers than Minis in the UK - what's up with that??

jww

[Crash]

I know what you mean, it's not exactly the Catherine Zeta Jones of the auto world but I don't know if I would call it ugly. I don't find it as "in your face" as the Hummer.

I look at it this way;

Hemi powered= Big V8, massive up front power so if you're looking for something to pull, I'd say it's just the thing.

4WD= You shouldn't have a problem if you want to get down and dirty, its been trail tested or so they tell me.

Looks= Well like I said, it may not be Catherine but if you was offered one for a week, like me you'd have a go and have a lot of fun with it.

Wait a minute, I just realized....It's Pamela Anderson :lol:


So come on guy's what would you say the Liberty is?

[jww]

I know what you mean, it's not exactly the Catherine Zeta Jones of the auto world but I don't know if I would call it ugly. I don't find it as "in your face" as the Hummer.

I look at it this way;

Hemi powered= Big V8, massive up front power so if you're looking for something to pull, I'd say it's just the thing.

4WD= You shouldn't have a problem if you want to get down and dirty, its been trail tested or so they tell me.

Looks= Well like I said, it may not be Catherine but if you was offered one for a week, like me you'd have a go and have a lot of fun with it.

Wait a minute, I just realized....It's Pamela Anderson :lol:


So come on guy's what would you say the Liberty is?
I never said the commander is ugly, just the same ugly catagory as the hummer :)

I think that I would relate the Liberty to Rosy O'Donnell

jww

[Pritch]

OUCH! That hurt

the liberty is cute as far as jeeps go, and capable, and charming. That diesel engine really gets to you after a while and I liked it a lot.

Rosie odonnel!! Oh dear!

Leads me to the question...if you wanted a commander or a liberty type of machine, which would you think is the best looking one in either class?

For me...

In the liberty's class the best looking machine is the liberty

For the commander.....best looking machine....Pathfinder Armada, IMHO.

I look forward to driving the Commander this summer, mileage or not. Its not fair to judge a machine like that one on the basis of its mileage- some people need to get 7 people and a trailer around in comfort- and you're not expecting good mileage anyhow. Its like complaining about how badly an MX5 does off-road- irrelevant.


Final note, for this writer, out of all the Mini Ute type things I've tested, which include

Liberty
Rav-4
Tucson
Outlander
Escape

I would pick, for my own personal use, the Outlander.

But certainly not if I wanted to go in the bush.

[Crash]

I like diesel too and in many ways I think that it is the future rather than hybrids but I think that the best is yet to come. Some of the Europeans companies are producing awesome diesels and hopefully we will start to see them over here soon.

I'm not a huge fan of smaller SUV's, I think I would go for a nice AWD wagon instead. As for larger 4wd vehicles go, my favorite this year is without a doubt, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, for the price, it really is hard to beat.
If money was no object or if I my lucky numbers come up this week, a full size Range Rover.

[jww]

I think the best large SUV is a Land Rover LR3 without question. For small SUV, not sure - there are some pretty capable vehicles out there. It would depend if I was after severe off-roading or cruising. I think that The Forrester is probably the most capable in it's class and price point.

jww

[Pistoles]

I love also the diesel torque ans I find the consumption isn't so bad. I hope a diesel version for the Commander also.

[Pritch]

Cherokee will come with a diesel next year reportedly.... 3.0 liter CRD

[big_block]

Cherokee will come with a diesel next year reportedly.... 3.0 liter CRD

Yes but at which price ? The current Liberty CRD is sold about 35K$. Add at least a 5000$ prenium for the Gran Cherokee. But I give some congratulations to Chrysler to the first to bring the new generation of diesels in America. Other car manufacturers fill follow later.

[Pritch]

Maybe not at least $5000 extra... the engine isnt a new one, and the one fitted to the Liberty comes in under $2000 on the option sheet

[big_block]

Maybe not at least $5000 extra... the engine isnt a new one, and the one fitted to the Liberty comes in under $2000 on the option sheet

We will see next sping. I know isn't a good compare but for fullsize pick-ups the diesel option is about 10000$. About 8000$ for the engine and about 2000$ for the tranny that come with.

When you pick the diesel for the Liberty there's might be other options that come with. All the Liberty CRD I saw on dealer lots had MSRP of over 35000$.

[mbisaga]

I've had my CRD for one week now and have filled it up for the first time. I went to Shell and filled using their regular diesel (ultra diesel pump was not working and I didn't have much choice because I was in the middle of NOWHERE Alberta). I feel like there is noticeably more clatter and vibration now. Am I imagining this? I've notice some of the VW TDI forums claim that Husky DieselMax is the best. Are there some diesel suppliers better than others?

:?:

[DarbyWalters]

I guess you will see that I am a Jeep Liberty CRD Fan...

The Little Diesel that could! Everyone is familiar with the Large Truck Diesels in the US Market, but don't let this Torque Monster "Escape" (Ford Humor) your "short list". It deserves a serious gander if you are in the market for a midsize Sport Utility that gets better than average fuel economy. Since you can only get these used these days, I am going to skip the items like: How many cup holders?, Stereo Options? and How many Cubic Feet of storage space are available? Instead, I am going to concentrate on the more important items such as: Fuel Mileage, Diesel Attributes and Safety.

The Jeep Liberty CRD was produced for the stateside market for two years. I already had a 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited 4x4 and found the vehicle size and 4WD capabilities to be to my liking. When the CRD (Common Rail Diesel) version appeared in 2005, I was tempted to switch but I had some money in my 2002 with off road modifications so I waited. In 2006, after fuel prices started climbing, it made sense for me to take another look.

Once I test drove the CRD, I caught the "diesel bug". The low end grunt that was missing with the 2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7L V6 Gas Model was there is abundance with the CRD. Some other features that made this SUV attractive were the safety features that had been added since the original debut of the 2002 Jeep Liberty. After Mercedes purchased Chrysler, they incorporated some of their safety features into the Liberty Chassis: 1) ABS-Antilock 4 wheel disc brakes 2)ROM-Roll Over Mitigation 3)ESP-Electronic Stability Program 4)BA-Brake Assist and 5)TC-Traction Control. These 5 features along with the Selec-Trac 4WD transfercase, which gives you the benefit of Full Time 4WD for any conditions, makes driving the Jeep Liberty CRD confidence inspiring. I especially like it for the times when someone other than myself is driving my CRD.

What do all these ABS, ROM, ESP, BA and TC letters mean to you? The ABS senses when a tire/wheel is locked up and releases the brake pressure to that tire/wheel to give you optimum braking and steering control in a panic situation. ROM senses when a tire/wheel is lifting and applies braking forces to the other tires/wheels to compensate and lessen the chance of a Rollover. ESP senses "yaw" and adjusts power and or braking. Basically it compares the attitude of your vehicle to the steering input and keeps your vehicle stable during understeer or oversteer situations. BA automatically adds brake pressure near the end of a stop to decrease braking distance. TC does two things. On Road it senses tire spin and applies braking pressure to stop uncontrolled tire spin. Off Road this also acts like a traction device and directs more power to the tires/wheels that have traction to keep you moving in loose conditions. You do have the options to "turn off" the ESP but the other functions still operate normally.

Of course, the main reason I purchased the Jeep Liberty CRD was for the characteristics of the Diesel itself. Built in Italy by VM Motori (40% Owned by Detroit Diesel), this version of the 2.8L Intercooled Turbo Diesel has many applications abroad. There are too many to mention here but I will say that the 2.8L CRD is in the Euro Jeep Libertys which are called Cherokees since Subaru owns the rights to the "Liberty" moniker abroad. The CRD is a "Common Rail Diesel" which is a high fuel pressure setup that gives more power and cleaner emissions than older Diesels. It has 160 horses but the real kicker is the 295 foot pounds of torque that is delivered at a low 1,800 rpm. That low end grunt combined with the 545RFE transmission with two overdrive ratios makes for some great fuel mileage. I have seen as high as 32mpg highway while cruising at 68mph during the summer months. In town I am always in serious Stop n' Go traffic and get a respectable 21mpg on a consistent basis. This is in a SUV that tips the scales at 4296 pounds. Another benefit of all that low end torque is that the CRD can easily tow 5,000 pounds. I don't know of many other midsized SUVs that have that towing capacity.

If you are in the market for a fuel efficient, safe, SUV that can tow up to 5,000 pounds and take you to destinations "On" or "Off" Road...The Jeep Liberty CRD would be an excellent choice.

As with most vehicles produced lately, there are some recalls that should be addressed. The Lower Ball Joint Recall that has plagued the Jeep Liberty since 2002 is still an issue. Also there is the "F37 Customer Satisfaction Notice" about some Torque Converter Issues. There is also a "blower" recall to replace the fan for the heat/ac. If you have any questions about these problems and other fixes for small issues, you should make a visit to http://www.LOSTKJs.com and go to the forum. There is a special section for CRDs that has more information than you can read at one sitting.

Now for the "creature features" of the CRD. The Jeep Liberty has a pretty big "glasshouse" for great visibility in all directions. One thing you will have to get used to is the small size of the dash. With the seating position, you are not very far away from the front windshield, kind of like a Jeep Wrangler. Also the front seats put you in an "upright position" like a chair. The good part about this position is that you can easily tell where your front of your Jeep is in relation to obstacles. This along with the excellent turning radius (less than 36') makes the Jeep Liberty very parking lot friendly. The seats on the newer 2005-2007 Jeep Libertys have been redesigned for better comfort than the 2002-2004. They seen a little wider and firmer but they are not the "most" comfortable seats on the market. They also redesigned the fold down features of the rear seats. They fold down "flatter" than previous models but not completely flat. I guess they decided that it was better to go this route instead of raising the loading platform and loosing vertical space.

As for driving characteristics, the Jeep Liberty CRD is nimble and fairly responsive for an SUV. The 104.5 inch wheelbase does a good job of soaking up most "bumps" but it is not as compliant as other SUVs on the market. Better tires and Shocks/Struts make a "huge" difference in that department. OME (Old Man Emu) makes a set of shocks/struts that make the CRD a much firmer but more compliant ride. Noise levels are acceptable but you can hear the faint clatter to remind you that you are driving a diesel, especially in city traffic. Just be prepared to have "gas station" attendants run out and tell you that you are using the wrong pump. When you tell them it is a "diesel" they get that look a dog gives when they hear a shrill noise...their eyes get glassy, head tilts and they start scratching! Overall, the Jeep Liberty CRD is fun to drive and the "Turbo Diesel" gives you great "Stop n' Go" performance.

The combination Torque and Transmission Ratios gives you the best of both worlds. Great throttle response and fuel mileage. For example, at 68mph you will only be turning ~ 1,900 rpm. With the 3.7L Gas Engine,the Transmission is the 45RFE with only one overdrive. With the 2.8L CRD you get the 545RFE with two overdrives. Also the transmission does not "hunt" for gears like it did with my 2002 3.7L Gas Jeep Liberty.

As for the interior ergonomics, I like the layout. The window controls are still on the center console, but I am used to that setup. If you find one with the stereo controls on the back of the steering wheel, that is a nice feature. Otherwise, everything is easy to reach and operate. The Unlimited Models can also come with an overhead display that also contains 3 "remote buttons" for garage doors or electronic gates. It also has real time function displays for MPG, AV MPG, Distance to Empty, and more.

There are "shopping bag hooks" on the rear of the rear seats that actually keep stuff from slamming around while driving. There is also a cargo cover that can hide stuff from obvious view. One thing I like is that the rear windows still roll "all the way down" instead of just part of the way. They did this by making the rear window two pieces...this allows most of the window to be completely rolled down despite the shape of the rear door. As for storage space, the Jeep Liberty CRD does not have as much as most SUVs. There are door pockets on the front doors and a small center console which meets my needs but the glove box is rather small. In the rear seat area, the doors have one cup holder and that is all you get. For the rear cargo area, the space is shorter than most other SUVs including the ones in the same "midsize" group. There is a "cargo organizer" that the dealer sells but the aftermarket has a sturdy "cargo shelf" that seems more useful to me.

All in all, my Jeep Liberty CRD meets all my needs. The Turbo Diesel made the Jeep Liberty CRD a better vehicle than the already good Jeep Liberty 3.7L. Excellent Fuel Mileage coupled with Great Handling/Turning Radius and Upgraded Safety Features makes the Jeep Liberty CRD the best Jeep Liberty to date. I think I will keeping this one for quite a while!

[Pritch]

I personally know that the liberty CRD can go through water deep enough to cover the hood...

[DarbyWalters]

As long as you travel at a constant speed and keep the "bow wave" you can go thru some pretty deep water...but the air intake on the CRD is located in the front grill instead of by the hood latch like on the 3.7L Liberty. You must be more careful or trade out the top section form a gasser air box to the CRD air box.