The Jeep Patriot is unmistakably a Jeep. It looks like a cross between a Jeep Liberty and Jeep Compass; or maybe a three-quarter scale version of the big Jeep Commander.
The Patriot is one of two compact SUVs Jeep launched for the 2007 model year. Both the Patriot and the Compass are based on a car platform (also used for the Dodge Caliber hatchback).
The Patriot has plenty of room inside. There's 39.4 inches of legroom in the back seat, nearly an inch more than what's found in the Honda CR-V, even though the Honda is four inches longer than the Jeep. Patriot's 60/40 split rear seat folds flat, and a flat-folding front passenger seat is optional; with all the seats flat, you can slide an eight-foot kayak inside.
Powered by a modern and economical 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Jeep Patriot gets an EPA-rated 23/28 mpg City/Highway. The 2.4-liter engine makes 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, and that's plenty. Put the pedal down while cruising uphill at 75 miles per hour and it will accelerate. It make a bit more noise than we'd like under heavy throttle, despite additional sound deadening material for 2009. The optional Continuously Variable Transaxle works well and we found the Auto Stick manual shift feature useful.
We found the Patriot light and nimble on twisty roads and when maneuvering around town. Turn-in is sharp. The body is well isolated from the wheels: You can hear the tires hitting the expansion strips on the freeway, but you can't feel it. The independent suspension works well. During a long day of driving on patchy two-lanes, hard-packed dirt roads, sandy off-road trails, shallow rivers and deep gullies, it delivered steadiness and comfort in every abusive situation.
The Patriot is available with front-wheel drive or a choice of two all-wheel-drive systems, one that Jeep qualifies as Trail Rated. Those who like to go off-road should choose the Trail Rated Freedom II AWD system. With the CVT in low range, Hill Descent Control is automatically engaged. This keeps the Patriot under 5 mph and under control, going down steep hills, even icy ones. You can take both feet off the pedals and it will do its thing, a feature associated with expensive Land Rovers.
For 2009, Jeep redesigned Patriot's interior, with a new dashboard and instrument panel, soft-touch surfaces on the door armrests and center console, and a carpeted load floor instead of vinyl. While the new design is a step up versus the cut-rate feel of the last version, it is still largely plastic and doesn't offer a rich or warm feel.
Also for 2009, the Patriot adds a new model called Rocky Mountain and that aforementioned sound insulation is added to the engine compartment and floor. The Sport model gets revised suspension tuning for a more comfortable ride, and Jeep's UConnect Tunes and UConnect GPS systems are offered for the first time.
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