A first impression is hard to change. When you meet someone for the first time, it supposedly takes about 30 seconds to make an idea in your mind of what kind of person is standing in front of you, and if you like that person or not.
The same goes for cars and trucks. Walk in a dealership and spot the vehicle you're interested in. After a few seconds, if the exterior shape pleases you, the next step is arguably to open the door and sit down in it. Again, in a matter of seconds, the interior finish, build quality and design will either convince you to meet a sales rep or walk away.
This, in my very humble opinion, was a problem the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot were stuck with. Their interiors felt like they were designed by the company's accountants. But for 2009, both Jeeps now boast interiors designed by designers.
Nicer on the inside
Pretty much all the changes on the 2009 Patriot are found inside the cabin. The dashboard is almost completely new, with a new one-piece dash top that replaces the lumpy old design; the latter was a multi-piece, symmetrical deal that was cheaper to manufacture for both left-hand and right-hand drive markets. But it also looked cheaper, and a sectioned dash is more prone to squeaks.
The new dash has a pleasing, low-glare surface and houses new circular air vents as well as a better-integrated centre stack. The door panels have also been upgraded, and the center armrest loses its flimsy flip-up MP3 player holder. Overall, the new environment is rounder, softer, but drew a particular comment from one of our staffers: "It looks much more feminine; I prefer the old dash." Oh well, you can't please everybody.
The cargo area now gets a fabric-lined load floor, which replaces the rough plastic surface that made objects slide around while driving.
The rest of the cockpit is pretty much carried over, which means comfortable seats that are bolted high but with exposed bolts and rear cupholders that complicate the middle passenger's existence. For the price, though, it's an atmosphere we can definitely live with.
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| The Jeep Patriot isn't the most refined compact SUV, and isn't the most spacious either. But the price is right. |
The same goes for cars and trucks. Walk in a dealership and spot the vehicle you're interested in. After a few seconds, if the exterior shape pleases you, the next step is arguably to open the door and sit down in it. Again, in a matter of seconds, the interior finish, build quality and design will either convince you to meet a sales rep or walk away.
This, in my very humble opinion, was a problem the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot were stuck with. Their interiors felt like they were designed by the company's accountants. But for 2009, both Jeeps now boast interiors designed by designers.
Nicer on the inside
Pretty much all the changes on the 2009 Patriot are found inside the cabin. The dashboard is almost completely new, with a new one-piece dash top that replaces the lumpy old design; the latter was a multi-piece, symmetrical deal that was cheaper to manufacture for both left-hand and right-hand drive markets. But it also looked cheaper, and a sectioned dash is more prone to squeaks.
The new dash has a pleasing, low-glare surface and houses new circular air vents as well as a better-integrated centre stack. The door panels have also been upgraded, and the center armrest loses its flimsy flip-up MP3 player holder. Overall, the new environment is rounder, softer, but drew a particular comment from one of our staffers: "It looks much more feminine; I prefer the old dash." Oh well, you can't please everybody.
The cargo area now gets a fabric-lined load floor, which replaces the rough plastic surface that made objects slide around while driving.
The rest of the cockpit is pretty much carried over, which means comfortable seats that are bolted high but with exposed bolts and rear cupholders that complicate the middle passenger's existence. For the price, though, it's an atmosphere we can definitely live with.
 |
| Pretty much all the changes on the 2009 Patriot are found inside the cabin. |