The suspension is built for reasonable on-road comfort and to absorb impact. Progressive-rate springs deliver a nice balance of off-road grip and on-road ride comfort, though humps in the road can be jolting. The Liberty feels a bit jouncier on rough pavement; taller, squishier, more off-road oriented than the Escape. With the long-travel suspension, cornering takes on a lower design priority. On rugged terrain, however, the Jeep offers a much more comfortable ride than the Escape because the Ford's limited suspension travel and lightweight components are out of their element in the rough. The Liberty feels more substantial than the car-based SUVs and it is. The suspension is far beefier, and the interior controls don't look like they came out of a sedan or a minivan because they didn't.
All Liberty models come standard with four-wheel disc brakes. We found the Liberty's brakes easy to modulate in heavy stop-and-go traffic. Four-wheel, three-channel ABS is optional and recommended. The ABS is specifically calibrated to handle off-road situations: In low range, the anti-lock brake system allows some wheel lock, such as descending steep gravel hills. On the road, ABS reduces skidding for improved control steering control, but there is some lockup for shorter stopping distances.
Jeep Liberty strikes a balance between off-road capability and on-road sophistication. It's a good choice for drivers who like to venture into the backcountry, but need comfort and practicality in a daily driver. A higher degree of off-highway capability separates the Liberty from other small SUVs. Though less agile on the road than the so-called cute-utes, the Liberty is superior once you leave the pavement.
New Car Test Drive editor Mitch McCullough filed this report from Charlottesville, Virginia; John Stewart contributed to this report.
