Safety

One thing I really missed in the Liberty was a backup camera; it comes with an optional parking assist system, which includes a sonar-based warning system with audio and visual alerts. For a smaller SUV, the Liberty is still tall. If one of my children were standing behind it, there's no way I could see them because the rear window is too high off the ground.

The Liberty comes with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, stability control and traction control. It also comes with front-impact and side curtain airbags for both rows, but there are no side-impact airbags for front passengers.

The Liberty received a Good rating in frontal-offset crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, it only scored a Marginal in side-impact testing and a Poor in the rear crash test. Yikes! While the Liberty appears to deliver a solid, tank-like ride, I'd say this little SUV needs to head back to boot camp for additional safety training!

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: There's plenty of room for all types of child-safety seats and baby gear.

In School: Kids will probably get dirty when they climb in, but there's plenty of space in the backseat for them.

Teens: This is a cool-looking car with plenty of fun features - Sky Slider - to play with.

    See also:

    Ignition Key Removal
    Automatic Transmission Place the shift lever in PARK. Turn the key to the ACC position and then push the key and cylinder inward slightly and rotate the key to the LOCK position. Then remove th ...

    Reclining Rear Seat
    To recline the seatback, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat, lean back and release the lever at the desired position. To return the seatback, lift the lever, lean forward an ...

    Remote Starting System — If Equipped
    This system uses the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to start the engine conveniently from outside the vehicle while still maintaining security. The system has a range of approximately 30 ...