Jeep Liberty: The Compact SUV Experience

The Jeep Liberty was around for a decade, from 2002-2012, giving us a small and useful Jeep off-roader. Let’s see what the 2012 Liberty brought to the table.

The final model year for this Jeep SUV was 2012. When the 2013 model year began, the Cherokee was back in the Jeep lineup, replacing the short-lived Liberty as the compact SUV offered by this brand. Today, the Liberty is an impressive used SUV that should come at an affordable price. The 2012 model gave us competitive power and useful towing ability, making the final model a Jeep that we miss.

Only one powertrain for 2012

Jeep gave this small SUV only one powertrain for its final year. This meant all drivers had to use the 3.7-liter V6 engine, which provided 5,000 pounds of towing capacity but not a lot of power or acceleration. This engine produces 210 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque, which is good but not great. The engine mates to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Fuel mileage reaches 16 city/22 hwy mpg for the RWD models and 15 city/21 hwy mpg for 4WD models.

The Liberty was offered with two Trail Rated 4WD systems, which made it one of the most capable compact SUVs in the market at the time.

A few new items for this Jeep

The final model year for the Jeep Liberty brought a dichotomy of equipment. Some items were left out, waiting for the return of the Cherokee, but several new items hit the market with this final Liberty model. This Jeep SUV came with:

• • Uconnect Bluetooth system
  • Universal garage door opener
  • Compass
  • Exterior temperature indicator
  • Overhead console
  • Rear park assist
  • New colors
    • Mineral Gray Metallic
    • Canyon Brown Pearl
    • Rescue Green Pearl
    • True Blue Pearl
    • Black Forest Green Pearl

The Limited Jet trim has a few trim-specific items to give it an upgraded look. These items include:

• • • Chrome lower fascia
    • Body side moldings
    • License plate brow
    • Roof rails
    • Blacked-out headlamps

The Liberty was refreshed for 2011, which meant no changes to the interior. Every model has two rows of seats and room for up to five people to ride along. The top Limited Jet trim includes a nine-speaker premium sound system and can be had with Dark Slate Gray leather upholstery. This top trim also brings the availability of heated power front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and one-touch power windows to this Jeep SUV.

Why was the Liberty a popular choice?

The 2012 Jeep Liberty provided an excellent small off-road SUV that fit perfectly in the market between the down-market Patriot and Compass and the up-market Grand Cherokee. This small Jeep SUV made it easy for drivers to have desirable on-road qualities without compromising by moving to the smaller models. Its position in the market and affordable pricing make Liberty an easy choice when it’s time for a drive.

Today, you can find this small SUV at extremely affordable prices to give you something fun to drive on the trails while being a good daily driver.

This Jeep has an open roof

We typically associate open-air Jeep driving with the venerable Wrangler, but the Liberty brought this quality to the market as well. The Sky Slider Full Open Roof gives this SUV the open-air qualities that many drivers have enjoyed. This roof is a canvas cover that replaces the sunroof to allow the outside air to come into this SUV and give drivers the desired feeling. With this roof open and the windows down, going out on the trails becomes more fun and exciting.

The Selec-Trac II 4WD system is excellent

The Selec-Track II 4WD system is an active full-time system that sends power to either the rear wheels or all four wheels depending on the driver’s selected settings. The system splits the torque between the front and rear axles when you’re facing tough on-road driving or heading out on the trails for some fun. This feature also works with a neutral mode to give RV drivers the ability to take this SUV with them to the next campground destination. This means RV adventures go further with the Liberty at the ready when it’s time for some fun on the trails.

The 2012 Jeep Liberty was an impressive small off-road-oriented SUV with good features and driving qualities. If you’re looking for a low-priced Jeep SUV you can toss around on the trails, this model shouldn’t cost much at all.

Check out this final-year model of the Liberty at your local used car dealer and see what it has to offer.