Jeep's Toledo Plant Winds Down Liberty Production
Published: August 9th, 2012
Share
The last Jeep Liberty will be coming off the line on August 16th, as the rugged 4-door Jeep makes way for its upcoming, car-based replacement.
The next Liberty (or Cherokee…or whatever it’s called. Nobody is quite sure what moniker will be used) will have a “Trail Rated” version meant for off-road use. But it will also be car based, sharing the same Alfa-derived architecture that the Dodge Dart uses. The SUV die hards will no doubt protest. The people of Toledo are undoubtedly pleased that 1,100 jobs and $1.7 billion are being invested in the plant for the new Jeep.
More by Derek Kreindler
Comments
Join the conversation
I don't like this vehicle. At all. Except maybe the fact that it has granny gears. It's heavy and thirsty, yet cramped and slow. Interior packaging is god-awful. Don't care about interior plastics, but the seats are uncomfortable. Much of this was true of the Cherokee, but unlike this Liberty it actually had ground clearance. A truly good offroad vehicle, it didn't pretend to be a civilized car. This Liberty tries to be both truck and car and does neither well.
I thought they would be around through 2013.No wonder why I keep seeing plenty of new ones on the road and deals for well under $20k.
Obligatory I wish it had a solid front axle and a diesel post. Seriously though, I'd look at one if it did. As to the Wrangler's low tow rating, I thought this was more of a function of it's short wheelbase than the driveline and frame not being up to the task.
"what’s really needed in the market is AWD for the snow belt customers, preferably switchable to FWD for economy, to compete against Foresters and Escapes." They already make that; it's called a Patriot. Too many dismiss the Patriot as a rebodied Caliber (which admittedly it is), but having recently purchased one after owning a Forester and looking at the Escape, it's a strong competitor. Get it with the stick to avoid the noisy CVT and it's cheaper and gets better mileage than the Forester (without worrying about timing belts and head gaskets).