Fresh ideas and tight steering make for fun ride in new Jeep

The Jeep Liberty Renegade's tasteful interior is roomy and comfortable. srobertson

It was love at first sight. I was in high school, and the beautiful college girl that moved in next door drove an MG Midget sports car. She was beautiful. And so was Colleen!

My best friend Harry, the first gearhead I ever knew, told me Colleen would give me a ride in her MG if I impressed her with my car knowledge. He told me all about the little British engine, suspension and steering system. Shortly thereafter I caught Colleen outside washing her car, and approached her. I was so nervous. She was even more beautiful up close. And so was Colleen!

"Hi," I stammered. She turned toward me, garden hose in hand. "Love your car. It's got a rack of pinions, doesn't it?"

Colleen laughed, but thankfully didn't hose me down. "If you want a ride, you'll have to help me wash it."

I got my first ride in a sports car that day, and vowed that someday I'd have pinions of my own.

Well, guess what? Ask any of my friends, and they'll tell you I'm a very 'pinionated person. Which bring me to this week's test vehicle -- a Jeep Liberty, with, you guessed it, rack-and-pinion steering.

Auffenberg Jeep on South Kingshighway in Cape graciously loaned the cactus green Liberty Renegade for this test. "Its looks sell it," business manager Rex Probus explained. "The Liberty appeals to a younger demographic."

Hmm. I'm not "younger," but the Liberty appeals to me, too. I like innovation. Take the inside door releases, for example. There're totally unique! And the slick "flipper glass" above the rear swing-open hatch. It flips up by itself when you open the rear gate.

The Liberty replaced the 18-year-old Jeep Cherokee in 2002, which apparently had a politically incorrect name and mechanically outmoded underpinnings. Totally fresh, the Liberty was introduced as a hip, comfortable, go-anywhere, pull just about anything SUV. It was slightly larger than the Cherokee, 45 percent stiffer, and was also the first Jeep with rack-and-pinion steering. And you got something the competition, no matter how good, couldn't give you at any price -- the Jeep nameplate.

The Liberty competes with Ford Escape, Toyota Rav4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Xterra, Kia Sorento, Mazda Tribute and many others in the crowded SUV market, but in keeping with traditional Jeep skills, this is a real off-road vehicle. Short front and rear overhangs allow exceptional approach and departure angles, and a plethora of mechanical features keep Liberty going when the going gets tough.

There are three Liberties: Sport, Renegade and Limited Edition. The Renegade I drove is well equipped with air conditioning and all the normal power features, plus a nifty light bar on the roof for off-road use only. It is powered by a 210-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 engine producing 235 pounds-feet of torque, teamed with a four-speed-automatic transmission and Jeep's excellent four-wheel drive system.

It lists for about $30,000, but comes with up to $1,500 in rebates. Reviewers consistently rave about the Liberty's off-road capabilities. Considering all the skid plates, cast iron lower control arms, independent front and rear suspensions and other high-tech running gear I saw underneath the test vehicle, I'd have to assume Jeep intends this vehicle to see a lot of rough use. I was surprised to note, however, that this Jeep does not have the expected truck-like frame. It is a modern unit-body design, which might explain its good road manners. Jeep says it's the strongest frame of all the Jeep vehicles.

If you like SUVs for the way they sit--up high--the Liberty is for you. At a stoplight on William Street I could see over the top of the Hyundai Santa Fe in front of me! When the light turned green, I wasn't the fastest vehicle, but I wasn't the slowest, either. Test results show a zero to 60 time of 10 seconds. Liberty Renegade weighs nearly 4,300 pounds. Compare that to the Honda CR-V's 3,300 pounds, and you'll agree the heavy-duty Jeep needs a V-6. On the other hand, the Jeep can tow 5,000 pounds; the CR-V can pull only 1500 pounds.

Entry and egress to the front or rear was not a problem, and the rear seats had adequate room for two men. Power seats and good headroom made it possible for even my 6-foot, 4-inch bud to get comfortable behind the wheel. The steering was tight and responsive, and the brakes were adequate. Wind noise was not bothersome. Controls were convenient, except I wish the power window switches were on the door, not the console. I enjoyed the steering wheel-mounted buttons for the sound system and cruise control. A handy overhead panel indicated the vehicle's direction and fuel mileage, which averaged 18 mpg for us. EPA says to expect 17 city and 21 highway miles per gallon. The Liberty is solidly constructed and tight throughout, and I never heard a rattle or squeak.

Because it's a real off-road vehicle, you'd think Liberty would have a rough highway ride. Not so! Several test reviews have called its highway ride everything from "lovely" to "car-like." Well, I don't know what kind of "car" they are referring to, but in no way did my Liberty ride as smoothly as my car, a full-size model weighing 300 pounds less. But it didn't ride as rough as Colleen's Midget, either. You'll just have to go test drive one yourself to form your own 'pinion.