2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Program #2415

Diesels are a niche market now, but smart car makers are looking forward to new low-sulphur fuels which will make diesels cleaner and much more attractive to American buyers. Jeep is getting a jump on this market with its new Liberty diesel. This high-mileage SUV is already a hit in Europe where diesels dominate new vehicle sales. So, could this Jeep be the next big thing here in America too?

Well, maybe not right away. Jeep is releasing a mere 5,000 copies of its Liberty CRD, or common rail diesel, for 2005, enough to road test U.S. customer reaction. And diesel-happy customers won’t be surprised by what they see. The diesel Liberty wears the same bodywork and is available in the same Sport and Limited trim as its gas-powered sibling. Only a subtle badge on the rear hatch betrays its uncommon source of motivation.

Under the hood of the CRD is a 2.8-liter dual-cam 4-cylinder common rail diesel that makes 160 horsepower and a potent 295 pound-feet of torque, thanks to a variable geometry turbocharger. The engine is built for Jeep by VM Motori of Italy. And it’s mounted to a bay that features additional sound insulation panels, plus fluid-filled engine mounts. The only transmission is a 5-speed automatic. Hopefully a manual will follow if the diesel really catches on. All Liberty diesels come with Command Trac part-time 4-wheel-drive as standard equipment. Full-time Selec Trac is available as an option

Punch the gas pedal - pardon us, diesel pedal - and the engine’s prodigious torque launches the Liberty to a 9.5 second 0-to-60 time. That’s almost a second quicker than Liberty’s V-6 gas engine delivers. Initial get-up-and-go is impressive. But the quarter mile is somewhat less so at 17.1 seconds and 79 miles-per-hour. After that first burst, power goes soft at midrange. That traditional diesel growl is quite evident, but both engine and tranny feel smooth and solid, and deliver serious real world towing power. With so much bottom end power on tap, the Liberty diesel can manage trailers up to 5,000 pounds. That’s the same as the V-6 and much more than other compact SUVs.

Yet thanks to diesel economy still delivers EPA fuel mileage ratings of 22 city and 27 highway. We saw 24 miles-per-gallon on our mixed test loop, a 25% improvement over the gas V-6.

The Liberty diesel rides on a twin A-arm front and live axle rear suspension. It’s tuned for a more solid ride than past Jeep wagons, one that’s closer to the rough-and-ready Wrangler than to the luxurious Grand Cherokee. With a short 104.3-inch wheelbase, the Liberty CRD demands smooth throttle and steering inputs if driven quickly. Sudden lateral transitions run up against strong front plow. The rack-and-pinion steering responds slowly, with little feel. There’s plenty of body roll, but less than expected. It’s a chassis that demands a leisurely pace, such as in Jeep’s traditional off-road territory. The Liberty offers a maximum of 9.5-inches of running ground clearance, and with its diesel’s more than adequate torque, can get in and out of some serious rough stuff. Real off-roaders will, however, want to swap out our Liberty Sport’s street-oriented 225/75 Goodyear Wranglers for a more aggressive tire.

The Liberty’s brakes are 4-wheel discs with anti-lock available as an option. Stops from 60 averaged a long 141 feet, with strong ABS pulse through the soft brake pedal. The chassis was generally stable, with a slight pull to the right in hard stops.

Liberty owners switching from gas to diesel will also find little difference inside their new machine. The Liberty CRD retains the generous room and modern interior design of its siblings. Upgrades for 2005 include new higher-visibility instrument graphics, and new seats built with a more supportive dual-density foam. A definite improvement over last year. Unchanged, and for good reason, are the straightforward controls for the Sport’s standard 6-speaker CD stereo, now available with Sirius satellite radio.

The rear seat is still larger than most compact SUVs, and offers more leg room than some mid-size designs. The 60/40 split seat back folds to a flatter angle for a more usable load floor. Cargo space is a very useful 29 cubic-feet with the rear seat up, and a generous 69 cubic-feet with the seat back down.

You will have to be a little more generous with your dollars, however. The Liberty CRD sells for $25,125 in Sport trim, and $27,355 for the Limited version. That’s about 5-grand more than a gas-powered Sport, and $2,500 more than a comparable Limited.

This assures that only true diesel enthusiasts will likely opt for a high-mileage Liberty of their own. But with the arrival by 2007 of cleaner diesel fuel, the popularity and the price of vehicles like the 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD are sure to drop. And when that happens, Jeep may very well have the next big thing already waiting on the showroom floor.