The Jeep Liberty
was discontinued for the 2012 model year, over a decade ago. While it was certainly a capable off-road vehicle, it was notoriously unreliable and terrible on gas. That being said, if you’ve got a Liberty of your own, you know just how well these SUVs could handle the toughest camping-associated challenges. The best years for the liberty were probably 2007-2009—that is, the ones that haven’t already been recalled from those years, as Jeep dealt with a few unreliability scandals with the Liberty.
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning nowCan the Jeep Liberty go off road?
Yes, but it’s not the best choice if you plan on going on really rough terrain. Where it does shine is in maintaining great towing capability on rougher roads, like the sort you’d run into at a campground.
Kelley Blue Book prices a 2012 Jeep Liberty at a Fair Purchase Price of $9,674 at the time of writing, but that’s for one that’s in good condition. You may be able to find one cheaper if you don’t mind a little aesthetic damage.
Here’s how the Jeep Liberty’s off-roading specs shape up.
Ground clearance
If you want to go off-roading, it’s a good idea to be aware of your vehicle’s minimum ground clearance, which is the measurement of the distance between the lowest point of your car’s chassis to the ground. The higher off the ground you are, the easier it will be for your undercarriage to clear damaging uneven terrain.
A Jeep Liberty has a ground clearance of 7.8 inches, a full inch below the minimum 8.8 inches recommended by experts for off road driving. To compare, the Wrangler
gets 9.7 inches of ground clearance, making it much better for off-roading than the Liberty. Torque
When it comes to getting over difficult spots in off-road terrain, low-end torque is what you’re looking for. If a car can push hard against terrain and get over large obstacles at low speeds, that’s because it can produce lots of torque at low rpms.
The Jeep Liberty gets great numbers in this category, able to produce 235 lb-ft of torque at an impressively low 4,000 rpm.
Tires
The Liberty’s 16-inch alloy wheels with P225/75R16 all season tires are okay for off-roading, but they could use an upgrade.
Drivetrain
Another place the Liberty shines is in its Selec-Trac II Active Full-Time 4WD, an electronically controlled system that allows drivers to switch between 2WD and automatic 4WD. The Liberty’s 3.7-liter V6 engine is capable, but only produces 210 horsepower. Poor fuel economy is another feature of the Liberty that you’d probably rather live without.
Angles
A big part of a vehicle’s off-roading ability is dependent on its approach and departure angles:
Approach angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference
Departure angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
The Liberty’s numbers here are quite alright, with an approach angle of 28.7 degrees, and a departure angle of 29.9 degrees.
Off-road rating: In a Pinch
We’ve rated the Jeep Liberty using Jerry’s
ultra-definitive DIRT rating system: | | |
|---|
| | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
| | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
| | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
| | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
The Liberty earns a below-middling rating of I—it can off-road in a pinch, but with its reliability track record and low ground clearance, it is nowhere near the best choice for folks really wanting to conquer the trail.
The best off-road alternatives to the Jeep Liberty
Okay, so if the Liberty isn’t the best, maybe there’s something else out there that would tickle your fancy—and more importantly, get you up a mountain. Here’s a look at some competing vehicles that provide much better alternatives to the Jeep Liberty.
| | | |
|---|
Best affordable alternative | | | If it’s off-roading you want, the Samurai is a fantastic cheap option that’s an absolute party in the mountains. |
Best eco-friendly alternative | 2022 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe | | Higher ground clearance and incredibly efficient electric drivetrain |
Best alternative for serious off-roading | | | The Bronco has always had a reputation of being a hardcore off-road champion, and the 2022 edition carries on this reputation. |
MORE: Cheap off-road trucks
How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
Unfortunately, going off-road is going to mean paying a bit more on your car insurance, since basic insurance usually just covers you for when you’re driving on the road. But you can still get great savings on your car insurance. Don’t be one of the 65% of Americans overpaying for car insurance!
The best way to save money on car insurance is by shopping with Jerry
, the one-and-only #1-rated car app that specializes in finding and setting you up with the best car insurance policies at the best prices The process is ridiculously fast, and it ends in savings—the average Jerry user saves over $800 on their car insurance every year, giving you a little extra money to soup up that off-roader you’ve been waiting to unleash.
“When using Jerry
, I just put in a bit of information, and they found lots of different quotes for me. I was paying $305 a month for 2 brand-new cars, but now I’m paying $150 a month for both with full coverage!” —Robin U. RECOMMENDEDThis app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
4.7
