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Jeep Liberty is the Cherokee replacement

no solid axle = :(
 
I bought a 2002 Liberty Renegade (full skid package, lights, extra equipment) when they first came out and I found it to be a very capable off-road SUV. Two of us in Northern California started a NorCal KJ club and went on numerous off-road excursions, but we had to stay to the moderate Class II and III runs. That is sort of demeaning, if you know what I mean.

The problem I had with it was its IFS and limited lift options. However, as far as a mall-running SUV, it was rated to tow 5,000 lbs and came with a low range transfer case. You wont find many SUVs in its class with that capability. Lift options sort of sucked at the time, and I'm sure things have not improved much. Off road equipment is also fairly slim for the KJ.

I sold mine when our new kid came along and I bought a Grand Cherokee. I loved that, but again, not really meant for hard core off road.

Bottom line, the Liberty may have been a "replacement" for the Cherokee on paper, but it will never replace the Cherokee in the hearts of the XJ world. Too heavy, too expensive, and too limiting for anything but mild to moderate off road use.

363217_111_full.jpg


Long live RocknKJ, wherever you are. We trailed some good malls together.
 
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they are great suvs for city driving as said. they lack the low end power that the xj has along with the off road capability. still cool for a dd though i would buy one if i ever wanted to used my xj as a trail machine only
 
How is this news to anyone?
 
Find a used '02 to '05 for the best years made. I believe they changed the style a bit for the '06 year (flattened the hood), then a major change happened in '08. I saw a lot of cheaper parts added to the '06 year as a way of lightening the vehicle and saving money.

Keep in mind, the Renegades are rare, but they have the full compliment of skids. The Sports are pretty bone stock, and the LTDs are full of frilly leather and trim.

363217_75_full.jpg


This is pretty much what you'll be doing if you trail with a Liberty. Good times, though.
 
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Since it's export market introduction in 2001, the KJ has always been badged as a 'Cherokee'. The 'Liberty' is a model name only used in the USA. The new Liberty is also badged as a Cherokee in export markets.
 
Yup, the KJ is the new chassis for the Cherokee and shares the name in all foreign markets. Jeep saw the roll of the new cherokee as being more road friendly than the original, more fuel efficient and as an opportunity to gain female market share.
It is basically a rolling vagina. Most of the drivers I see are women as well. 31's are the tops I've heard of putting on the IFS system, but SFA swaps are available as kits and from there the sky is the limit.
Heavy as hell but notable that the 3.7 can eek out better fuel economy than the Cherokee regardless - the Diesel model gets 28-30 on the open road (100% highway)
What else... The new model looks pretty awesome in my opinion, more Cherokee like. Might be able to get 2.5" of lift and 32s on it if you didn't mind voiding the powertrain guarantee thingie.
The KJ / KK Liberties are nice for what they are - mall crawlers that can get you out in the back woods, cruise some dirt roads even after a good rain, etc - but they aren't wheeling vehicles and without major front end reconstruction, they won't ever be.
 
I drive a KJ 5 days a week a work. It's nice for a comfortable vehicle, but I really feel as if I have to wind it out to go anywhere. Having a 231 transfer case and a Chrysler 8.25 29 is a nice reassurance though.
 
Yeah, the power output and RPM band on the 3.7 doesn't seem like a good fit for a 4000+ lb vehicle. I thought the 2.8 CRD diesel was a great idea in that thing, I don't know why they discontinued it / bumped it to a 3.0 in the Grand only.
The 8.25 with discs from factory is sexy - I had to build my own out of envy.
 
yossarian19 said:
Jeep saw the roll of the new cherokee as being more road friendly than the original, more fuel efficient and as an opportunity to gain female market share....Heavy as hell but notable that the 3.7 can eek out better fuel economy than the Cherokee regardless...
Click to expand...

I got 13 mpg out of my KJ in the city, and 18 hwy for the two years I owned it. My XJ is about the same after the lift install. Newer models seemed to do a little better. I presume it is because of the cheaper crap they put in them after the first couple of years. Like us in NAXJA forum, gas mpg was the number one complaint on the L.O.S.T. forum.
 
Would definitely say 95% of the liberty drivers I see are female, I can't even remember seeing a male driving one but I'm sure I have at one point. I also find them incredibly ugly.
 
I like the new KK model Lib, I think if it had a SFA and weighed 1000 lbs less it would be pretty hot...
 
Over seas it's called a crossover and in off road capability blows the doors off everything in it's class.

I also find them incredibly ugly.
======================
Yep that proves it a Jeep.
 
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its not only ugly, but it looks like a cartoon. like a Jeep PT cruiser. it was a sad direction. but the KK looks a little better. IMO all the new stuff sucks, with the computer controlled ignition systems, Like CAN Bus, its just got way to complicated.
 
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