The Patriot competes in part with the rugged Subaru Forester and Ford Escape, as well as other boxy urban vehicles like the Scion xB and Nissan Cube.
The Ford Escape is more conservative-looking and has a high driving position that feels more like that of an SUV; an all-new version of the Escape is due soon, however.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a new model—essentially a shorter, lighter, more city-sized version of the Outlander; it also has just a little bit of off-road ability and has a more sprightly feel on the road.
At the other end, the Scion xB is also a well-equipped, city-friendly vehicle, but the xB's passenger space isn't quite as usable as that of the Patriot.
However, the Patriot's interior feels cheap and substandard compared to most of these rivals, even considering its modest upgrades.
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 2012 Jeep PatriotBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Ford EscapeBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Mitsubishi Outlander SportBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Nissan CubeBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Subaru ForesterBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Scion xBBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2012 Jeep Patriot is a compelling choice for its versatile interior, maneuverability, and strong list of features—with just a bit of weekend-warrior ruggedness—but it's woefully short on refinement or sophistication. |
If you're keen on green in crossover form, the 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid earns good gas-mileage ratings, but its styling and handling are showing their age. |
If you do most of your driving in the city, the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a pleasant, nimble runabout that offers strong value for the money. |
For those motivated by style and fashion—yet still needing a healthy dose of practicality—the Cube hits the right buttons; practical types might find it hard to get past some packaging issues, though. |
The 2012 Subaru Forester is tough, all-weather-capable, and one of the best-handling compact crossovers--plus, a blast to drive in XT turbo form--but an old-tech automatic transmission and econo-caliber interior remain letdowns. |
Trendy or odd, the Scion xB jams plenty of space and versatility into its compact footprint. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $15,995 | $21,440 | $18,795 | $14,980 | $20,595 | $16,300 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 22 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas Flat 4 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| 2WD Sport Utility Vehicles | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicles | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicle | Small Station Wagon | Sport Utility Vehicle - AWD | Small Station Wagon |
| Style Name | |||||
| FWD 4-Door Sport | FWD 4-Door XLS | 2WD 4-Door Manual ES | 5-Door Wagon I4 Manual 1.8 Base | 4-Door Manual 2.5X | 5-Door Wagon Manual (GS) |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Sport Utility | 4 Door | Sport Utility | 5-Door Wagon | Sport Utility Vehicle | 4 Door Wagon |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2012 Jeep Patriot vs. 2012 Ford Escape | 2012 Jeep Patriot vs. 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2012 Jeep Patriot vs. 2012 Nissan Cube | 2012 Jeep Patriot vs. 2012 Subaru Forester | 2012 Jeep Patriot vs. 2012 Scion xB | |
