2009 Jeep Liberty Review
2009 Jeep Liberty Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Respectable off-road abilities, simple and functional cabin, high towing capacity, decent luggage space, brawny image.
Cons
- Weak and thirsty engine, not as carlike to drive as most rivals, subpar interior materials, poor headlight illumination.
What’s new
Following a redesign last year, the 2009 Jeep Liberty gets additional tweaks to improve handling and braking. Optional package content has also been adjusted, and the Limited trim gets upgraded interior materials.
Edmunds says
In true Jeep form, the 2009 Liberty remains a champ off-road. But despite further improvements to ride and handling, most competitors are superior in terms of everyday drivability, fuel economy and overall refinement.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2009 Jeep Liberty Sport 4dr SUV (3.7L 6cyl 4A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$225/mo for Liberty Sport
Liberty Sport
vs
$179/mo
Avg. Compact SUV
Vehicle overview
Higher gas prices in 2008 have made compact crossovers increasingly popular. People are coming to realize that even if they can't live without that high, commanding seating position, they probably don't need an enormous vehicle to go along with it. Jeep would seem to be ideally positioned to help these folks out, as the brand offers not one, not two, but three small SUVs. The longest-serving and probably the best well known of the bunch is the 2009 Jeep Liberty.
As the most macho of this Jeep trio, the Liberty boasts a robust chassis, steep approach angles, impressive suspension articulation and proficient four-wheel-drive systems. Combined, they allow the Liberty to tackle the type of rugged terrain that a Honda CR-V would scurry away from. The Liberty's off-road image and attendant styling treatment also set it apart from the rounded, often cutesy compact crossovers with which it competes.
Unfortunately, the Liberty is not nearly as well-suited for on-pavement use as other vehicles in this segment. Although ride and handling have been improved for 2009, this compact Jeep still isn't as comfortable, controllable or generally "carlike" as models like the CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Materials quality is also a low point. To its credit, the Liberty does offer a few novel features like digital music storage, driver-seat memory and the Sky Slider roof, which is a sliding canvas panel that exposes most of the cabin to the elements.
For those who want a small SUV that stakes out the middle ground between off-road vehicle and family-friendly compact crossover, the 2009 Jeep Liberty may be worth a look. However, we think the Liberty requires too many compromises on both sides of this equation. Any of the other above-mentioned vehicles will likely be better choices for most folks, while those truly in need of an off-roading rig will want to check out Jeep's own Wrangler as well as the Nissan Xterra and Toyota FJ Cruiser.
Performance & mpg
Both Jeep Liberty trims can be equipped with rear-wheel drive or a choice of two 4WD systems -- part-time Command-Trac or full-time Selec-Trac. All Liberty models are powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic is the lone transmission choice. Properly equipped, the Liberty can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Fuel economy numbers are lackluster. The 2WD Liberty returns an EPA estimated 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined, while 4WD drops each number by 1 mpg.
Safety
Antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, electronic roll mitigation and side curtain airbags are all standard on the 2009 Jeep Liberty. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Liberty a perfect five-star rating in both front and side impact crashworthiness. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Liberty its highest rating of "Good" for frontal offset impacts; however, the Liberty received the second-lowest "Marginal" rating for side crash protection.
Driving
The 2009 Jeep Liberty exhibits better on-road manners, thanks to some suspension tweaks following last year's redesign. Don't get us wrong, though -- there's still plenty of body roll to contend with. Like other Jeeps, the Liberty receives top marks for its off-road prowess, and its long suspension travel helps to tame larger bumps on paved roads, too. The Liberty's unspectacular acceleration would be tolerable if it achieved good fuel mileage, but it doesn't -- quite the opposite, actually. Also, during night driving, we found that the headlights were insufficient and inconsistent in their coverage.
Interior
The 2009 Liberty's cabin has all the design flair of a cinder block -- it's angular and comes in varying shades of gray. The materials in the base Liberty are also on par with a cinder block, though the Limited gets some welcome improvements in this department for 2009, including additional padded and leather-wrapped surfaces. Regardless, most competitors feature a more welcoming and higher-quality environment. On the bright side, most of the Liberty's controls are straightforward and easy to find.
After last year's overhaul, the Liberty is now bigger and therefore more spacious for passengers. Rear legroom and shoulder room are particularly improved. The seats are rather slablike, though. Luggage space is quite good with 31.5 cubic feet with the rear seats raised and 64.6 cubic feet with them lowered. These numbers fall between those of larger compacts like the Toyota RAV4 and smaller ones like the Saturn Vue.
2009 Jeep Liberty models
The 2009 Jeep Liberty is a compact SUV available in Sport and Limited trim levels. Both can be had with either rear- or four-wheel drive. Standard equipment on the Sport includes 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, automatic headlamps, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a 65/35 split-folding rear seat, a trip computer and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio. The Popular Equipment Group is optional for the Sport, and it adds roof rails, cruise control, upgraded cloth upholstery, a fold-flat front passenger seat, foglamps, rear privacy glass and a cargo cover.
The Limited comes standard with the Sport's Popular Equipment Group and tacks on 17-inch wheels, a power driver seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an eight-speaker upgraded stereo that also adds steering-wheel controls.
Other optional items are grouped in a confusing array of packages. The optional Premium Sound Group adds a six-CD changer and Bluetooth, while the Premium Group I adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power front passenger seat, remote engine start and driver memory settings. The Premium Group II includes all the Premium Group I items plus 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control and automatic wipers. Also optional on the Limited with the Premium Group II is the uconnect hard-drive-based navigation system, which includes real-time traffic, digital music storage, a USB audio jack and Bluetooth. Optional on both trims are a towing package, a sunroof and the Sky Slider full-open cloth roof.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average
#28 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Jeep Liberty from 2008-2022.$509/yr
vs. $485/yr
for Average Midsize SUV
for Average Midsize SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.6x/yr
vs. 1.18x/yr
for Average Midsize SUV
for Average Midsize SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).15.1%
vs. 13.5%
for Average Midsize SUV
for Average Midsize SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2009 Jeep Liberty.
5 star(46%)
4 star(39%)
3 star(15%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
33 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.13 out of 5 stars
Things to know
herc, 04/17/2014
2009 Jeep Liberty Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (3.7L 6cyl 4A)
People say they used to drive a crossover and don't like the Liberty ride. The first thing to know is that the Liberty is a real Jeep. It will not ride like a car based crossover. That said, it actually does pretty darn good on regular roads.
Our Liberty has 90k miles and the drive train has been solid. No squeaks or rattles. Overall our Jeep has been reliable. We've owned Hondas and … other brands so being objective here. Items that will likely be a problem sooner or later on the Liberty include automatic climate controller, trans cooler, and totally integrated power module (when this goes bad the car seems haunted). Wife loves driving the Liberty year round. We would buy another one.
5 out of 5 stars
Safety first
Sarah, 08/27/2016
2009 Jeep Liberty Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (3.7L 6cyl 4A)
I was in an accident last night in my 2009 Jeep liberty. We are all okay but got hit from the back while we were at a dead stop and the other driver of a E350 van plowed into the back of us sending us into another vehicle. My back window blew out not in, I felt so safe in this vehicle and I would not want to have been in anything else. I'm so happy I bought this vehicle. It was tough and … amazing in the snow. The sky slider was good after we had a dealer fix it. If you live in NY NEVER buy a vehicle from Armory Garage in Albany. My air bags did not go off and they should have, but that is okay because it probably would have made things worse. This was my first vehicle ever and probably the best one I have ever had. I highly recommend the jeep liberty.
4.13 out of 5 stars
Jeep
Jeepers, 04/25/2010
2009 Jeep Liberty Sport 4dr SUV (3.7L 6cyl 4A)
I traded in my 97 140k mile Grand Cherokee for the 09 Liberty. In the 140k miles I drove that car it had NO problems. Those who rag on the Liberty's gas mileage should go buy themselves a hybrid and keep moving.I was looking for an upper-teen's priced SUV that was fun to drive, dependable, and didn't look like a soccer mom drove it. The comparing cars (ie: Rav4, Forester, CR- V) looked … and felt unappealing to me. The Liberty drives great and comes with some nice options like the 30GB multimedia storage for mp3s/jpegs, internal CD burner, usb port, voice command, bluetooth, satellite radio, sunroof, ect. The outside is stylish and the off-road capabilities are top of the line. Glad I went Jeep
5 out of 5 stars
2009 Jeep Liberty Limited 3.7 Every Option Offered
Craig, 04/03/2017
2009 Jeep Liberty Limited 4dr SUV (3.7L 6cyl 4A)
Bought new 03/09 got $6,190 off sticker $32,450. Brilliant Black with Pebble Beige leather interior. This model year has a lifetime drive train warranty from Jeep/Chrysler. Fabulous looking SUV/styling without badges many would think it was a MB. Fit/finish a perfect 10. Engine runs like a Swiss Watch perfectly balanced/quiet. Most passengers unsolicited give rave comments on … styling/looks. Low mileage under 35K and garage stored looks like new. Paint job is like day it left factory. All electronics/NAV/blue tooth work perfectly. Mileage is 25 @ 60 mph drops to 23 @ 70 mph. I've replace a heat/AC blender door @$147, antenna mast $15 and just replaced a failed front right caliper (both front sides rotors/pads/calipers $650) 8 Yrs old Florida salt air appears to have corroded caliper pins. Rides well at highway speeds a little rough over bad roads. NO squeaks or rattles. Original 18" tires still have 10K+ miles tread wear left. Change oil/filter every 3,500 miles about to change plugs & transmission flush @ 35,000 miles. This model year has the lowest consumer Liberty complaint issues from 2003 - 2012. Compared to Jeeps newer models this model/year was a steal value. This is my 5th Jeep and by far the best value/quality I've owned.
Update Fall 2019 10.5 Yrs old in mid 2019 - replaced (both rear sides rotors/pads/calipers $650) & left rear wheel sensor $150. Also replaced all (5) tires with Goodyear Assurance $921 & replaced all TPMS valves $100 , Black Friday week, still tread wear left but side walls sun rot cracking after (10) Yrs. Minor sunroof leak but cleaned out drains myself $15 for a drain snake... Drip leak off water pump gasket. A/C and all electronics including radio/uconnect Navigation System GPS working properly. This is a good example of Daimler's quality when they owned Chrysler... today it's Fiat (FCA) not near the quality, Buyer Beware read on-line reviews...
2020 Replaced tires @ 42,500 miles with Goodyear Assurance/new valve stems $700, new rear calipers/rotors due to salt air rust $350 and added 13 Oz of R134a Freon $165 to AC - mileage @ 44,000.
2021 Replaced 4th battery under (under 36 Mo. Warranty) NO cost. Vehicle is 12.5 Yrs. old with 44,500 miles, the paint finish is 90% like new under Florida sun. Starts on 1st crank even after setting for weeks or a few months. I still love this SUV, best vehicle I've ever owned.
Dealer replaced water pump and oil lamp indicator under Lifetime mechanical warranty. Had exterior detail buffed paint sealed 2023 looks Show Room new. After 46,000 miles and (14) Yrs the quality of Daimler Chrysler is amazing compared to FCA or Stellantis which is terrible.
2009 Liberty Highlights
Sport
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $23,015 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $225/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 31.2 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Liberty include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover3 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalMarginal
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintPoor
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