The Liberty may have gotten all-new sheet metal and a different interior, but its engine is exactly the same. The 210-horsepower V-6 is completely adequate, especially at highway cruising speeds. It takes time to charge off the line, but you expect that in a 4,220-pound four-wheel-drive SUV. On inclines, you can take your foot off the brake without rolling backward or forward, which is helpful on road and off. Highway passing, which is one of the more important performance aspects, was adequate.

Braking was responsive — not grippy in the least and very intuitive. Brakes aren't normally a Jeep strong suit, but here they are definitely above-average.