Review: The 2010 Jeep Liberty Limited 4×4 is the darling of the neighborhood

Liberty1

The 2010 Jeep Liberty Limited 4×4 was the darling of the neighborhood. Which is surprising, given that it’s not exactly the most expensive, fancy, or even unique car I’ve had in my driveway. I think people loved the accessibility of it. It was bright red metallic, had a huge “Sky Slider” sunroof, crisp, clean interior, and a fun attitude. Now that I think about it, I guess it’s not such a surprise they liked it after all.

Several moms were interested in the Liberty as a possible first car for their teen drivers. This is because it was so cute, but looked sturdy and my test Liberty had Active Full-time 4-wheel drive, which appeals to parents of teens in Colorado. And with improved IIHS safety ratings for 2010, they can feel much better about the Liberty in the hands of their young drivers.

Liberty2

There aren’t a whole lot of bells and whistles on the Liberty, and that’s okay with me. I love the clean interior, nice appointments, and crisp metallic-looking accents. There aren’t too many buttons to distract a driver, but there are nice features like a media center which includes CD/DVD/HDD and GPS navigation. There’s also a 30GB hard drive with 4,250 song capacity. There’s a touch-screen display that gets easier to use as you go, but it’s not quite as intuitive as I’d like. But if you decide it’s your thing, you should know it’s a $1,505 option. Standard is UConnect phone with voice command, and a stereo system with a CD player, MP3 capability, audio jack, and 8 premium Infinity speakers. Not bad. Ooh, and it comes with heated seats. Yeah!

Liberty3

In the backseat, there was good legroom for the kids, even when the adults in the front had their seats adjusted comfortably. The kids loved the Liberty because of the Sky Slider roof, which extended all the way back to the backseat. It was perfect for a fall day in Colorado, and it closed up handily when we all started to get hot.

I like that the Liberty drives and rides like a Jeep. I don’t want to buy a Jeep and have it ride like I’m floating on pillows. I did feel every bump, crack, seam and pothole in the road. But if you get a Jeep folks, this should not be a surprise. At one point on the highway there were lots of seams very close together and the Liberty stuttered a lot. So be prepared.

Liberty4

Adding to the rough ride are some very stiff and upright seats, which again is fine if you’re expecting that. I couldn’t find a comfortable spot, truth be told, so you might want to check for that if you’re testing one out. Lastly, the steering was very tight. I was reminded of my old car that had power-assisted steering which was definitely less power-assisted than you’d think. But this is a Jeep, right? Well, right, but it can feel like a chore after a day full of city driving and parking.

Overall, I enjoyed the rugged yet polished 2010 Jeep Liberty. If you’re considering one, I might scale back on some options, as my test car came in at an MSRP of $33,625. Otherwise,

On our TFLcar recommendation scale of:

Buy it

– Lease it

– Rent it or

– Forget it

I say…

Buyit_Buy-It!

 

 

Sara Growing up in Colorado Sara Lacey was always kind to her cars.  These days however, she spends her time punishing automobiles with the help of her children.  Reviewing cars from the unique perspective of a woman and mom, Sara also writes for MotherProof.com and Cars.com.  In addition, she sits on the board of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association.

Follow on twitter @TFLcar or watch latest car
review videos on YouTube.