2012 Jeep Liberty

The Jeep Wrangler has poor fuel economy, wind noise, an uncomfortable interior, and reliability scores near the bottom of Consumer Reports’ rankings. Despite those results, the Wrangler has been popular for decades. Next to endless options of aerodynamic compact SUVs, its boxy, military-inspired design makes it timeless and charming. It’s also especially capable off-road, and is available as a pickup truck. The Wrangler’s rugged appeal benefits the rest of Jeep’s lineup of small, medium, and large SUVs. The Cherokee and Wagoneer, despite their name’s historical appeal, usually score low on Consumer Reports’ customer satisfaction surveys. However, shoppers drawn to the Jeep name who are comfortable with sacrificing handling and fuel economy for three-row capacity can consider the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Low reliability scores across the brand make it difficult to recommend buying a used Jeep.

The boxier looking 2008 redesign brought little improvement in driving dynamics. It also remained noisy and cramped. In fact, we ranked this version of the Liberty lower than its predecessor and it is the lowest-rated vehicle in its category for the time. Ride quality is unsettled, handling is clumsy and the noisy engine uses too much fuel. The interior is too small, uncomfortable and fit and finish are poor. On the other hand, the Jeep tows well and offroad terrain is handled masterfully. A full-time four-wheel drive system was an option. The 2012 models were the last for the Liberty.