What makes a vehicle a strong contender in a crowded market? Is it price, power, style, gas mileage? It’s usually all that, plus a bit of subjectivity. The 2004 Jeep Liberty carries a torch for me as the sport utility vehicle – after a 640-mile, one-week road evaluation – left a good overall lasting impression. The four-gauge cluster is easy-to-read. Liberty has a nice ride and respectable handling. Seats are comfortable, even for rear passengers. And the design conveys a memorable look. Now before anyone assumes that this SUV is negative-free, it falls in the same mostly positive attributes bin as most vehicles. Two of the more noticeable downgrades: One gauge frequently lit up the cluster’s style number whenever the vehicle crossed railroad tracks or a bump, and the vehicle feels stability sensitive – even at mild speeds – during certain maneuvers, like U-turns. On the what’s new for 2004 list, Jeep Liberty is offered with a factory-available hands-free vehicle communication system referred to as Uconnect; the rear cargo area has an available, foldable cargo organizer that features a shelf and dividers; a tire pressure monitoring system with readout in the overhead electronic information center is available on Limited and Renegade versions; and a power accessory delay keeps the electrical power going for 10 minutes after the ignition key is removed or front door is opened. Liberty sports one of two engines: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 3.7-liter V6 mating to either a 5-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Jeep Liberty Limited 4WD with V6 has fuel per gallon estimates of 17 city and 21 highway. Liberty Limited’s MSRP is $24,260.