Wanting To Know

[kymagred]

Would a Jeep Liberty make a good driver for a 16 year old girl?
Are they safe?
Are they dependable?
Gas mileage?
How hard to change the oil?
Do they do well in snow?
Anything else I should ask?
Still have a while before I need to make a move, just researching.
Thanks Tony

[aaron5140]

Originally Posted by kymagred

Would a Jeep Liberty make a good driver for a 16 year old girl?
Are they safe?
Are they dependable?
Gas mileage?
How hard to change the oil?
Do they do well in snow?
Anything else I should ask?
Still have a while before I need to make a move, just researching.
Thanks Tony

I would say that it is an expensive vehicle for a 16 year old girl learning how to drive and probably not the best for insurance rates....but if you can afford it, go for it.
The liberty takes a hit pretty well and they have a great crash-test rating but, with any suv, the chance for a rollover is higher than a car.
Dependable? Yes, I think so, i have my 2004 Renegade with 18,000 miles and i have never done anything to it but oil changes...
Gas mileage is NOT the greatest, mine averages about 15-16 MPG.
I love how it handles in the snow, even in two wheel drive.....put it in 4 wheel though and you will have NO troubles at all.

[neon_rt]

I would not have a 16 year old driver drive one of these.
All SUVs have a high roll over rate and an inexperienced and/or careless driver would not be safe.
I'm sure you have heard of all the roll over cases for the Ford Explorer, many other SUV's have nearly the same problem, it's just that Ford's problem is a little more pronounced and they sell 5 times more explorers than other manfacturers sell their own SUV. To me it's like having a teenager play with a loaded gun, it may go off (and roll over) or it may not. INS is high for SUV's and young drivers. I have a Cherokee and a 15 year old, when he gets his license I will find a mid - full size car for him to drive for a couple of years before he drives the Cherokee on a regular basis. We live on a crooked country road with no shoulder, people in SUVs (we live in SUV country) crash along here all the time, at least the cars don't roll over and play dead.

[DwightRGV]

If you're buying used, be aware that the first year the liberty came out, it had a higher stance (more likely to roll). As for rolling in general, how does she drive and react?... because she will be a bigger factor in causing a roll than the car. Oil changes are not too tough. I don't have much experience driving it in the snow, but check out the tires and find out how they rate for snow/ice.

[jg09]

Do it!