Jeep liberty 2012 off road experience – For the 2012 model year, Jeep stopped making the Liberty. This was more than ten years ago. Even though it could go off-road, it was known for being unreliable and terrible on gas. Still, if you own a Liberty, you know how well these SUVs can handle the toughest camping challenges.
Jeep Liberty 2012 Off Road
Yes, but it’s not the best choice if you want to go on really rough terrain. It really shines when it comes to being able to pull well on rougher roads, like those you might find at a campground.
Pros
If you like the Jeep brand but can’t afford a Grand Cherokee and think the Patriot and Compass are more trial than trail, the Liberty might be just what you’re looking for. And both the Command-Trac II and Selec-Trac II trail-rated 4WD systems give the Jeep Liberty an edge over its car-based competitors. But we’d warn you not to spend too much; as you get closer to $30,000, a Grand Cherokee’s utility and sport become much more appealing.
Cons
If you like your Jeep to be pure and unadulterated, both the new Grand Cherokee and the relatively new Wrangler do a much better job of giving you what you want. In today’s market, a carmaker’s product needs to do at least one thing really well. Both on-road and off-road, the Liberty is at best a mid-level performer.
What’s new?
The MSRP for the 2012 Jeep Liberty, which comes in three trims called Sport, Limited, and Limited Jet, has gone down to $26,960 plus destination. This includes the $795 shipping fee from the previous year. Mineral Gray, Canyon Brown Pearl, Rescue Green Pearl, True Blue Pearl, and Black Forest Green Pearl are some of the new colors. They can give your new Liberty a rugged, off-road look or a patriotic one. The owners are said to be fit and, we hope, creative.
The Jeep Liberty, which is now in its second generation, isn’t getting much love from Jeep’s design team, even though it got some small upgrades for 2011. As the car that came after the famous Cherokee (with our heads down, we pause to remember the good times we had…)
Even though the first and second generations of the Liberty seem to have more luxury and refinement, Jeep fans don’t notice much except that they are bigger. The weight gain is made worse by the fact that there is almost no ground clearance, and to put on real off-road tires, you have to lift the vehicle.
The above “good” news is even less important because the Liberty’s product team kept the 3.7-liter V6, even though every other RWD Jeep has the much better 3.6-liter six. There are rumors that a brand-new replacement for the Liberty will come out in the next two model years, and we can’t wait.
How Much is a Second-Hand Jeep Liberty 2012?
Buyers aren’t exactly lining up for this particular Jeep recipe (unlike the redesigned Compass, which is sold out), so you shouldn’t expect much in the way of price increases and more and more generous incentives as the Liberty gets closer to being replaced by an all-new model.
The base price of our Sport 44 is about $26,000. With the above options—Skid Plate Group, Trailer Towing package, and Popular Equipment Group—the total came to $28K. When you take away the $2,500 regional incentive that was in place at the time this report was written, the transaction price before negotiations is about $26,000.
Check Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price before negotiating to get a good idea of what people in your market area are paying. And plan to keep your Jeep Liberty for a long time, because its short-term resale numbers are much lower than those of its direct competitors (Nissan Xterra, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4). The Jeep Liberty is built to last, and to carry a lot of things.
Taking the 2012 Jeep Liberty that’s been used
The Jeep Liberty has a platform that has seen its time and market pass. Jeep’s 4-door Wrangler is a good choice for people who want a true off-road platform, while Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and (even) Jeep all make car-based crossovers that are good for city living and driving on the road.
Still, if the Liberty’s ability to tow and go off-road is something you like, you won’t be disappointed by how it drives on the road. It’s not as nice to look at as the new Grand Cherokee, and it doesn’t ride as well as the Wrangler Unlimited, but as a two-purpose SUV, the Liberty isn’t bad. For the few people who are really interested in a new Liberty, this dynamic, or lack of it, will likely be enough.
Comfort
Most of the Liberty team’s money went into making the Limited Jet, which came out in 2011. The Jet has a 9-speaker audio system, a standard security system with side-curtain airbags, and available Dark Slate gray leather seats with accent stitching. These features are meant to give this suburban Jeep a more urban feel.
And at Chrysler, leather-wrapped steering wheels are becoming more common, which must upset glove makers. In the end, the interior is fine, there is enough storage, and, thankfully, the versatility is still there thanks to a large rear hatch and folding rear seats.
Exterior
Jeep’s design team and (recent) concept versions of the Liberty show that its basic proportions still make it look good. The Liberty’s stance and agility change a lot when it gets a small lift and more aggressive off-road tires. On the showroom floor, the Liberty’s mass overpowers the rubber, and the brightwork makes the design elements look like they belong to neither fish nor fowl.
We will, however, give the Liberty’s full-length Sky Slider sunroof a round of applause. If you’re out in the great outdoors, this is a beautiful way to show your passengers how great it is. If your budget is limited, but you treasure a good look, check out our list of cheap Jeep mods to pretty up your Jeep!
