Safety features add to the Liberty's appeal. Standard on all models is an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. Anti-lock brakes (ABS), all-speed traction control (TCS), a four-wheel Brake Traction Control System (BTCS), Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM), and Brake Assist are also standard.

Curtain airbags designed to protect outboard occupants from head injury in side impacts are optional ($490) and we strongly recommend getting them. The front airbags, which come standard, are multi-stage and will deploy with less force during low-speed collisions or if the occupant is unbuckled to reduce the risk of airbag-related injuries. The Enhanced Accident Response System automatically unlocks doors and illuminates interior courtesy lights five seconds after the deployment of the front or side airbag; the system also shuts down the fuel pump immediately after the bags deploy. A three-point belt for the center rear seat comes standard, a safety feature that's missing from many SUVs. Seat belts are the most important safety feature on any vehicle and serve as your first line of defense in a crash. A tire-pressure monitor is available as an option

Walkaround

With its seven-slat grille and round headlights, there's no question the Liberty looks like a Jeep.

The Liberty's body is tall, providing the driver with a commanding view of the terrain ahead. In its exterior dimensions, the Liberty fits between the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. With an overall length of 174.4 inches, the Jeep Liberty is slightly longer than the Ford Escape. It's longer than the Wrangler, but significantly shorter and lighter than the Grand Cherokee.

The Renegade model features a flatter hood that complements the traditional round Jeep headlimps for a distinctive appearance reminiscent of the hardy old Jeep CJ3B of 1953-64. Freestanding fog lamps with black bezels, side sills to protect the body from road blast, tow hooks and a bright silver metallic applique across the body-color front fascia add to Renegade's rugged appearance. Bolted fender flares, which are gray on Sport and body-color on Limited, are molded in contrasting accent colors for Renegade, and feature chrome-plated attachment details to make sure they are noticed. Tubular roof rails are finished in brushed silver metallic. A black off-road light bar is optional on Renegade only.

A neat feature on all models: Yanking hard on the outside handle of the rear cargo door causes the glass hatch to swing up as the door itself is swinging out, which saves time and effort. Pulling on the handle with less force opens the glass only. Also, the door is hinged on the left and swings open from the right, better for curbside pickups at the airport. A lot of imported vehicles swing the other way, meaning you have to walk around the door when loading and unloading curbside.

Interior Features

Climb into a Liberty, and the first thing you'll likely notice is that it feels tall in the saddle. Its roomy interior accommodates five passengers and a generous amount of cargo, with 29 cubic feet of usable space behind the second row of seats. Sitting in the Liberty gives the driver a sense of spaciousness with 40.7 inches of headroom, more than other SUVs in this class. Door panels are scalloped out for elbow rests, and a grab handle is provided on the passenger's side of the dash.

The seats were noticeably improved for 2005 through the use of dual-density foam, but the side bolsters are still soft, a signal that the Liberty is set up more to absorb vibration than to be slung around corners. And you'll have to order the optional power seats to get seat-height adjustment. The standard cloth upholstery feels like it will hold up well. The Renegade front seats are tailored with unique cloth center panels and vinyl bolsters. The front seats in the Limited are more comfortable. They are chair-like buckets, softer and more contoured than the seats in the Ford Escape.

Getting in and out of the Liberty is more difficult than it is in some of the more carlike SUVs. The door openings are relatively narrow, the step-up height is a little higher, the seats have those side bolsters to get past, and your feet must clear relatively high side sills. A grab handle is provided, but it's located on the A-pillar above the steering wheel, not the perfect position to help shorter people swing inside.

The Liberty's rear seats are comfortable, capable of holding three people. Two adults should be happy here. There is even more rear headroom than in the front, and lots of space to slide your feet under the front seats, but knee room is limited. Sliding out of the back seat requires a bit of a stretch down, and your legs drag across the fender. So be sure to clean that area before putting any well-dressed guests back there.

The Liberty offers a generous amount of cargo space behind the rear seats. Caesar the 160-pound mastiff was happy to ride there. Two full-size garbage cans fit side-by-side back there, too, a feat we haven't seen duplicated in many SUVs. Grocery-bag hooks and cargo tie-downs are provided to keep things from rolling around. An optional cargo organizer opens into a shelf with compartment dividers to keep packages in place, and can be folded flat when not in use.