Reasonable fuel consumption
The 2.4-liter engine that's shared with the Compass but no longer offered in the Caliber produces 172 horsepower and feels happier when it's mated to the 5-speed manual than the optional CVT. The 4-cylinder gets noisy above 5,000 rpm but under normal driving, you won't be revving the engine that high with the row-it-yourself gearbox.
Our average of 10.5 L/100 km is not bad considering this Patriot's 3,250-lb (1,474-kg) weight and all-wheel drive hardware. Speaking of which, it's called Freedom Drive I and uses only the front wheels under normal driving conditions. When wheel slippage occurs, the system sends power to the rear wheels, and the driver can manually lock the system up. A stability control system is standard in every Patriot.
We measured a 0 to 100 km/h time of 9.1 seconds, which is acceptable for this type of vehicle. The quarter-mile is covered in 16.3 seconds at 140 km/h. Emergency braking produces reasonable stopping distances, but the mushy pedal feel is common in recent Chrysler products.
On the road, the Patriot feels a little more ponderous than its curb weight suggests, but it drives pretty well nonetheless. On the highway, the engine is spinning at 2,400 rpm while driving at 100 km/h, which makes for a relatively quiet cabin. There's a little suspension noise on rough pavement, but the ride is smooth.
Competition
The Jeep Patriot is the lowest-priced SUV you can buy, starting at $16,995; add $2,200 for a 4WD model. The North package is a good deal, which costs $2,900; for that sum, you get cloth seats, A/C, tinted glass, a height-adjustable driver's seat, keyless entry, power windows and mirrors, a 60/40-split reclinable rear seatback and some other minor features.
Our test vehicle also includes the North Plus package ($995) which includes heated front seats, 17-inch alloys, cruise control and a leather-wrapped wheel with auxiliary audio buttons, SIRIUS satellite radio ($275) and side-curtain airbags ($400), for a grand total of only $23,765.
The 2.4-liter engine that's shared with the Compass but no longer offered in the Caliber produces 172 horsepower and feels happier when it's mated to the 5-speed manual than the optional CVT. The 4-cylinder gets noisy above 5,000 rpm but under normal driving, you won't be revving the engine that high with the row-it-yourself gearbox.
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| The cargo area now gets a fabric-lined load floor, which replaces the rough plastic surface. |
Our average of 10.5 L/100 km is not bad considering this Patriot's 3,250-lb (1,474-kg) weight and all-wheel drive hardware. Speaking of which, it's called Freedom Drive I and uses only the front wheels under normal driving conditions. When wheel slippage occurs, the system sends power to the rear wheels, and the driver can manually lock the system up. A stability control system is standard in every Patriot.
We measured a 0 to 100 km/h time of 9.1 seconds, which is acceptable for this type of vehicle. The quarter-mile is covered in 16.3 seconds at 140 km/h. Emergency braking produces reasonable stopping distances, but the mushy pedal feel is common in recent Chrysler products.
On the road, the Patriot feels a little more ponderous than its curb weight suggests, but it drives pretty well nonetheless. On the highway, the engine is spinning at 2,400 rpm while driving at 100 km/h, which makes for a relatively quiet cabin. There's a little suspension noise on rough pavement, but the ride is smooth.
Competition
The Jeep Patriot is the lowest-priced SUV you can buy, starting at $16,995; add $2,200 for a 4WD model. The North package is a good deal, which costs $2,900; for that sum, you get cloth seats, A/C, tinted glass, a height-adjustable driver's seat, keyless entry, power windows and mirrors, a 60/40-split reclinable rear seatback and some other minor features.
Our test vehicle also includes the North Plus package ($995) which includes heated front seats, 17-inch alloys, cruise control and a leather-wrapped wheel with auxiliary audio buttons, SIRIUS satellite radio ($275) and side-curtain airbags ($400), for a grand total of only $23,765.
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| There's a little suspension noise on rough pavement, but the ride is smooth. |