2008 Jeep Patriot
by Jim Prueter -07/2008

 

Patriot is inexpensive and “trail rated”

(Note: This review was written in March 2007 about the 2007 Jeep Patriot. Little of substance has changed but updates pertaining to the 2008 model have been included in this review. The writer has driven and tested both the 2007 and 2008 Patriot models)

Last year Jeep introduced yet another new product on the heels of the much maligned and unloved 2006 Compass and the previously introduced Commander. This brings Jeep's current model count to six.

The Patriot is built on the same chassis as the Compass and Dodge Caliber and is the least expensive model to carry the Jeep badge with a starting price of $17,065, including shipping.  The base price has been increased by $2,080 from last year but air

conditioning, optional last year, is now standard. Patriot is built at the same Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant as Caliber and Compass and is by far the best of the three.

Like Compass, Patriot is either front-wheel drive or equipped with one of two four-wheel drive systems, dubbed Freedom Drive I and Freedom Drive II.  Only the Freedom II comes with low-range gearing for serious off-road use; it is identified as “trail rated.”  Jeep says the system is for true off-road driving, including steep grades and rock or log climbing.

“Trail Rated” means that it can be driven on the legendary Rubicon Trail in Northern California where Jeep vehicles are tested to qualify for the rating.  No Compass model has the designation.

Visually the Patriot can’t be mistaken for anything but a Jeep and most resembles the classic Jeep Cherokee that was discontinued in 2001.  Jeep maintains the six-bar grille, round headlights, straight windshield, standard roof rack, boxy side view and the clamshell hood. 

Inside, the standard vinyl front seats are comfortable with good support.  Rear seat room is tight, especially given the small amount of foot room. YES Essentials anti-stain, anti-static, anti-odor seat fabric is available as an option — a good choice for those with young kids or pets. A variety of the same fabric — with anti-discoloration added to the list of safeguards — is available as an option on the Sport model. Leather and heated seats are standard on the Limited trim models.  Heated seats are optional on Sport models with cloth seats.  Power seats are unavailable for either model.

The steering wheel tilts but doesn’t telescope.  Visibility is good.  Interior plastic and trim look appropriate rather than cheap as they appears in most vehicles with hard plastic dash material.

Patriot comes in two models, Sport and Limited. Visually they are nearly identical, but Limited has 17-inch alloy wheels whereas Sport has 16-inch steel wheels. 

The Sport model is the least expensive.  It has crank windows and comes equipped with antilock brakes, brake assist, a five-speed manual shifter and AM/FM/CD stereo.  The Limited starts at $21,685, including shipping.  Four-wheel drive is available on either model for an additional $1,750, and a CVT automatic transmission is available for $1,100. 

Two engines are available in the Patriot, both 4-cylinder.  The base engine is a 2.0-liter 158-horsepower, the other is a 2.4-liter 172-horsepower.  We drove models with both engines and transmissions and highly recommend the larger engine and 5-speed manual shifter. 

We’ve never liked the continuously variable transmissions and it’s the only automatic transmission offered in the Patriot. However, AutoStick manual shifter has been added to the automatic transmission for 2008.   Jeep claims their version of the CVT is superior to others, but it still felt like driving a car with a bad clutch.  The never-shifting CVT just keeps revving with the raucous four-cylinder on the other side of the firewall begging for mercy.  We wished for a four or five-speed automatic.

Other changes for 2008 are minor and include chrome door locks and handles.  Chrome trim has been added around the stereo.

Other than a buzzy engine under full throttle with the CVT, we thought the Patriot was remarkably quiet.  We spent an equal amount of time on paved and unpaved road. We hit the latter to do some moderate off-roading, driving some trails and boulder strewn creek beds rough enough to bounce the vehicle off the steel skid plate and put the rear wheels in the air.  We doubt most Patriot owners would put their vehicle through this kind of terrain, but we came away thoroughly impressed with what the little guy could handle.

Standard safety features include electronic stability control with roll mitigation, traction control, front and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats and optional front seat-mounted airbags.  Patriot has not yet been crash tested.

The moderately priced Patriot offers a solid choice for buyers of “cute-utes,” like the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CRV.  While these others are certainly formidable competition in a growing market segment, Patriot will leave them all behind where the pavement ends.