On road, there's really not much to report on, other than it's quite easy to pilot and has fantastic visibility. There are no woes about parking this one,

There are no woes about parking this one, with an incredibly tight turning circle and a light, accurate if not slow steering action. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

with an incredibly tight turning circle and a light, accurate if not slow steering action. Body control is fair; lateral roll is predominant mainly due to its soft suspension, but provided you maintain reasonable speeds through corners its slow steering will help you keep the shiny side up. Minor surface undulations seem to be amplified, in particular the up and down bobbing motion on less than perfect motorways, but it never reaches an uncomfortable state. One thing to be wary about is that in RWD "2HI" mode, add a bit too much gas when rounding a corner and you can get the back tires to chirp, a reminder of the diesel's incredible torque.

At then end of another busy week, the Liberty CRD has demonstrated to me why SUVs are so popular. All of the traits which I've so often heard promoted by proponents of the segment are visible, including a few new ones: good performance and excellent fuel economy. Diesel-power is an option that takes a bit of adjusting to, but one that transforms the Liberty from a good SUV into a role model. It took just one afternoon to warm up to the cold metallic clatter and other such anomalies - ones, which frankly I miss after returning to regular gasoline-powered cars. Wrapped up in a package that's easy to live with, and able to dish out whatever nature throws in its path, it makes the Liberty CRD something all SUVs should strive to be.

Specifications (Liberty CRD):

Price Range (MSRP): $29,835 - $41,830
Price as Tested (MSRP): $41,375
Body Type: 5-door SUV
Layout: front engine, 4WD
Engine: 165 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque, 2.8L, 16-valve DOHC I-4 turbodiesel
Transmission: 5-spd automatic
Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,437 / 1,824 / 1,824 / 2,647 mm (174.7 / 71.8 / 71.8 / 104.2 in)
Curb Weight: 1,953 kg (4,306 lbs)
Tires: 235/70R16
Trunk (seat up/down): 821 / 1,950 L (29.0 / 69.0 cu ft)
Towing Capacity: 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 11.2 / 9.0 L/100 km
Observed Fuel Economy: 10.1 L/100 km
Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive - 60/100,000 powertrain
Competitors: Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V / Element, Hyundai Tucson / Santa Fe, Kia Sportage / Sorento, Land Rover Freelander, Mazda Tribute, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Xterra / X-Trail, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn VUE, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV-4
Website: www.jeep.ca