The Liberty is still available as a 2012 model, but don't be swayed by big discounts. It's noisy, cramped, and outdated. Handling was clumsy but overall secure in our tests, and the noisy 3.7-liter V6 was lethargic and thirsty, returning just 16 mpg overall. The cabin is rather narrow, and access is awkward. Jeep has brought back the Cherokee name to be the next upscale small SUV. It will move to a front-wheel drive platform, shared with the Dart, with optional all-wheel drive, and will feature a nine-speed automatic. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four cylinder, the upgrade is a new 3.2-liter V6. The optional Quadra Trac II will have low range and raised suspension.
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Jeep Blog Content
Coming soon: A wider variety of diesel-powered cars
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Consumer Reports' "Talking Cars" video features highlights from the New York Auto Show
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The disappointing dozen: Cars that fail our tests
The Consumer Reports Annual Autos Issue is a great resource for researching the best cars. Flip through the magazine or tour the website, and it is clear there are many great choices. However, just as there are many good cars...
Updated 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee V6 joins our test fleet, with more gear and gears
Well, that was fast. Only two weeks after a white 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel press car visited our track for initial driving impressions, I drove another white 2014 Grand Cherokee off of the dealer's lot to add to our...
Consumer Reports names the best and worst cars by brand
While car brand reputation can be a strong influence on purchase decisions, such perceptions can be misleading. The reality is, every brand offers models that perform across a spectrum, with some are clearly better than others. As we see in...
