The rear gate swings open and the glass window flips up with a spare tire bolted onto the rear of the Liberty. The newest Jeep vehicle is the first to have an independent front suspension, a feature that is common in cars and makes for a smoother ride.
Critics even question whether the name is tough enough.
Those choices, which make Liberty comfortable and mainstream, were part of a plan to get more women and younger buyers into the Jeep brand. Worse yet, I'm unable to budge the balky transfer-case shift lever that's located to the right of my knee. I turn red from embarrassment because I figure I'm just too weak or dumb to figure it out. Finally, I have to ask for help from one of the Jeep guys overseeing the entrance to the trail. He advises me to pull harder and get a rolling start.