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New Jeep Liberty weirdly appealing

Redesigned Jeep Liberty takes weaknesses that make the Dodge Nitro a dud and creates a fun off-roader that's a decent daily driver.

Where it makes sense
Where it makes sense
The question, for Jeep, is this: Does the brand now have too many truck-based four-door off-roaders? They've already got the wildly popular Wrangler Unlimited.

That's Jeep's problem, not yours. For you, it's a decision. And for most people, the decision should be this: Unless you are seriously going to go off-road - and I mean hard-core scared-you're-gonna-roll-off-a-cliff-and-die off-road - get the Liberty.

It can do anything a normal person needs to do and then some. It has a bouncy enough ride to make you feel like you're driving a real Jeep (and you are), plus - with the Sky Slider Roof - you get that open air feeling without the the hassles involved in removing the Wrangler's top.

The Liberty has much better day-to-day manners than the Wrangler, too. Its handling is reasonably balanced, though the steering is still mighty vague. (Just rounding a corner usually required a little correction at the end.) It stays easily in a straight line on the highway, it doesn't sway during lane changes, and it doesn't have the Wrangler's nearly constant highway wind noise.

That said, if you never go off road at all and you don't think it's fun to drive around something that does, there are innumerable better choices for you among the small car-like crossover SUVs out there.

As for me, I found myself tempted. There's a "comfy blue jeans" quality, a certain "go ahead and don't wash me for a month" savoir faire that I find attractive in a vehicle. Warts and all, I can see the appeal.

Last updated December 14 2007: 12:40 PM ET

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