The all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty underwent an extreme makeover
The Jeep Liberty has been a historic success for Chrysler since its introduction in 2002 and for its 2008 model, the Liberty will undergo an extreme makeover. Competition in the midsize SUV segment, which seems to get more competitive by the day, has marked the moment for the Jeep® brand to launch its Liberty.
The Liberty has been redesigned to feature its Grand Cherokee sibling at the New York Auto Show. A notable feature of the 2008 Liberty is its increased “body shape,” which was increased by 2 inches more and a half inch wider than the previous model. Such an increase in length and width increases rear passenger legroom by 1.5 inches and at the same time provides additional cargo space; These are precisely the two elements the previous Liberty was said to be lacking in compared to its competition.
The larger dimension of the new 2008 Jeep Liberty gives it a more serious look. It has given up its somewhat cute front end with its rounded headlights and relatively curved appearance, which were by the way not appreciated by most Jeep fans, and was replaced by a bold, boxy profile with rectangular headlights and sharper edges. – In short, a much more Jeep-ly appearance.
The subtle bulge in the hood gives a glimpse of the 3.7-liter V6 lurking below, while the seven-slat grille that gets slightly larger and more upright gives the new 2008 Jeep Liberty a more rugged look. It also uses top-of-the-line Jeep components, from large and complex to small, such as its Jeep oil filter.
Another notable innovation made on the new Liberty is the addition of the Sky Slider, which is a full-length sliding canvas roof. The material used for this special type of sunroof is very similar to that of a convertible top. Its weather stripping ensures that the roof is watertight and air tight. The sunroof is powered by a one-touch switch and can be fully opened, fully closed, or in any position in between.
There are two versions of the 2008 Jeep Liberty that will be sold: the Sport and the Limited. Unlike the previous Liberty, the entry-level sports version will have body-colored fenders and bumpers along with a chrome grille similar to its luxury sibling. The main distinction between the two trim levels lies in the dark-colored side moldings that are prominent from the outside for the Sport, while the Limited gets a chrome version. The roof rack rails are a standard feature for the Limited and offered as an option for the Sport. The roof rack rails also differ for the Limited and Sport, the former has a chrome theme, while the latter has a black paint.
The interior of both models comes standard with cloth seats; however, the Sport uses drab upholstery, while the Limited has a two-tone color scheme with optional leather. There are other distinctions as well, such as the electronic controls for the radio and information center that are available for the Limited’s leather-covered four-spoke steering wheel and the satin silver center console not found on the Sport trim. The Limited’s cargo area resides in an Infinity amp and subwoofer, while the Sport has a storage compartment.
Underneath the body is an independent front suspension and a five-link rear suspension that improve both handling and comfort. Other features include two Jeep Trail Rated all-wheel drive configurations (Command-Trac and Selec-Trac II), the 3.7-liter V6 engine delivers the same 210 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft. of torque as before, but it made it even more fuel efficient. recording 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. These figures are based on 2008 EPA reworked standards.