Car Gazing
Liberty Renegade has more manners than name suggests
By Derek Price
For a Renegade, this Jeep is wonderfully civilized.
The Renegade name has been applied to the toughest of Jeep's legendary
off-road vehicles since the 1964 Wagoneer, and it now graces the 2002
Liberty with a special appearance and performance package designed for
nonstop exploring. Even with the tough-guy demeanor and go-anywhere prowess,
though, it's surprisingly comfortable, accommodating and quiet as a suburban
highway cruiser.
Upgrades to the regular Liberty include an integrated activity light bar,
wheel flares with a bolted-on look, removable side steps, unique wheels and
a two-tone front fascia. The package nearly eliminates the Liberty's cute
appearance, changing it into a much more serious looking beast, but don't be
surprised to hear the occasional description as adorable, darling or
precious.
A 150,000 candlepower light bar is the most glaring – excuse the pun – of
the Renegade's changes. It has four halogen lamps that can be turned on with
a switch on the dash, but they're illegal for on-road use. They're nifty for
camping, tailgate parties and nighttime off-roading, though.
Only three colors are available this year – cactus green, light khaki and
silver – all of which look nice on the Renegade's suave body, even if it
has too much plastic cladding. Wheel flares take a styling cue from the
Nissan Frontier pickup with their industrial-looking exposed bolts, and
16-inch, six-spoke aluminum wheels are either color keyed or painted to
match the Liberty's paint job.
Great manners and civility, however, underlie the tough exterior. It's not
quite like afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace, but the interior is
surprisingly plush with carlike refinement and comfortable seats that feel
comfortable even after long trips. Gauges and controls are as nice as those
in an average family sedan, and brushed aluminum trim continues the body's
industrial theme.
Highway ride is likewise controlled and tame, even though it feels highly
capable on trails and hills. A Jeep-engineered independent front suspension
deserves credit for the great ride, while steering is precise and responsive
thanks to rack-and-pinion steering.
A standard 3.7-liter V6 engine provides plenty of low-end torque for getting
out of mud. It has fairly flat mid-range power and a turbo-like surge at the
top of the rev range for good highway acceleration. A five-speed manual
transmission is preferable to make the most of the engine's power, but a
four-speed automatic makes smooth shifts for the around-town driver. Gas
mileage suffers, though, because of the Liberty's two-ton weight.
Overall, the Liberty Renegade comfortably combines Jeep's famous off-road
performance with the refinement of a modern SUV. It may seem ironic, but
it's the most polite Renegade ever made.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.
Contact him at dprice@cargazingonline.com)
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