Jeep's paranoia of curves has one distinct advantage over most compact SUVs; cargo space. It was one of the top priorities for the designers, allowing travelers to bring along more stuff without folding down the rear
seats. And even if hauling some residue from the wild outdoors inside the Jeep's cargo bay, its sturdy, wipe-down plastics should more than deal with it.
With deep tinted windows and a relatively large metal to glass ratio with high window lines, Jeep is emphasizing passenger safety and security - a deviation from the original Cherokee. What's not covered in heavy duty metals and or scuff-resistant plastic is painted in a rather militaristic Armour Green metallic paint. Essentially, to fans that believe a real Jeep must incorporate live axles and a transfer case, the Patriot looks the part, and as such, is the lesser of the two evils.
Overall, the Patriot is 4,411 mm (173.7 inches) long, 1,756 mm (69.1 inches) wide, and 1,667 mm (65.6 inches) tall with a wheelbase of 2,635 mm (103.7 inches), the latter number about the same length as the Wrangler Unlimited - marking new territory for the SUV maker. In other
words, this one slots in directly under the Liberty, but delivers the kind of ruggedness and versatility that outdoor activity-friendly vehicles such as the Nissan Xterra offer - well maybe.
Undisclosed is information about its drivetrain, but Jeep refutes that the Patriot is good enough to not only make it best in class against the likes of cute 'utes but also strong and rugged enough for its revered "Trail Rated" designation, unlike its Compass twin. Because the Patriot is based on the same platform as the Caliber, which will be available with all-wheel drive when it goes on sale, it's suspected that an advanced version of the Caliber's drivetrain is incorporated. While no transfer case would be offered if made available, an electronically adjustable unit (without a conventional low-range) similar to the system in Land Rover's Freelander may be used.
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| Jeep's paranoia of curves has one distinct advantage over most compact SUVs; cargo space. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
With deep tinted windows and a relatively large metal to glass ratio with high window lines, Jeep is emphasizing passenger safety and security - a deviation from the original Cherokee. What's not covered in heavy duty metals and or scuff-resistant plastic is painted in a rather militaristic Armour Green metallic paint. Essentially, to fans that believe a real Jeep must incorporate live axles and a transfer case, the Patriot looks the part, and as such, is the lesser of the two evils.
Overall, the Patriot is 4,411 mm (173.7 inches) long, 1,756 mm (69.1 inches) wide, and 1,667 mm (65.6 inches) tall with a wheelbase of 2,635 mm (103.7 inches), the latter number about the same length as the Wrangler Unlimited - marking new territory for the SUV maker. In other
 |
| This one slots in directly under the Liberty, but offers the kind of ruggedness and versatility that outdoor activity-friendly vehicles such as the Nissan Xterra offer. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
Undisclosed is information about its drivetrain, but Jeep refutes that the Patriot is good enough to not only make it best in class against the likes of cute 'utes but also strong and rugged enough for its revered "Trail Rated" designation, unlike its Compass twin. Because the Patriot is based on the same platform as the Caliber, which will be available with all-wheel drive when it goes on sale, it's suspected that an advanced version of the Caliber's drivetrain is incorporated. While no transfer case would be offered if made available, an electronically adjustable unit (without a conventional low-range) similar to the system in Land Rover's Freelander may be used.