Vehicle Type:

AWD Diesel SUV

Improved Fuel Economy
/Lower Emissions
Diesel Torque
Reduced Maintenance
Handling/Ride
Towing Capability
Well Equipped (Limited)
Good Reliability Record

Overview:
America’s favorite midsize SUV is now available with diesel power. CRD, by the way, stands for ‘Common Rail Diesel’ More on that later. Gasoline engine choices include a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder and a 3.7 liter V6 with your choice of a manual or 4-speed automatic. The Liberty scores points for its pleasant road manners while maintaining Jeeps legendary off road capability. Limited models come with a long list of creature comforts. The Sport model is more affordable while the Renegade with its higher ground clearance is more suited to serious off road adventures. The Diesel engine is available in the Sport and Limited models. Log on to Jeep.com for more details

Under The Hood:
The 2.8 liter 4-cylinder Detroit diesel is assembled in Italy and has been proven in Europe where diesel powered cars are more common. The ‘Common-Rail’ diesel features a single, highly pressurized fuel line delivering fuel to the injectors for more complete burning. An electronically controlled, high pressure fuel pump delivers fuel to the injector nozzles at pressures up to 24,000 psi, optimizing fuel pressure, injector timing and injection duration. This provides additional power, reduced emissions and reduced noise. Many additional steps have been taken to isolate engine vibration and noise, including a new engine cover, torque converter turbine damper, air induction resonator, acoustic belly pan, engine compartment hood liner and noise-absorbing carpet. Balance shafts are also used to smooth out the big 4-cylinder. In spite of all this you will hear some diesel clatter at idle but it’s not bothersome once underway.

As you can see, a lot of thought when into this engine and it works very well in the 4300 pound Liberty. Take off from a standstill is somewhat delayed until the turbo kicks in at about 1800 RPM. The turbo, by the way, is of the variable geometry type meaning the fan blades in the turbo are moveable resulting in higher boost at all rpm ranges producing enhanced torque. Speaking of which, this 2.8 liter 4 makes an impressive 295 pound-feet of torque at 1800 rpm and 160 hp. Once the tach needle sweeps between 1500 and 2000 rpm all that torque kicks in and it will literally toss you back in the seat if you gun it. Passing power is ample. It’s really a fun vehicle to drive and it’s easy to speed if you’re not careful. Diesels are known for their pulling power and the Liberty is no exception with a tow rating listed at 5,000 pounds.

Fuel economy is rated at 21 city/27 highway, about a 5 mile per gallon advantage of the gas powered V6. I averaged just under 22 mpg in city driving. Unfortunately, diesel fuel is now about 20 cents per gallon higher than regular unleaded. Liberty’s are shipped from the factory with 5% biodiesel. This fuel is made by distilling almond oil, soy, or various garden wastes. Biodiesel is grown naturally, and does not require lots of outside energy for distillation and, when spilled, is generally not toxic. Some folks actually grow their own biodiesel fuel. What a great alternative to conventional fuels! I’m not a tree hugger but this makes a lot of sense to me. Why this isn’t being more widely used is a mystery. This is a much better alternative than hybrid electric vehicles in my opinion. Kudos to Chrysler for using it at the factory and producing this diesel Liberty.

Other Mechanical stuff:
Our decked out Limited was ordered with the ‘G’ package so, as my son would say, it’s truly a ‘G-Ride’! This package includes ‘Select-Trac’ full-time 4WD that engages automatically when wheel slippage is detected. It allows you to shift on the fly at speeds up to 55 mph. An open-center differential allows year-round use on any road surface. I’m not sure if Jeep offers ‘Command Trac’ part-time 4WD with the diesel. Perhaps it’s available in the ‘Sport’ model. The Jeep website makes no mention of that option as of this writing (July 12th) The limited comes standard with a 5-speed automatic transmission and it was well matched to the torque rich diesel engine providing smooth shifts and predictable downshifts when needed. Independent front suspension improves ride and handling. Jeep lowered the Liberty slightly a year or so ago to improve stability and resist rollover risk. Cornering is excellent with little body roll for an SUV. The over all driving experience is very car like with linear steering. Braking was smooth and sure .No wonder you see so many of these vehicles on the road.

On The Inside:
As you would expect, the Diesel interior is basically identical to the regular gasoline Liberty. Our ‘Limited’ had leather seats, ABS, and a 66 watt 6-speaker Infinity audio system with a 6-disc CD player. It was also set up for Sirus satellite radio. Sound quality was good. I really like Chrysler’s overhead console. In addition to outside temp and a compass it displays miles per gallon, distance to empty, tire pressures and other engine info. I especially like the easy to read analog instrumentation. Controls and switches are logically laid out and easy to use. One annoyance is the location of the power window switches. Instead of being on the doors where they belong, Jeep chose to locate them between the front seats. The driving position affords good visibility and the front seats are excellent. Rear seating is great for kids, ok for adults. The rear seats fold flat for additional cargo room. Behind the rear seat is a folding multi-level package shelf proving additional cargo space. When not in use you simply fold it down flat to the floor. In addition to the front airbags the Limited has side-curtain bags,

Bottom Line:
Consumer Reports has long recommended the Liberty due to it’s excellent reliability record. This truck has been rock solid since it’s introduction. I was surprised to read the latest edition where they tested the diesel and did not give it a recomendeation. From what I could gather, engine noise was the main reason. This is bogus. Yes, it’s noisy at idle and at slow speed but once it warms up and you get up to speed it is not noisy. I really enjoyed this truck and I think you should put it at the top of your shopping list. It’s environmentally conscious, fun to drive and versatile.