2003 Jeep Liberty Renegade

[Thai]

Hey all,

Here is some info on the upcoming Jeep Liberty Renegade.

http://www.jeepclub.co.uk/news/kj_renegade.html

Thanks.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

Well, this is just bad for an off-roader. The '03 Liberty will be 1" LOWER in front and 3/4" in rear than the current model because of the report of the Liberty rolling over in one test by an automotive journal. This is really bad news, especially for a vehicle that is all about off-roading! I wonder how this will affect wheel articulation.

I wish they had done something else to fight this high-center gravity/rolling over issue. For example, now that they are associated with Mercedes-Benz, why not install a STABILITY CONTROL on the Liberty?? That would allow them to now advertise that they are one of the safest SUV on the road. Oh well...or maybe increase thickness of antiroll bar or something....

Thanks.

 

[Thai]

2003 Liberty Changes

Hey all,

Here is the listing for the 2003 changes to the Liberty:

Jeep Liberty changes for 2003
by Milous

General

Badging: "4x4" relocated from side quarter panels to swing-gate

Brakes: four-wheel disc made standard

Center console storage added. Deletes ash-receiver. Smokers package made optional

Door trim: Sport trim replaced with Renegade/Limited's trim

EVIC: Electronic Vehicle Information Center added to overhead console

Electrochomic mirrors: Inside and driver's outside added. (overhead console required)

Interior (Renegade): New "E"-CPOS package added to Renegade. Package provides Limited Edition Leather interior including dual power seats and satin chrome bezel finishes

Radio: 6-disc in-dash CD system. Remote cargo-mounted 6-disc changer deleted

Steering wheel: Leather wrapped deleted except vehicles equipped with leather interiors ("E" & "G"-CPOS)

Sunvisor: slide feature added as standard

Skid-plates: New optional group created (skid-plates remain in off-road group)

Tow: Trailer tow option offered with 3.71L manual

Wheels: 17" chrome clad wheels for Limited Edition optional

Wheels: Full-size spare made standard (poly-spare dropped)

Wheels: Not sure how many of these are new, but 7 different styles are listed:
16" drop-center steel; 16" full-face steel; 16" Mesa cast aluminum; 16" Mesa cast aluminum in green; 16" Mesa cast aluminum in graphite; 16" Mechanica cast aluminum, and the new 17" Mohave Chrome noted above

Color changes:

Black added to Renegade
Lt Khaki added to Sport and Limited
Cactus Green added to Sport
New Atlantic Blue - Sport & Limited only

Decontenting:

Map pocket: Driver's side seat-back pocket deleted on Renegade and Limited

Key cylinders: Eliminated passenger-side and swing-gate cylinders on vehicles equipped with RKE key fob

Thanks.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

Here are some more info:

All new for 2002, Jeep

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

There seems to be some problems with Liberty's automatic transmission. This is a similar transmission to the Grand Cherokee (with 4 gears instead of 5).

Here is the thread on JU forum on this topic (for those interested):

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forum...threadid=283259

Thanks.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

Here is a link to a thread over at JeepsUnlimited.com regarding problems with the Liberty. Since they don't have a "Problems" section like us, here is a chance to see the problems of 1st year owners.

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forum...threadid=287426

Thanks.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

Here are some pics of a really nice Renegade! Black looks good i think! I have not seen a black Renegade in real life.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

Here is a nice off-road Liberty: (nice scenery!)

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

Here is a pic of a flying Liberty!

 

[Thai]

TheCarConnection.com Review

2002 Jeep Liberty Renegade

It's all about packaging.
by Paul Wiley Cockerham 8/26/2002

No denying it

 

[Thai]

Pics from review above

 

[Thai]

Edmunds Review

Road Test Follow-Up: 2002 Jeep Liberty Renegade
Less Cute, More 'Ute
By Warren Clarke

It was pretty clear that Jeep needed to do something about its aged Cherokee. The 'ute, in existence since 1984, no longer enjoyed the warm reception it received in its glory days, thanks to sharp, new competition and profound improvements made to longtime adversaries. Help came this year in the form of the 2002 Jeep Liberty, which roared in to replace the terminated Cherokee. The Liberty offered all that the Cherokee did and then some; it's reasonably competent on pavement and bashes boulders like an Olympic rock climber off-road. But there was a problem: its "cute 'ute" appearance

 

[Thai]

Pics from Review above

 

[Thai]

Diesel-Powered Jeep Liberty To Be Offered in 2004

New York, New York - To encourage North American acceptance of diesel-powered vehicles, DaimlerChrysler announced it will test market a diesel-powered Jeep Liberty in Canada and the United States beginning in 2004.

"The best way to show our confidence in diesel technology is to bring a modern, clean diesel passenger vehicle to market, which we intend to do," said Dieter Zetsche, President and C.E.O. of the Chrysler Group. "We would like to see the oil refiners commit to producing and distributing high quality, low-sulphur fuel as soon as possible."

While DaimlerChrysler offers a range of diesel-powered passenger vehicles in Europe, where approximately 35 percent of vehicles are powered by diesel engines, the Jeep Liberty will be the first light-duty sport-utility vehicle with a diesel powertrain to go on sale in the United States and Canada.

"Today's modern diesel vehicles should be part of the solution to improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions," Zetsche said. "Diesels lead to an average of up to 30 percent improvement in fuel economy, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions an average of 20 percent.

"While there are legitimate concerns about the particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) exhaust from diesels, the introduction of high quality, low-sulphur diesel fuel will enable a reduction of these emissions," added Zetsche.

The diesel Jeep Liberty will be powered by a 2.8-litre common rail turbo- diesel engine produced by DaimlerChrysler, with either a manual or automatic transmission. It is expected that the diesel-powered Liberty will have up to 30 percent improvement in fuel economy, versus a comparable gasoline-powered Liberty.

DaimlerChrysler currently offers diesel engines in its Dodge Ram heavy- duty trucks in North America. Approximately 75 percent of all Dodge Ram 2500/3500s sold in North America are powered by diesel engines.

Outside the U.S. and Canada, the Chrysler Group currently offers diesel powertrain options in the Jeep Cherokee (Liberty in North America), Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chrysler Voyager minivans. In Western Europe, diesel-powered vehicles comprise 56 percent of Chrysler Group's total sales volume. Jeep Cherokee vehicles with diesel powertrains currently account for 65 percent of that model's total sales in Western Europe.

 

[Thai]

Link:

CanadianDriver.com Review of Renegade

Best of Both Worlds

Jeep brand managers expect that the Liberty Renegade will manage to carve out its own niche in the marketplace, as they feel it represents the best of both worlds - appealing to Jeep enthusiasts who already know the brand's ruggedness off road, but at the same time attracting new buyers with its smoother ride on paved roads and adventurous good looks.

Rolling into showrooms nicely equipped and competitively priced, the 2003 Jeep Liberty Renegade has raised the bar another notch, and looks set to make also-rans out of the competition in the sale's race. With loads of comfort and convenience features, as well as all the 'custom-look' accessories already onboard and fully covered under the manufacturer's warranty, Jeep dealers should be able to move a lot of Renegades. This is good news, as a financial 'homerun' is something Daimler-Chrysler, as well as most of the major automakers, could really use right about now.