Jeep Liberty vs. Suzuki Grand Vitara

The 2008 Jeep Liberty

The 2008 Jeep Liberty offers a pleasant driving experience. The ride is generally firm, but the Liberty smoothes over most bumps and is never punishing, even with the available 18-inch wheels. The 2008 Jeep Liberty is offered in two trim levels, both with rear- or four-wheel drive. The models are Sport, Sport 4WD, Limited, and Limited 4WD. Sport features include cloth upholstery, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, 60/40 split folding rear seats, power mirrors, power locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers and auxiliary input jack, and P225/75R16 all-season tires on aluminum wheels. Limited models add Yes Essentials cloth upholstery, heated power mirrors, 368-watt Infinity sound system with eight speakers, cruise control, vehicle information center, leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio and vehicle information center controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror, roof rails, six-way power driver's seat, fold-flat front passenger seat, universal garage door opener, antitheft alarm, fog lamps, full-size spare and P236/65R17 all-season tires on aluminum wheels.

The Liberty comes with an array of standard safety features including dual front airbags, plus head-protecting side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors and front side airbags for torso protection, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, hill start assist, traction control, and electronic stability control with rollover mitigation. Hill descent control is standard on 4x4 models. Optional safety features include trailer sway control and rear obstacle detection. Inside, the Liberty has plenty of room for five. The Liberty's second row seats fold flat, and cargo space is average for a vehicle in this class. Though not luxurious, the new interior of the 2008 Liberty is functional. The controls are simple to use. The climate functions are controlled by three simple knobs and the radio and other vehicle controls are straightforward. A notable feature of the rear is the lack of an exterior spare tire. Jeep has moved it under the floor for 2008. The tailgate also changes from a swing gate to a liftgate design, and separate opening rear glass is newly standard. The Liberty rides firmly, but is stable on the highway. The Liberty sacrifices handling for off-road abilities, however. With a maximum towing capacity of 5000 pounds, rugged off-road capability and plenty of cargo space, the 2008 Jeep Liberty is a good choice for small families or couples that tow boats or go camping.

The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara

The 2008 Grand Vitara is a five-seat, V6-powered SUV with enough sophistication that it's just as much at home on the highway as it is way off the highway. Suzuki Grand Vitara variants include: 2WD Manual; 2WD Automatic; XSport 2WD Automatic; Luxury 2WD Automatic; 4WD Manual; 4WD Automatic; XSport 4WD Automatic; and Luxury 4WD Automatic. The 2.7-liter V6 engine comes standard on all models. Also standard: automatic climate control with a micron air-filtration system, cruise control, digital clock with outside temperature and fuel consumption indicators, power door locks with a remote key, power mirrors and power windows. The standard sound system features an AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA unit that is XM Satellite Radio-ready and features steering-wheel-mounted controls.

Safety features that come standard on all models include an Electronic Stability Program with traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. That's an impressive array of active safety features, which work together to reduce the chance of skidding and help drivers avoid accidents. Other safety features include six airbags: advanced dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for torso protection for driver and front passenger, and front and rear side-curtain airbags for head protection for the four passengers in the outboard seats. The exterior has large fender flares covering wheels that are located near the four corners for a good stance. The headlights blend nicely into the top edge of the front bumper, grille surround and front edge of the full width hood. From the side there is a gentle curve that runs back as a wedge shape along the lower edge of the windows to blend in nicely with the rear tail light cluster that then leads the eye down to the low, rear bumper. All models include redundant audio controls as well as cruise control buttons on the steering wheel. The rear seat splits 60/40 for carrying different load combinations. The rear cargo floor is lower than in many SUVs so there is a reasonable amount of storage space even when the rear seat is in use, but the distance from the rear seat back to the tailgate is relatively shallow.

The 2008 Jeep Liberty has better off-road capability and more towing capacity than most of its competitors. It offers generous cargo space and a high seating position. If off-road capability is important, Liberty is a good choice. It has an MSRP of $22,715 - $27,430. The Liberty gets 22 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in the city. The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a great choice among compact SUVs. It's suitable for someone who wants some off-road capability, but also works as an everyday driver or family vehicle.  The Grand Vitara has an MSRP of $19,499 - $25,699. The estimated fuel economy range is 22 mpg Hwy, 16 mpg City, and it comes with a basic warranty of 36 months/36,000 miles.