Jeep Patriot

Angular Front Exterior View - 2007 Jeep Patriot 2WD 4-door Sport

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Shopping for a 2012 Jeep Patriot? MSRP: $15,995 - $25,330

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The Jeep Patriot is a compact crossover vehicle with a crisp, boxy look that echoes the old Jeep Cherokee, which went out of production in 2001. Underneath the folded sheetmetal, the Patriot's a close compatriot of the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass, both of which have more hatchback styling cues. Introduced as a 2007 model and given a somewhat new interior for the 2010 model year, the Patriot has competed with boxy, tall hatchbacks like the Kia Soul and Scion xB, as well as some of the smaller rugged crossovers like the Subaru Forester.

During its four years on the market, the has offered four-cylinder power, a choice of continuously-variable and manual gearboxes, and front- or available all-wheel drive. The engine's a joint-venture piece built in conjunction with Hyundai; offered in 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter displacement, it puts out from 158 to 172 horsepower and unfortunately, puts out plenty of noise and vibration to go with it. The CVT doesn't help matters, keeping the engine thrumming near its power peak, which coincides with its noisiest operating range. The manual's a bit sportier and nicer--and recommended over the CVT, though Jeep has made some noise and vibration improvements for the current model year. Gas mileage is oddly low, despite its car roots; EPA ratings are as low as 20 mpg city, 23 highway, and no Patriot model quite reaches 30 mpg.

While SUV bloat has turned off a generation of would-be fans, the Patriot's size and maneuverability are almost charming. Its compact size and visible corners make parking a breeze and city driving a relief, compared with gargantuans like Jeep's own Commander. Still, the Patriot has some off-road bona fides: a Trail Rated package includes a low-range transmission, skid plates, heavy-duty cooling, and hill descent control. Buyers opting for this package will also get an extra inch of ground clearance, thanks to the trail suspension system. And even with that hardware, the Patriot steers fairly well.

The Patriot gets boxier, chunkier styling that both looks better and is more functional than either of its platform-mates. It's easier to enter and exit than many smaller hatchbacks, and the head and leg room are good for its size--though the seats aren't that supportive. There's plastic everywhere inside, but with the off-road mission in mind, that's a good thing. This is one SUV that's pretty easy to clean up, what without all that leather and fussy wood trim. The new interior fitted for 2010 looks a little richer than the bargain-basement plastic dash installed in the 2007-2009 versions. Best of all, the cargo floor gets a rubber liner that keeps you from mucking it up.

A CD player is standard, along with a rechargeable flashlight stored in the rear cargo area and speakers that can fold out from the back hatch (i.e. facing away from the car) for tailgating entertainment. Power features, leather seats and satellite radio will make the pricetag bloom, though.

The Jeep Patriot has fared well in crash tests, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Patriot with "good" scores in frontal and side tests. Roof strength testing also yields a result of "good." The 2010 Jeep Patriot comes with a very generous list of standard safety features for the price, including electronic stability control with electronic roll mitigation, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags.

Originally, Chrysler said that the Patriot would be discontinued by the 2012 model year, but it now might be around through 2013. A model based on the Fiat Panda off-roader is under development, although all the details remain a secret at the time of writing.

Angular Rear Exterior View - 2007 Jeep Patriot 2WD 4-door Sport

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