FREEDOM, independence and liberty - three words which capture the spirit of the Jeep Cherokee. And I can certainly vouch for that after enjoying a test drive from Jeep specialists Cubbin & North of Birkenhead.

I took the Cherokee 2.5-litre Sport model, available for £18,220 in a jazzy Bright Jade Satinglow colour. Well, dealer Ian Cubbin did tell me this Jeep would brighten up my image!

S-registration (1998) features on this sporty Jeep include five-speed manual gearbox, alloys, electric heated mirrors, electric windows, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, front armrest, illuminated door entry system, safety-concious smart key rolling code engine immobiliser, two-wheel rear-wheel drive, tinted windows, on-board computer, RDS stereo radio/cassette.

Grenoble cloth seats in the spacious interior make for real luxury. The front doors have one-piece glass for better visibility and less wind noise, while the seven-slot front grille echoes traditional Jeep designs. The integrated front bumpers and flush fitting indicators add to that smoother look.

Safety is of paramount importance in the Cherokee with all models coming with both driver and passenger airbags and side impact protection guards. The Cherokee 2.5 Sport has a top speed of 103 mph, achieving 0-60 mph in 12.1 seconds.

The Jeep Cherokee has become established as one of the biggest success stories of the 90s since bursting onto the UK motoring scene in January 1993. It's the first volume production vehicle to be built in right-hand drive for export to the UK by a North American car manufacturer.

Cherokee is faithful to the heritage of Jeep, the original 4x4, and has been designed to tackle the toughest terrain as smoothly and efficiently as it copes with everyday demands.

Contact Cubbin & North, Birkenhead, on 643-9300.

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