2005 Jeep Liberty Driving Impressions
The 2.4-liter twin-cam four-cylinder engine comes standard on the Sport model, and is only available with the five-speed manual gearbox. We found the four-cylinder with manual transmission to be a smooth combination, though we suspect it may struggle at higher elevations. Besides the lower initial cost, the 150-horsepower four-cylinder gets 20/24 mpg.
We've also had the opportunity to drive a 2005 Liberty with the new 2.7 Turbo diesel. The engine is surprisingly satisfying, combining the horsepower of a V6 (160) with the torque of a V8 (295 pound-feet) and the mileage of a four-cylinder. During a recent week of testing, we averaged about 21 mpg, including a fair amount of time offroad in low range. On the highway, the diesel Liberty becomes an easy cruiser, showing just 2000 rpm on the tach at 70 mph. Our highway mileage was close to 24 mpg, some 30 percent better than the gas V6. The Diesel is rated to tow up to 5000 pounds with the optional hitch. |