To find out if the 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD has an honest man’s chance in politics at success, we clattered about Los Angeles for a week in a bare-bones Sport model, recording an 18.5-mpg fuel economy average in the process – less than both the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid that we’ve tested. Somehow, we expected better than that, but since a regular Liberty with a 3.7-liter V6 managed a paltry 13.8-mpg average when attached to our staff’s lead feet, we can’t complain. Much.

Crank the ignition and the Liberty CRD hesitates a moment before rattling to life, emitting a distinctive diesel racket from beyond the firewall that lends the jaunty Jeep instant character. Though it’s loud, the CRD version of the Liberty drives like any other, except when accelerating. Press the gas pedal, and there’s a slight hesitation while the engine’s turbo spools up. Then, a thick wad of torque propels the SUV with zest, making the Jeep a breeze to drive. Best of all is the fuel range. We extracted about 350 miles from a single tank, meaning that most people are likely to fill it just once a week. By contrast, the Renegade’s thirsty 3.7-liter V6 is quieter and smoother than the CRD while delivering a decent punch of torque down low. However, the Renegade lacks mid-range motivation, and as V6 engines go, it isn’t terribly refined. Plus, it got 13.8 mpg, making it less thrifty than a Hummer H3.

Handling seems better with the Renegade, though based on the Liberty’s specification sheet we can find no suspension tuning, steering system, or wheel/tire differences that might explain this impression. In back-to-back driving, the Renegade seems tauter, less prone to head-toss on lumpy pavement, with crisper handling. The CRD exhibited a mushy, wallowing ride-and-handling mix, feeling much softer than any other Liberty we’ve driven. In any case, the Liberty’s tall driving position, rearward cabin placement on the chassis, and short wheelbase contribute to a tipsy feel from behind the wheel. Handling is secure in normal driving, but it’s easy to imagine that the Liberty’s gonna flip in a wreck or during emergency maneuvering. Slow, numb steering doesn’t help matters, though we found the brake pedal and brake response to be quite good.

Slow, numb steering is a boon when off-roading, where a boulder can twist the wheel in your hands and snap a thumb if you’re not careful, and off-roading is where the Liberty CRD shines brightest. With eight inches of wheel travel, 9.4 inches of running ground clearance, and approach and departure angles of 36 degrees and 31.5 degrees respectively, the Liberty is among the best in its class when it comes to taking the road rarely traveled. And with a tow rating of 5,000 pounds, thousands more than most other small SUVs, the Liberty CRD is clearly aimed at people who wish to maximize fuel economy and towing capacity while retaining the ability to tackle difficult terrain.