2002 Jeep Liberty - Page 1 Review

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Shopping for a 2002 Jeep Liberty? MSRP: $16,885 - $23,245

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- This east-coast community, nestled into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is nothing like the high Sierras of California and the legendary Rubicon Trail. That's where all Jeep vehicles cut their teeth and where true Jeepers eat boulders for breakfast and sugarcoat their cereal with a few heart-arresting drop-offs thrown in along the course for good measure.

But, don't think for a moment that this newest Jeep hasn't already had its teething exercise on the Rubicon. It has, and Mark Smith, the granddaddy of four-wheeling and founder of Jeep Jamboree USA, pronounced the all-new Liberty a "true Jeep."

It's a rare event at Jeep, the launch of an all-new product line. The last one was in 1992, when Chrysler added the Grand Cherokee to its stable, joining the stalwart Wrangler (which was born with military heritage as the Willys Jeep in 1942) and the venerable Cherokee (which some say launched the SUV craze in 1984). Beginning this summer, the celebrated SUV division of DaimlerChrysler will sell the compact Liberty alongside its Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, although its time-honored Cherokee will head to the dustbin soon after, it's been announced.

DaimlerChrysler hopes that Cherokee enthusiasts - who purchased some 140,000 in the model year 2000 - will become Liberty loyalists, along with other new buyers.
The 2002 Liberty represents a further move toward around-town and highway performance for the traditionally off-road-oriented Jeep brand, and considerable effort has been made by the designers of this new Jeep to maximize everyday use without compromising the rugged performance that has earned this nameplate its current fame.

Dakar roots

Liberty can trace its design roots to the 1997 Dakar concept vehicle -- a four-door Wrangler designed for the outdoor enthusiast -- yet it is an entirely new vehicle on a modern platform. Like the Dakar concept, Liberty offers bold, function-driven aesthetics, an upright profile, and excellent space efficiency.