- 2010
2008 Jeep Liberty
- Used Jeep Liberty
Exterior - What the Auto Press Says
Reviewers love the redesigned look of the 2008 Liberty and praise its more rugged, less feminine look while raving about the new optional Sky Slider canvas roof. Edmunds says: "The original Jeep Liberty hid its toughness behind a veil of cuteness. It was all rounded edges and bug eyes ... No surprise then, that the redesigned 2008 Jeep Liberty is all hard edges and square jowls."
The new Liberty is larger than the previous generation, with an additional two inches added in length and a half inch in width. Motor Trend says: "And it isn't just measurably bigger, it actually looks bigger -- more so than the actual dimensions would suggest. And it looks serious. Gone is the somewhat-cutesy front end with its rounded headlights and relatively curvy appearance; in its place, a bold, squared off profile with rectangular headlamps and sharper edges." The New York Times and others like the more angular styling, which "give it more of a family resemblance, and evoke another Jeep cult classic: the Cherokee."
Many auto writers feel the more masculine Liberty looks a lot like Jeep's larger offering, the Commander. "As with the larger Commander," says Car and Driver, "Jeep has taken the 2008 Liberty in a moderately retro direction to the point where, as the photos suggest, it looks like a slightly shrunken Commander and uncomfortably close to its mechanical twin, the Dodge Nitro." But despite the more masculine exterior, Automobile Magazine still feels the Liberty will continue its "party girl Jeep" appeal, commenting: "Good luck, guys. The edgier, Cherokee-esque looks might broaden the Liberty's appeal, but we don't expect them to stop filling sorority driveways any time soon, either."
The Liberty's standout feature is its new optional Sky Slider roof, a scrolling canvas top that runs nearly the length of the vehicle. It can be opened to various stages using a one-touch switch. Automobile Magazine notes: "Hummer has teased us with a similar concept for the H3, but the Liberty's roof is for real. African safari, here we come." Motor Trend further explains the utility of the roof, commenting, "The roof material is much like that of a convertible top and weatherstripping ensures the roof is watertight and airtight." Almost every reviewer echoes About.com's sentiment that the unique roof offers an "'Only Jeep' open-air experience."
The Liberty's two trim levels -- Sport and Limited -- look very similar from the outside, with the primary difference being dark-colored side moldings for the Sport and chrome for the Limited. New for this year, the entry-level Sport now comes with body-colored fenders and bumpers, as well as a chrome grille.
