2005 Jeep Liberty/Cherokee 2.8L CRD 5AT (177 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Chrysler introduced a refreshed version of the Liberty lineup for the North American market in the spring of 2004 for the 2005 model year and came with significant upgrades.

With sales that didn’t reach the 200,000 units, the 2001 Liberty was not the sales-winner DaimlerChrysler hoped. As a result, the car got a refresh with upgrades in all areas. Perhaps the least important ones were on the outside, where the automaker just mildly updated the vehicle and fixed some of the mistakes made on the original version. But that wasn’t all. The automaker focused on increasing comfort and amenities and providing the car with a fuel-efficient turbodiesel engine. Unfortunately, that powerplant was unavailable in several states due to stricter emission regulations. Still, otherwise, it was well-received by customers, who bought this oil-burning variant in more than 10,000 units in the first manufacturing year. Unfortunately, that version didn’t last too long because, starting in 2007, rules about emissions changed again, and Jeep had to pull the plug on it.

If there was one thing that Jeep had to upgrade, and customers could notice it instantly, then that was the front fascia. There, the automaker removed the fog lamps from the bumper, which was not a bright idea from the start, considering that the Liberty was marketed as an off-road vehicle. Furthermore, the turn signals were relocated higher, above the bumper. As a result, the SUV was safer while crossing rivers or difficult off-road obstacles. The main grille, with its seven vertical bars, was available either in body color or with a chromed finish, depending on the grade.

The profile wasn’t upgraded too much, albeit several details were changed. For instance, the car had new alloy wheels. All grades featured body-colored wheel-fender claddings. At the same time, the rubber stripe decorations that crossed the door panels were either black or sported the same shade as the rest of the vehicle, depending on the grade. Jeep made the 2005 Liberty available in three grades: Sport, Renegade, and Limited. Regardless of the trim level, all of them featured the spare wheel mounted at the back, on the tailgate, with or without a hard-case cover.

Inside, there were significant upgrades for the 2005 Jeep Liberty. The driver faced a steering wheel with several buttons controlling the stereo and the cruise control functions. The automaker installed large dials inside the instrument cluster for the speedometer and tachometer flanked by the fuel level and the coolant thermometer gauges. All of them sported chromed encirclings for a poshier look. A six-way adjustable driver seat and leather upholstery were also available. Furthermore, on the center stack, the automaker installed a GPS navigation system with a color screen, while the center console housed the gear stick and the handbrake.

Under the hood, the most significant upgrade was the introduction of the 2.8-liter CRD turbodiesel engine developed by VM Motori in Italy. It provided more torque than the V6 gasoline powerplant available for the Liberty but with less power than that. This version was sold for the 2005 and 2006 model years and was canceled afterward. All these upgrades helped the Liberty boost its sales, but not significantly.