Jeep’s Compact Patriot Still Earning Its Keep
You’d think that today’s test car, a 2015 Jeep Patriot Latitude 4×4, would have been either phased out by now or totally redesigned.
After all, the Patriot model was introduced in 2007 and is technically still in its first generation at a time when competitors are redesigning at a feverish rate. That’s especially so in this popular compact SUV segment. It’s a place where the Patriot stands out from its ever-more-rounded competitors because of its traditional square styling.
Industry observers figured that the Patriot and its sibling, the Compass, would be discontinued by now, especially with the new, small, SUV Jeep Renegade coming to a dealer near you soon and the compact Cherokee already doing well on the market.
We’d have loved to see the Patriot nameplate—a good one—transferred to the Renegade.
But observers don’t move sales. Consumers do. And the consumer has spoken. Patriot sales were up 22 percent in 2013 and another 21 percent through November in 2014, bucking the trend for vehicles considered at the end of their styling generation.
In addition, the folks at Kelley Blue Book have named the Patriot their Five-year Cost to Own Award winner for the second straight year.
Our test car was a middle trim level Latitude with the $750 Freedom-Drive II Off-Road package that enables it to wear Jeep’s Trail Rated badge. It also had an upgraded audio package with navigation ($1,385), Uconnect infotainment system ($495), and cargo/security package ($695). That pushed the base price of $25,290 (including destination) to $28,615.
In contrast, the base Sport model starts at $17,490 (two-wheel-drive) and $19,690 (4×4).
Patriots are available with either a 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and, depending on the model, a manual, six-speed automatic or continuously variable transmission (CVT). All variations have different fuel economy rankings.
Our 2.4-liter with the CVT and Freedom-Drive II, however, rated at the bottom of that list with a disappointing 20 miles per gallon in city driving, 23 on the highway, and 21 combined. We managed 22.3 mpg in a week of varied (read commuter) traffic.
However, that CVT has the low range (crawl gear) that goes a long way toward earning the Patriot its Trail Rated merit badge.
One day, with my AAA roadside assistance card at the ready, I ventured down a steep dirt road that accesses an old railroad right of way near home. Hill descent control made the going-down a breeze. It was almost disappointing when the Patriot zipped halfway back up the hill without so much as spinning a tire, stopped to have its photo taken, then restarted and crested the incline effortlessly. It was as if it were saying, “C’mon dude, give me a tougher test. I’m a Jeep!’’
The Patriot also showed its mettle during the early-December storm that dropped more than five inches of rain in our region. Coming home late at night and aware that local TV had plenty of footage of cars stranded in deep water on flooded streets, we successfully came through several streets that were equally flooded, thanks to the Patriot’s 9.1-inch ground clearance and even higher fording ability.
The Freedom-Drive II package adds larger (17-inch) wheels and tires, a full-size spare, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps, and a manual seat height adjuster. All came in handy, and the tow hooks were reassuring though not needed.
From the outside, the Patriot unmistakably is a Jeep with its seven-slot front grille and throwback round headlights and squared-off styling.
Inside, the Patriot is basic. Tough cloth material covers the heated front seats and seems as though it will wear for many years. We found the seats comfortable on longer drives.
Head room is astounding. Shorter drivers would have room to wear a top hat inside.
Touchable surfaces are your basic industrial grade plastic/vinyl, though there’s a traditional storage tray in front of the passenger. The dashboard is deep, which you’ll discover when you try to affix an EZ-Pass to the windshield.
Climate controls were manual, but they did a good job of defrosting and warming. And the heated seats warmed up quickly. The front cup holders were illuminated—a nice touch, though the dashboard lighting shone in a variety of different colors.
Rear seat room is best left to the pre-teen set, but the seats recline and fold, and there’s sufficient cargo room for normal errands. The Patriot technically is a five-passenger compact but realistically it’s a two-adult, two-smaller-kids vehicle.
On the road, the Patriot handles predictably and the cabin is tolerably quiet, though a far cry from many of today’s library-quiet interiors.
In terms of overall refinement, the Patriot comes to the party wearing a flannel shirt and work boots. Competitors come to the same party from all over the world as the compact SUV market now threatens to overtake midsize sedans as the leading market segment.
That’s not for everybody, but sales figures (84,028 through November) say there’s still a solid streak of Patriotic spirit out there.
2015 Jeep Patriot Latitude 4×4
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $25,290/$28,615. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 20 city/23 highway/21 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 22.3. Drivetrain: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, CVT with off-road crawl, all-wheel-drive. Body: 5-passenger unibody compact SUV.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 172. Torque: 165 lb.-ft. Overall length: 173.8 in. Wheelbase: 103.7 in. Height: 66.8 in. Width: 69.2 in. Curb weight: 3,373 lbs.
THE GOOD
Off-road ability, comfortable seats, unique Jeep styling, reasonable pricing.
THE BAD
Fuel-draining CVT, lack of refinement in the drivetrain, suspension, and cabin.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Patriot doesn’t want to go away, and it’s got a solid niche in the market.
ALSO CONSIDER
Ford Escape, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Nissan Rogue or Xterra, Subaru Crosstrek XV, Forester, or Outback.
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