Exterior

I love the clean, boxy, rugged look of the Liberty. From its big, round headlights to its chunky tires, the Liberty screams “Jeep.” Its abrupt exterior angles contribute to the Liberty’s no-nonsense appeal.

Second-row passengers, especially kids, will find it impossible to get in and out of the Liberty without rubbing up against the dirty exterior. I suggest purchasing the optional side steps — available in either of two packages, for $795 or $1,090 — to get around this messy problem. I’d love to see Jeep offer fully integrated rocker panels or running boards as an option; these features would help passengers get into the Liberty easily and cleanly. My 3-year-old had some major issues in this department (see video below).

I had some problems with the Liberty’s windshield, too. It’s set at a more vertical angle than most cars’, which is cool-looking, but it seems to catch and trap raindrops and bugs (ewww!), noticeably reducing visibility even when the wipers are in full swing.

The rear hatch window pops open separately from the liftgate, and it also can be lowered with a button on the key fob. My dog and I both loved that! The Liberty didn’t have a power liftgate, which would have been helpful because the cargo door was heavy and difficult to close.

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

shopping around: At cars.com

• Side-by-Side Comparison
• Auto Loan Calculator

• Build your own
• Check for Rebates

key exterior: Features

available exterior: Colors

Take the Next Steps at Cars.com

Shop for a car

New

Used

Certified

Make

Model

Search Within 10 miles 20 miles 30 miles 40 miles 50 miles 75 miles 100 miles 150 miles 250 miles 500 miles All

of

Your ZIP

Powered by Cars.com

Make

Model

Search Within 10 miles 20 miles 30 miles 40 miles 50 miles 75 miles 100 miles 150 miles 250 miles 500 miles All

of

Your ZIP

Powered by Cars.com