The Jeep brand remains a label respected worldwide,
thanks in part to an illustrious history and a rugged image. The 2009 Jeep
Patriot redeems itself with an all new interior. The Patriot also gained some
sound insulation and revised suspension tuning for 2009. At first glance,
the Liberty appears to be the successor to the boxy Jeep Cherokee, the 1984
design credited with beginning the SUV craze. The Jeep Cherokee was a strong
seller up until its 2001 demise. However, the Patriot, unlike the Cherokee,
wasn't conceived as an off-road machine. The 2009 Patriot is based
on the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass platform, though it has been lifted up and
given a more rugged suspension. Patriot competes against the Honda CR-V,
four-cylinder Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester. The Patriot can
become off-road capable with the optional Freedom Drive II group, which earns
the Patriot Jeep's coveted 'Trail Ready' badge. The package includes a
suspension lift, a simulated low-range and a brake-actuated locking
differential, among other off-road upgrades. One cool feature on the 2009
Liberty is its integrated tailgate flop-down speaker setup, which includes a
nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system--an ideal picnic or tailgating
companion.
Patriot Cabin Features
The 2008 Patriot is well known for its basic cabin
design; it possessed potentially the lowest-quality combination of plastics ever
offered in a production car--resulting in shiny, hard surfaces everywhere you
looked or felt. Just one model year later, with an interior that looks like it
was destined for a luxury car but found its way to Jeep's Illinois factory, the
Patriot has come a long way. The redesign includes a new instrument panel,
door trim panels and center console, retuned suspension, and new sound deadening
techniques. Option packages also have been simplified. Two rows of seats provide
room for five, and the interior is trimmed in shades of gray or beige. The
Patriot has several unique options, including a cargo-area dome light that can
be removed and used as a flashlight. Passenger volume comes in at 101.7
cubic feet, which is about the same as its competitors. The Patriot's cargo
volume is less than both its competitors. Cargo volume behind the rear seat is
23 cubic feet, 54.2 cubic feet with the standard 60/40-split folding rear bench
down. The folding rear bench has a reclining option, and there is an optional
passenger seat that folds forward for a flat surface.
Driving a Jeep Patriot
Jeep knows there is a low percentage of buyers who
actually venture off road, let alone know what to do with a transfer case. So,
it only made sense to expand the brand. The Patriot is one of the
representatives of Jeep's expanding line of vehicles not designed specifically
for off road use. For 2009, the Patriot receives new floor and engine
compartment insulation as well as a revised exhaust resonator for a quieter
ride. Revised suspension tuning also provides a smoother and more comfortable
ride. The Patriot's steering feels a little slow, but it provides reasonably
good feel over bumpy terrain. With 172 horsepower the Patriot isn't a speed
demon, but it does motor around town well. The Patriot's engine is quiet
at idle and produces a surprisingly pleasant muted growl under acceleration.
2009 Patriot Exterior
The Patriot stretches about six inches longer than
the Cherokee did. The Patriot goes for a two-box configuration, unlike many of
its heavily rounded competitors. The Patriot has a seven-slot grille and
trapezoidal wheel-well openings. Trail-Rated Patriots have an extra inch of
ground clearance, as do models with the 17-inch wheels. The Patriot is
173.6 inches long and 69.1 inches wide, which is smaller than the Escape but
bigger than the Sportage.
Engine Options for the Patriot
Available is a 172-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with
165 pounds-feet of torque. Standard on the 2009 Patriot is a 158-horsepower,
2.0-liter four-cylinder with 141 pounds-feet of torque. There are three
drivelines to choose from: front-wheel drive; Freedom Drive I four-wheel drive
with lock mode; and Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package, a Trail-Rated
four-wheel-drive system. Freedom Drive II has a continuously variable automatic
transmission, which incorporates a low range for off-road driving. It also has
Hill Descent Control and Brake Traction Control.
Trims and Packages - 2009
The Jeep Patriot comes in two models: Sport and
Limited. The Sport comes standard with 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. The windows, mirrors and door
locks are manual. Air conditioning is optional ($850). Power windows, mirrors
and door locks with remote entry are part of a Power Equipment Group ($995).
The Limited 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 leather-trimmed seats.
The off-road package is called Freedom Drive II,
and uses the CVT with lower ratios; it adds skid plates, tow hooks, foglamps,
all-terrain tires and a full-size spare tire. The Freedom II package is
available for Sport 4WD and Limited 4WD. Options include a Trailer Tow
Prep Group with engine oil cooler and wiring harness ($130), a 458-watt Boston
Acoustic premium sound system with nine speakers and steering wheel controls
($495), six-disc CD ($320), 6CD with navigation ($1395), Yes Essentials seating
material ($250), heated seats ($250), sunroof ($1350), and 17-inch all-terrain
tires ($140).
Summary
With a new interior the Jeep Liberty has improved
greatly for 2009. This is the most-impressive high-value interior currently on
the market in an inexpensive vehicle. A simple, elegant interior made of high
quality materials at a low price can't get any better. The Compass and
Patriot are Jeep's first models with four-wheel-independent suspensions. The Patriot has
an EPA fuel economy of 20 ' 23 mpg for the city and 22 ' 28 mpg on the highway.
Fuel economy is decent for the class, but the 4-cylinder engine feels
underpowered and coarse. Safety features include frontal airbags,
curtain airbags, electronic stability control, ABS, electronic brake-force
distribution