NBC NEWS - It's over.  America's broad and overwhelming love affair with sport utilities is done.

Look around at the next soccer practice and you'll see fewer children are being disgorged from Explorers.  It might be the economy but I'd like to think common sense is settling in.  Many buyers never put their truck-based rigs to the test.  Can we all agree shuttling kids around in a Tahoe is like cutting butter with a chainsaw?

But there are the few, the proud, the outdoorsy who use the potential of a true sport ute.  Those who use them for their intended purpose will always be attracted to Jeep.  The square jawed machine I'm driving this week is the Liberty Sport.   It's on the smaller side, good for a camping family of four.

While the industry is moving toward car-based crossovers, that term does not apply to Liberty.  This folks is a full-on Jeep.  It tows, it crawls over rocks, it sneers at CR-V, RAV4 and Escape.  True, Jeep has dabbled in the crossover market with the Patriot and Compass models.  Patriot has some off-road prowess if ordered up the right way, but for real confidence go with Liberty.

Last fall I traveled to Telluride, Colorado to experience a Jeep Jamboree - a social event where rabidly loyal Jeep owners gleefully punish their machines on boulder strewn trails.  Some are stock, others highly modified, and most are Wranglers (the classic Jeepy looking Jeep if you're not hip to your models).  To follow them, the Chrysler folks gave me a stock Liberty with the optional SkySlider canvas top, good for photography.

Among the dozens of Wranglers, Liberty looked like a Stanford law graduate at a biker's bar.  I was assured my rig would be fine on the trail.  And it was.  Turns out the trail was raw but not intense.  Liberty scrambled over large rocks, loose shale, snow, ice and the perceptions of the Wrangler crowd.  The roof was great.  It was cold in Colorado and I could easily open and close the roof to get the needed shots and desired warmth.

While I was focused on shooting the Wranglers and the Jamboree event, I squeezed off a little footage of Liberty in action.  Everything those Wranglers tackled the Liberty followed.  Not something you can say about car-based cute-utes.  Most miles will be on pavement though.  I've driven Wranglers on-road and they're not something I'd want to live with as a daily driver.

Liberty is much better.  Sure this Jeep rides more like a Jeep than a RAV4, but considering how it navigates nasty terrain, its ride is pretty good and surprisingly quiet.  There's a little bit of bounce on regular roads and some head bob on rough pavement, but overall the compromise has been well negotiated between the trail hoppers and grocery getters.

In short, those who crave occasional off-road adventures won't regret their choice on the daily commute.  Liberty is motivated by a 3.7L SOHC V6 engine that offers up 210-horsepower.  About that SkySlider roof: When open at 70 MPH there's very little turbulence in the cabin, better than most convertibles.  The power operation can be done at freeway speeds.

I can say for certain that this provides a certain amount of entertainment to the other drivers on the road.  Liberty is motivated by a 3.7L SOHC V6 engine that offers up 210-horsepower, but more important 235 lb-ft of stump pulling torque.  Want more power?  Too bad it's the only engine, and besides, you won't need it.  Acceleration is good for a true trail blazer; the seat of my Levis figures a 0-60 time of 8 seconds.  A 4-speed automatic is the only transmission.

Both vehicles I've driven have the manual 4-wheel drive system where the driver selects between 2-wheel drive and high and low 4-wheel drive.  Jeep sells an automatic version but frugal folks can figure when to flip the switch.  I'm seeing an average of 17 miles to the gallon.  The interior style is squared-off and rugged, much like the exterior.  Considering the bad rap Chrysler products get about their cabins, Liberty's materials and controls have a quality appearance and feel.  There's the occasional low rent piece here and there - molding flash on the center console lid and seat adjustment handle - but a few passengers have commented that they like the space.

Don't like deep dashboards?  Liberty is for you.  With my back against the seat I can touch the windshield with my fingertips.  Drivers with big feet will want to check out the slightly impeding foot well.  I'd like to see a telescoping steering wheel to go with the tilt feature and side torso airbags on the seats to compliment the standard full side curtain units.  The rear seat will handle three average adults if they're on good terms.  The guy in the middle doesn't get a center head rest.  There's no folding armrest if that space is vacant, either.

Foot room is good, and basic cupholders are way down on the floor.  Beverage drinkers will also get some ab work in while hydrating.  Above the cupholders is a standard 115 volt household outlet.   It's nice on a camping trip, since you don't have to buy special car chargers to charge cell phones or run an electric can opener.  Metal seat mounts with exposed bolts could use some trim, but hey, it is a Jeep so it gets a pass.

For hauling big stuff, the cabin does what you'd expect in Jeep.  The rear seats split and fold 60/40 and with a flat folding front passenger chair there's room enough to load surf boards.  That seat has a plastic back that doubles as a table of sorts for Extra Value meals and laptop computers (when parked of course, right?).  In the cargo area Jeep thoughtfully provides a reversible floor.  One side is carpeted and the other is plastic, good for stashing muddy hiking boots or dogs.  The glass window opens separately from the hatch, which is nice for piling in lots of small stuff that would roll out with the cargo door open.

Liberty's square shape pays off in the TP trunk test.  With a little work 10 packs of the 2-ply wedge in.  Eight is more or less average.  If that's not enough room you can always hook up a trailer with up to 5,000 pounds of stuff.  Generally crossovers' capacities stop at 3,500.  Even better, Liberty's Trailer Sway Control helps to improve handling when crosswinds kick up and traffic.  TSC works with the standard electronic stability control and anti-lock braking system to automatically correct oscillation.

A 2-wheel drive Liberty is available but what's the point?  Buyers who don't intend on heading into the wilderness will probably opt for soft-roaders like CR-V, RAV4, Vue, Escape, Outlander, Equinox and the like.  True, a few folks will buy Liberty for its chunky, handsome look.

My tester is fielding a lot of compliments from co-workers.  Prices start at $25,000 for a 4-wheel drive Sport model.  The one I'm driving with the very cool roof retails for $27,500.  But who pays retail these days?  If you haven't heard, Jeep has very attractive incentives.  The money saved can put you and the family in North Face Gore-Tex parkas for a long time, which is handy in those remote places that crossovers can't get to.

Looking for freedom in the great outdoors?  Liberty is a good place to start.