At the same time, Liberty's suspension allows reasonable on-road comfort. Progressive-rate springs deliver a nice balance of off-road grip and on-road ride, though humps in the road can still 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.

All Liberty models come standard with four-wheel disc brakes and ABS. We found the Liberty's brakes easy to modulate in heavy stop-and-go traffic. Liberty's ABS is specifically calibrated to handle off-road situations: In low range, the anti-lock brake system allows some wheel lock, such as when descending steep gravel hills. On the road, its ABS reduces skidding for improved control steering control, but allows some lockup for shorter stopping distances.

Summary

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.

NewCarTestDrive.com editor Mitch McCullough filed this report from Charlottesville, Virginia; John Stewart contributed to this report.

Model Line Overview

Model lineup:Jeep Liberty Sport 2WD ($20,970); Renegade 2WD ($22,860); Limited 2WD ($24,410); Sport 4WD ($22,480); Renegade 4WD ($24,370); Limited 4WD ($25,920)

Engines:210-hp 3.7-liter sohc 12-valve V6; 160-hp 2.8-liter dohc 16-valve turbo diesel inline-4

Transmissions:6-speed manual; 4-speed automatic; 5-speed automatic

Safety equipment (standard):front airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, electronic stability control, roll mitigation control, traction control, driver's seat-belt pre-tensioner, LATCH child-seat anchor system

Safety equipment (optional):side-curtain airbags, tire-pressure monitor

Basic warranty:3 years/36,000 miles

Assembled in:Toledo, Ohio