2008 Sport/Utility of the Year Contenders

One look at the all-new Liberty, and it's clear where Jeep designers turned for inspiration-the longer, wider, more macho Dodge Nitro. Current statistics have almost 60 percent of Liberty buyers being female, so Jeep is using liberal amounts of its Dodge cousin to make a bolder statement.

While the result is a better chassis and a more aggressive look for this Liberty, the consensus around here is that there's still plenty of work to be done. On the test track and on our high- and low-elevation test routes, the Liberty needed more attitude and pep in the form of a sufficiently powered engine (even "adequate" would be nice) and more functional transmission (where you have access to all the gears). A measly 210 horsepower from a V-6 when the rest of the world is getting between 250 and 275 horsepower is too much to ignore, especially when considered alongside its segment competition.

Inside, the dash layout and material choices left us wanting as well. We understand Jeep is about practicality and function, but the Jeep IP lacks imagination and smacks of cost-cutting. Good for pricing, but bad for image, especially with the Xterra on the market.

With all that said, there is a value story here. Jeep is pricing the new Liberty between $21,000 and $27,000 for base Sport and Limited models. Among our favorite Liberty options is the exclusive Sky Slider fully open roof. The pushbutton skylight opens forward and back, depending on which passengers want the sunlight and provides surprisingly little wind noise, open or closed. This one feature was a huge hit with our testers. Add to this a new rear lift hatch, all sorts of standard electronic traction aids (hillhold, hill ascent, ESC, etc), and two 4x4 system choices, and there's a lot Jeep's done right here. Still, it's just not enough.

Ultimately, the Liberty doesn't score higher because the powertrain (it desperately needs the 255-horse, 4.0-liter V-6) and dash layout missed the mark. Although Jeep engineers have made huge strides in on-road feel, those two issues keep the Liberty from the top spot.