I purchased this vehicle in March 2005 with help from my family as a birthday present to replace my aging 89 Buick Riviera.

I bought this vehicle for several reasons. I wrecked my old vehicle in a blizzard in West Virginia. I shopped around for vehicles that ranged from sport wagons, to compact cars, to midsize-suv's. I settled on the Liberty because of it's power, handling, spaciousness, styling, 0% financing, and $2000 cash back.

Favorite Features
+235 lb/ft torque, 210 hp
+The back glass lifts when you open the rear gate (which swings open from right to left). This is much more convenient than the kind of massive rear gate used on the Rav-4.
+Intuitive steering wheel-mounted cruise control system.
+Ultra-tight turning radius that is better than some small sedans.
+Command-Trac 4wd system with an old-school pull shifter design instead of the electronic push button.
+four wheel disc brakes standard
+Six speaker audio standard
+Fold down seats that pivot to become nearly flush with the rear cargo area.
+A very flat and recessed dashboard with expensive looking guages and styling.
+Convenient protruding round door handles on the interior
+Firm seating with ample leg room in the front and average leg room in the rear

Least Favorite Features
-Stock tires wear quickly
-Seating is so high that tall people like me (6'2") must lean forward to see stoplights that are otherwise obscured by the roof. But by no means does my head come near the ceiling.
-Non-aerodynamic windshield leads to massive amounts of bug splattering that is helped only somewhat by the OEM bug deflector
-Gas mileage for the 3.7L comes in at an unimpressive 17/22, but if you really want good gas mileage there is now a CRD (diesel) version that gets 26mpg.
-The oil filter is very tough to get to because of it's location behind the drive belt, and due to extreme over-tightening I had to wrench out the factory filter with such force that I crushed it.

Driving Impressions
The vehicle is undeniably beast with a throaty engine and exhaust note packed into a trucklike ride. I have read that the fact that the 3.7L is naturally aspirated makes for a slight loss of power at high altitudes, but I have done most of my driving on and around mountains with no complaints, and I have loaded this thing to the brim and found it able to climb interstates on mountain sides at 80MPH comfortably.

One thing that is vital for me, being a previous car owner, is the lack of body roll in this vehicle. Somehow Chrysler managed to avoid that tipping feeling that is everpresent in vehicles like the Honda Element that feel fine in tight turns but tend to lean in drawn out high speed bends.

Braking is powerful with the included disc brakes, but I wish I would have opted for the ABS whenever I'm in rainy conditions.

The guages are large and easy to read, the stereo controls take some time to get used to, and the AC controls are very standard. The stock seats are comfy, but they lack manual height or lumbar adjustments that many other companies are now offering in non-power seats.

Interior
The interior looks expensive. The door handles are unconventionally arched outward and look breakable, but they are not. The console area is handsome with the 4x4 shifter standing out with it's textured rubber grip handle and leather surrounding material. The storage in the console is ample, but the glove box is way too tiny for just about anything. Luckily, there is a slot just above the glove box latch expressly designed to house the bulky owner's manual pouch.
The 12v outlet in the trunk is a nice touch. One problem with the interior is the ease with which the plastic surfaces scuff when loading in large objects. I have put scuffs on the plastic inside the top of the trunk, next to the rear seats, the doors, and the sides of the trunk. However, the scuffs aren't serious unless you plan to resell. Another note, the gray cloth stains and dirties easily, and for this reason I recommend some cheap seat covers. Also, a cargo mat for the rear area is helpful for carpet protection, as are the factory slush mats (which make use of the hook protruding from the footspace of the driver's area).

Exterior
The styling is unique to Chrysler/Dodge vehicles. The tail-light design stands out as being the most acutely unique part of this vehicle. The plastic fender flaring and bumpers help to make it look rugged. The headlights and grill harken back to the design of older Jeeps. The new fog light placement adjacent to the headlights reportedly protects them from flying debris, and the foglights do provide extra night-time and bad weather visibility. However, they are automatically disengaged when the highbeams are activated.
I chose the Patriot blue model. The Alloy wheels are a nice touch, and the gate-mounted spare makes the vehicle look rugged and toylike. However, even the stock pressed wheels on these vehicles have a pleasing silver finish. The shape of the vehicle is slightly boxy and not completely dissimilar to the new Hummer H3's.

Off-Road
Many people think this is not a "real" jeep because it has independent front suspension (and hooks on the rear seats for grocery bags). Well, I have taken mine off-road a couple of times. The clearance is better than you'd expect for navigating mounds or logs running across a trail.
There is a steel cross member that runs across the center of the undercarriage, and if something scrapes on a rock, or obstacle then this is usually it. The FWD system is smooth to operate, and the Jeep website offers instructions about when to use the different gearing depending on the scenario you encounter.
The fact that this vehicle has a 4Lo makes it a real off-road machine. It is worth noting that the post 2001 Liberty was lowered to decrease its rollover problems, but there are instructions on the net for a Clevis Lift that offers increased height without any extra parts. Beyond that, there are 2,3, and 7 inch lift kits available for varying prices. If you are going to be doing serious off-roading, you probably want to order up some skid plates (and not necessarily factory ones) but you can get them installed in the off-road package.

Overall
This vehicle is impressive. One drive will make you fall in love. When you test drive it, cut the wheel, pull a U-turn, and prepare to be amazed. Also, the highway performance is stellar with a ride that is just slightly bouncy.

*Also, consider the towing package that includes upgraded engine and transmission cooling if you want to get all 5,000 lbs of towing capacity out of this rig.

UPDATE 12/05:
I have installed an old stereo so that I could make use of a JVC cd-changer that was collecting dust. I still love my vehicle, and it is still performing well with 12K miles on it. A VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT is happening with regard to the Liberty's offroad capabilities. The CV axles up front have long plagued those who wanted to lift the vehicle because the lift would cause components to potentially tear or impact one another when lifted higher than 2.5 inches. In 2006, certain companies will begin producing aftermarket CV axles that will allow for a 4-6 inch lift without the need for a costly solid front axle conversion.



Amount Paid (US$): 20800
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: 4WD Sport Auto 4sp 3.7L leather wrapped steering and alloy wheels