San Francisco: The
Jeep dealers under Daimler Chrysler expanded their model lineup greatly.
There is the Jeep Compass, Patriot, Liberty, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee,
and Commander. The idea was to build a Jeep for everyone.
The new 2007 Jeep
Patriot is a worthy entrant into the small SUV segment, one of three
Jeeps in this segment, the other two are the Compass and Liberty.
Roughly the same size as a Honda CRV or Toyota Rav4, the Jeep Patriot is
173.6" long, 69.1" wide, and 65.7" high and rides on a 103.7"
wheelbase.
Like all Jeeps, the
Patriot is instantly recognizable as a Jeep. Its seven-slot grille is a
dead giveaway. It is a boxy, actually two-box, design meant to evoke
ruggedness. The four-door design allows good access for all five
passengers, two in the front and three in the rear. There is sufficient
space for four adults, five will have to be friendly. There is 23 cu.
ft. of cargo space behind the rear seat, 54.2 with the rear seat folded
flat. This makes for a roomy cargo space.
Just as important as
all that room is how accessible it is. The Patriot has a lift-over
height, the maximum height you must lift something to get it in the
back, of just 30.7", which is just about perfect for most people.
The base engine is a
2.4-litre, DOHC, 16-valve four-cylinder engine that drives the front
wheels via a 5-speed manual or a constant variable transmission, a CVT.
This engine produces 172 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. I drove the CVT
version. Four-wheel-drive is an available option, which is a bit strange
considering this is a Jeep; aren't all Jeeps supposed to be
four-wheel-drive?
The CVT Patriot is
rated at 23 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with the "Freedom Drive I"
package. The 5-speed manual with the base 4WD package is rated at 25 mpg
city and 29 mpg highway.
Don't expect to tow
anything more than a small utility trailer though unless you opt for the
Trailer Tow Group. The base Patriot can tow 1,000 lbs., which is
increased to 2,000 lbs with the trailer tow package.
Like most
auto-reviewers, I spend a week in each vehicle. My week is similar to
those of many readers; I drive back and forth to work, 70 miles or so a
day combined highway and stop-and-go, and running errands on the
weekends. And just like most drivers I rarely have the need for 4WD. It
doesn't snow where I live and I don't drive to the ski slopes, so even
though the Patriot I drove had 4WD I never needed it.
But should you need it,
the 4WD system is typical Jeep, built to handle the worst driving
conditions. Although the system does not have a low-range it does have
an electronic 4WD lock. The CVT minimizes the need for a low range
because it keeps the engine in the best power range at all times.
The base tires are a
set of all-season, P205/70R16s, which is kind of amazing when you think
back a few years to when 15" tires were big. The optional tires on the
test Patriot, mounted on handsome aluminum wheels, were all-season
P215/60R17s. There is an optional seventeen inch all-terrain tire
available if you really need more grip, but I doubt it.
The Patriot has decent
off-road capabilities, at least on paper (remember, I never got
off-road). The Patriot has an approach angle of 27.5 degrees, a
departure angle of 31.4 degrees, and 8.1" of ground clearance with the
17" wheels and tires.
Add on the "Freedom
Drive II" off-road package and everything increases significantly, now
the approach and departure angles go up to 29.6 and 34.2 degrees
respectively while the ground clearance increases to a full 9".
There were no problems
during my stint behind the wheel of the Patriot. The engine did produce
an annoying intake noise that may have been exacerbated by the CVT
keeping the engine in an efficient rpm range. If I were a youngster I'd
probably appreciate the moan, heck they even pay good money to install
intake ducts that make noise, but I prefer listening to the stereo.
The Patriot, like many
domestic vehicles, has a long list of optional equipment. Recently
another domestic automaker announced that they would reduce the number
of possible options to reduce the manufacturing complexity. Sounds like
a good idea to me.
The base Patriot is a
fairly well equipped vehicle. The test Patriot added on "Premium cloth
bucket seats" for $250, a "Customer Preferred Package" for $2, 350 that
included A/C, "deep tint" windows, power fold-away mirrors, power
windows with auto down for the driver's door window (where's the auto
up?), and more. Then there were the optional 17" wheels and tires for
$590, and something called the "Popular Equipment Group" for $830. The
CVT transmission then adds another $1,050.
The long and pricey
option list is due in part to the desire to have a basic low list price.
The 2007 Patriot Sport 4X4 has a base price of $16,175, which is very
good. As tested the price went to $22,535, which is still a decent
price for what you get. Now I wonder how many buyers will opt for just
the base model? By Bruce Hotchkiss © AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
Jeep Home Page
Byline: Syndicated
content provided by Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
Column Name: Jeep wants to build a vehicle for everyone
Topic: The 2007 Jeep Patriot Sport 4X4
Word Count: 956
Photo Caption: The 2007 Jeep Patriot Sport 4X4
Photo Credits: Jeep Patriot Internet Media
Series #: 2007 -
67
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