The 2008 Jeep Liberty, which is marketed in Saudi Arabia as the Cherokee, is a motor vehicle. You get in, start it, go where you want to go, get out. Bas khalas. It is a solid hunk of machinery capable of carrying you and your family safely into reasonably testing desert conditions and is also well equipped to drive comfortably on long journeys. If you want this sort of information read on but skip the next paragraph.
If you were looking for a groveling philippic along the lines of “Jeep has amped up the manly appeal; it gets a more macho-looking Jeep seven-slat grille, replacing the more rounded, friendly-looking grille that ironically has been applied to the iconic, Wrangler” (TheCarConnection.com) or for the bustier-poppingly witty aphorism that “The 2008 Jeep Liberty’s new look is much more in keeping with its formidable off-road capabilities — something the previous generation’s rather girl-friendly design kept hidden,” (Motor Trend) then please leave now.
Its off-road capabilities — at least in the automatic model driven of the test — are not formidable. They are average for a Jeep automatic with not quite enough power to shove it up the dunes I use to check these overly ambitious contentions with.
Off road, the Cherokee handled grit and rock hopping well and even when making rapid progress over potholed road, the softer suspension soaked up rather than transmitted the bumps. The longer wheelbase probably contributes to is less agile behavior off-road but the wider track 2.5cm front and a bit more at the rear together with some tinkering with the suspension actually got the car an extra star for stability in rollover ratings.
As anyone who has tried to change a tire in deep sand knows, putting the spare under the car may increase the cargo space and allow the new lift-up door but it makes access to the spare when you are up to the axle in sand one of life’s more interesting challenges. It also reduces departure angle over obstacles. However, the new position allowed 5 cm longer body and more room for the rear seat passengers which, in the previous Liberty was so limited as to be an offense against human rights.
Jeep is still more a truck than car; it has had to compromise between making the on-road ride considerably better than its pervious iteration, but still not up to it’s car-based competitors in ride quality, body control, steering action and general responsiveness. A new five-link rear axle and new wishbone-type independent front suspension improves both ride and handling. Somehow with all this smoothness, I got a feel of isolation from what’s going on outside on the road. I found in a pleasant on-road drive, much smoother that the previous Liberty and very much quieter in the cabin.
Sadly, despite volumes of praise for the six-speed manual option, it will not be available here. As one reviewer put it: “The four-speed automatic transmission kicks down readily to provide what passing power there is, but the standard six-speed manual transmission’s extra gear ratios let the driver keep the engine in its power band.” Exactly; off road in sand, that assumes major importance.
The Cherokee bears a family resemblance — a boxy shape — to the Jeep Commander, Wrangler and the Dodge Nitro. The model carries Jeep’s distinguishing slatted grille and has flatter hood and rooflines than the model it replaces. If it were not for the 16 inch/7 wheels fitted as standard (18 inch/7 optional) to the entry level model, it would be a well balanced looking car.
Compared with the Liberty model it replaces, the 2008 has moved up a couple of classes in build quality, drives on the road more like a mid-size SUV. It may be advertised as ‘macho’ — but inside one gets the impression that even the rufty-tuftiest of super-heroes likes something comfy to sit on and an A/C system that actually works. The extensive use of plastic — common to most of the Jeep range this year — could best be described as providing a utilitarian looking workspace. I quite like the lack of clutter — many will not.
The new Cherokee’s powertrain is in essence exactly the same as the old Liberty’s powertrain. Same 3.7-liter V6 producing the same 210 hp and 235 pound-feet of torque connected to the same four-speed automatic; even the gear ratios are the same.
The V6 engine produces Jeep’s characteristic torque, but the progress of the Liberty might best be described as “stately”. Progress through the gears in full automatic is slightly clunky and a tad hesitant.
The Cherokee is available in Sport or Limited and the base models are rear-wheel drive. There are two four-wheel-drive systems offered: The Selec-Trac II full-time automatic system and the Command-Trac part-time set up. Both systems are available on both versions.
All in all, the new Cherokee is pleasant, not exciting to drive, comfortable on and off road. I would not want to attempt to cross the Nafud in one, but it will tackle much of what the average family/social off roader wants to do. The entry-level model retailing at SR98,000 provides a great deal of car for the money. However I would like to see 20 percent more power output to reassure me that it will dig its way out of sand or climb a dune.