The Jeep Patriot concept was first introduced at the 2005 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany.
The 2008 Patriot has an instrument panel that is nicely laid out and easily read regardless of the driver's seat position. The engine has adequate power, although I would have preferred a little more vigor and a little less engine noise.
The Patriot is larger than the Jeep Compass, but smaller than the Commander. Personally I think the Compass takes sales away from the Patriot, while the Patriot is the better vehicle.
The Patriot is a great off-road vehicle, but don't think you can take it to a place like Honduras and go off-road for a picnic. It does fine off-road on well-worn paths or familiar trails, but it is a long way from being as rugged and strong as its ancestors. The Patriot has a strong front bumper and a grille that is stylish and adds strength to the bumper.
The only real criticism I had was the braking system, which seemed a little bit stiff, and the Patriot didn't seem to have the alertness that one might need for a critical quick stop.
The Patriot sits up high and the driver is some distance from the windshield. The legroom for the driver is super and a tall person can drive in relaxed comfort.
The base price for the Jeep Patriot Limited is just over $20,000. But when you add the Premium Sound Group, Security and Convenience Group, DVD-based GPS Navigation System, and 6-CD/Mp3 Changer the price is around $25,000.
The Jeep Patriot has a Lifetime Powertrain limited warranty, 3-year or 36,000 mile basic limited warranty, and 3-year or 36,000 mile 24-hour towing assistance. It also has a 5-star Government Safety Rating for side front seat and crash rear seat.
Anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes, speed-sensitive power locks, automatically dimming rearview mirrors, rear window defroster, and rear window wipers are part of the basic package. SIRIUS Satellite Radio and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls are also part of the basic package, which surprised me.
Snowstorms charged across the Midwest and southwest parts of the United States before moving into the high plains and Great Lakes area. During the first part of the week, in Dallas, we received five inches of snow and tonight we got over ten in some areas. The Jeep Patriot performed marvelously in this type weather. Frozen bridges and deep pockets of snow hampered my commute to work very little. I just opened the power sunroof covering, turned on the daytime running light system, felt the power of the 2.4L 4-cyl DOHC 16V Dual VVI Engine (172 hp) and allowed the wiper blades to keep time to the music on the stereo. I felt just like Janice Joplin and her Bobby McGee. The snow fell in large feathery clumps and the north wind was iceberg frigid; yet, my friendly Patriot took it all in stride while delivering me safely to my destination. And did I mention, I got nearly 25 miles to the gallon during the time I drove the Patriot?
Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or dcaussey@sbcglobal.net
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