Franklin Sussex Auto Mall Blog

The Jeep Liberty is all-new for 2008. It’s slightly bigger and has a smoother ride, but it maintains the ruggedness of the previous version. The 2008 Liberty is quite capable off road, one of the best in its class.

The 2008 Jeep Liberty is 2.5 inches longer overall and its wheelbase is two inches longer than that of its predecessor. With heavily revised styling, the 2008 Liberty is taller and more angular than the 2001-2007 models, reminiscent of the much-loved, rugged but crude 1990s Jeep Cherokee. Compared to recent Jeep offerings such as the Patriot and Compass, the all-new 2008 Liberty is more of a true Jeep, with off-road prowess and bold, upright styling.Safety features include the mandated dual front airbags, plus head-protecting side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors and front side airbags for torso protection. Active safety features include anti-lock brakes with brake assist, hill start assist, traction control, and electronic stability control with rollover mitigation. The antilock brakes have rough road detection; when rough conditions are detected, the system holds the brake pulses longer to better slow the vehicle. Hill descent control is standard on 4×4 models. Optional safety features include trailer sway control and rear obstacle detection.The most noticeable aspect of the front end is Jeep’s characteristic seven-slot grille, which is taller on this model. The grille is body color on Sport, chrome on Limited. The front fascia is body color on all, and the front air dam is removable to provide more ground clearance for off-roading.

From the side, the Liberty looks like a junior Commander, with tall windows in a squared off greenhouse. The Limited’s chrome theme extends to the side with chrome side trim and roof rails. These components are black on Sport, and the roof rails are optional. In an attempt to give the Liberty the open feel of a Wrangler, Jeep offers the Sky Slider sunroof. Jeep says this canvas power sunroof is four times the size of an average sunroof.

The 2008 Jeep Liberty offers a pleasant driving experience. The ride is generally firm, but the Liberty smoothes over most bumps and is never punishing, even with the available 18-inch wheels.

In off-road conditions, the 2008 Liberty is quite capable. With generous approach and departure angles and low-range gearing for 4×4 models, it can crawl over large rocks and logs. Four-wheel-drive models have Hill Descent Control, which pulses the brakes through the ABS to limit the vehicle’s speed when driving down steep grades. Hill Start Assist is also standard. It holds the brakes on hills when the driver releases the brakes to prevent the vehicle from sliding backward.

The 2008 Jeep Liberty has better off-road capability and more towing capacity than most of its competitors.  It offers generous cargo space and a high seating position. All-new for 2008, the latest version is more refined than the previous generation.