A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to drive a Jeep -- a true Jeep. Not the biggest, not the most capable and certainly not the vehicle you would take to conquer Mount Everest (well, you know what I mean); just a decent little Jeep that's more family-oriented than geared for hardcore adventures. Yet, the new Patriot displays a true Jeep personality, albeit at a low price and without all the capabilities of its big brothers.
Unique styling
In terms of exterior styling, the Patriot looks like a mini Commander. It reproduces the latter's sharp lines and less-than-aerodynamic, blocky silhouette. Obviously, the seven-slit front grille that's been making Jeep famous for so long proudly highlights the Patriot's face.
This pretty unique design is proof that the Patriot wants to stay in the family, unlike its smaller brother, the Compass, a crossover-type Jeep sporting smoother angles. Sure, both rest on the same platform, but the Patriot will mostly appeal to men whereas the Compass targets female customers.
Please don't throw stuff at me, ladies; I'm merely repeating what the automaker is saying. In fact, during the development process, Jeep organized focus groups to decide on the overall shape of the brand's future SUV. The majority of men preferred the Patriot, while most women opted for the Compass. Company executives therefore chose to keep both.
Engine, what engine?
My tester, a North Edition model, was motivated by a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine. A 2.0-liter unit is also available in base trim. In both cases, you get barely enough power for most duties. The abusive weight of the little Jeep and its adventurer-wannabe attitude are easy excuses to explain the relative lack of grunt. You can feel all the negative effects under hard acceleration.
Fortunately, the 5-speed manual transmission is fairly responsive and precise enough to help you make the most out of the engine speed. The same cannot be said of the continuously variable autobox, however.
Handling is definitely one of the Patriot's strengths; I found it easy to maneuver on narrow trails or on Sainte-Catherine Street during rush hour. The steering is precise and the brakes, although not spectacular, allow emergency stops that are quite acceptable.
Unique styling
In terms of exterior styling, the Patriot looks like a mini Commander. It reproduces the latter's sharp lines and less-than-aerodynamic, blocky silhouette. Obviously, the seven-slit front grille that's been making Jeep famous for so long proudly highlights the Patriot's face.
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| The Patriot sports the traditional Jeep look. |
This pretty unique design is proof that the Patriot wants to stay in the family, unlike its smaller brother, the Compass, a crossover-type Jeep sporting smoother angles. Sure, both rest on the same platform, but the Patriot will mostly appeal to men whereas the Compass targets female customers.
Please don't throw stuff at me, ladies; I'm merely repeating what the automaker is saying. In fact, during the development process, Jeep organized focus groups to decide on the overall shape of the brand's future SUV. The majority of men preferred the Patriot, while most women opted for the Compass. Company executives therefore chose to keep both.
Engine, what engine?
My tester, a North Edition model, was motivated by a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine. A 2.0-liter unit is also available in base trim. In both cases, you get barely enough power for most duties. The abusive weight of the little Jeep and its adventurer-wannabe attitude are easy excuses to explain the relative lack of grunt. You can feel all the negative effects under hard acceleration.
Fortunately, the 5-speed manual transmission is fairly responsive and precise enough to help you make the most out of the engine speed. The same cannot be said of the continuously variable autobox, however.
Handling is definitely one of the Patriot's strengths; I found it easy to maneuver on narrow trails or on Sainte-Catherine Street during rush hour. The steering is precise and the brakes, although not spectacular, allow emergency stops that are quite acceptable.
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| The two engines available with the Patriot deliver limited performances. |