2008 Jeep Liberty

TheCarConnection.com's automotive experts researched reviews from the Web's most respected sites and combined these findings with our own to compile this conclusive appraisal of the 2008 Jeep Liberty. If you're genuinely looking for a five-passenger vehicle that is ultra-capable off-road, this mid-size Jeep is worthy of consideration even in the face of stiff competition from traditional SUV competitors and car-based crossover vehicles.

Likes:
- Great off-road capabilities
- Enormous Sky Slider roof
- More interior room
- Better on-road ride
- Replaceable fender flares

Dislikes:
- Lackadaisical acceleration
- Trucklike ride and handing
- Quality of interior bits
- Tight rear legroom
- Not great fuel economy

It's a curious thing about the 2008 Jeep Liberty--expert reviews of the new, larger second-generation model ranged from tepid praise to downright harsh. But even after poking hot sticks at the SUV's quality gaffes, most concluded that the Liberty is actually a capable SUV that offers plenty of fun and safety. Their criticisms reveal something important about SUVs; there are subsets to this huge segment of vehicles, and it's important to know what you want your vehicle to do while you're evaluating alternatives.