The
Jeep Patriot is all-new for 2007. It is a compact SUV that is roomy, powerful
and economical. It is offered with four-wheel drive and a five-speed manual
transmission. This is one vehicle that is unmistakably a Jeep; it looks like a
cross between a Liberty and the new Compass. The standard 60/40 split rear seat
folds flat and a flat-folding front passenger seat is optional. For off-roading, the Patriot is
available with a Freedom II off-road package that makes the Patriot Trail Rated.
The Jeep Patriot is built on the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but it doesn't
look that small. The 2007 Patriot has a rugged look compared to some Jeeps, and
lacks the rounded edges of the Compass. The Compass helps move Jeep
further into the realm of car-based sport utility vehicles. Available in
both front- and all-wheel-drive variants, standard features include a 2.4-liter
four-cylinder engine, side curtain-type airbags and an electronic stability
system.
Patriot Lineup
The Jeep Patriot comes in two models: Sport and
Limited, with a choice of 2WD and 4WD. The Sport 2WD and 4WD comes standard with
a 172-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission,
vinyl seats, AM/FM/CD/MP3 with four speakers, halogen headlamps, rear wiper,
roof rails, fold-flat 60/40 rear seats, and 16-inch steel wheels with all-season
tires. Air conditioning and cruise control do not come standard, and the
windows, mirrors, and door locks are manual. The Limited 2WD and 4WD adds most if
not all of the options in the groups, as well as 17-inch aluminum wheels,
foglamps, passenger grab handles, chrome roofrails and other trim, and
leather-trimmed seats including freight, with two-wheel drive, manual
doors and windows.
Driving the Patriot
The 2007 Jeep Patriot drives with ease and feels
light and nimble. The turning is sharp and the body is well isolated from the
wheels. Going over bumps is smooth, as is cruising down the highway. The
suspension is as good as the engine. The Patriot is impressively stable and
confident.
Powertrain Options
Chrysler uses a 2.4-liter World engine on the 2007
Jeep Patriot, and this is a great engine for this vehicle. The Patriot has
the power it needs, with both trims getting 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of
torque on a five-speed manual transmission. A continuously variable transmission
is optional. Available drivelines include Freedom Drive I and the
Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package. One of the main differences between the
Freedom four-wheel-drive systems is that Freedom Drive II's continuously
variable transmission incorporates a low range for difficult offroad driving.
Advanced offroad features include Hill Descent Control and offroad Brake
Traction Control.
Inside the Jeep Patriot
The 2007 Patriot has two rows of seats that can
carry five occupants. The cabin is trimmed in shades of gray or beige. The
base Patriot has "Vinyl Tech" seats: premium cloth seating that is designed to
prevent staining and discoloration is an option. The standard rear seat is
a 60/40 split that easily folds flat, by flipping up the seat and flopping down
the seatback. Reclining rear seats are optional, as is a flat-folding front
seat. When everything is folded down, there is 62.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity,
and room for an eight-foot-long cargo. The rear cargo area is covered in Ultra
Floor, a washable and removable vinyl. The space between the seats includes a
nook for change, two fixed cupholders, and the parking brake lever. A short
armrest flips up to open the main console compartment, where there's a pocket
for a cell phone. There are door pockets, but they are on the small side;
much of the space there is taken up by the six- by nine-inch speakers. The door
handles are easy to use and the glove compartment is roomy. The dashboard
and instrument layout is simple and the gauges are a neat white on black with
glowing orange needles. The climate and sound system controls are easy to
understand and operate. The seating position gives a nice view of the road
from the Patriot. The Jeep Patriot excels in rear legroom, beating
out both competitors and other Jeep models. A power sunroof and a Leather
Interior Group, which includes leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats and a
leather-wrapped steering wheel with stereo controls, are available options. The
Patriot has a number of uncommon options, like a nine-speaker Boston
Acoustics audio system with speakers that can swing out of the liftgate when
camping, and a cargo area dome light that can be removed and used as a
flashlight.
2007 Patriot Design
The 2007 Patriot is all Jeep. The windshield and
backlight are relatively vertical, and the bumpers are defined and not molded
into the fascia. They are silver on the Limited and body-colored on the Sport.
The Jeep Patriot is considered a compact, built on the platform of the Dodge
Caliber, but it doesn't look small from the outside. Standard steel wheels
measure 16 inches in diameter, but 17-inch aluminum wheels are available. With
the optional Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package which includes the driveline
hardware that makes the Patriot Trail-Rated the SUV gets 17-inch all-terrain
tires, skid plates, tow hooks and fog lamps. Trail-Rated Patriots have 9 inches
of ground clearance.
Safety
The Patriot includes all-disc antilock brakes, an
electronic stability system and side curtain-type airbags as standard. A tire
pressure monitoring system is optional. Multi-stage frontal airbags, electronic
brake-force distribution, and side airbag electronic roll mitigation.
The Patriot is a compact SUV that is available in
front-wheel drive or with a four-wheel-drive system with a Lock mode to enhance
traction in inclement weather. There are two trims and a variety of options and
packages. The Patriot has an additional inch of ground clearance from the
Compass. The
Patriot draws its power from a 172-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A
five-speed manual transmission is standard. For an affordable price, Jeep
offers comfortable and versatile capability. The Patriot is a great value.
It has an estimated fuel economy range of 30 mpg Hwy, and 26 mpg City.