Electronically-activated rear differential is the difference between the 2WD models and the 4x4s. The Patriot’s electronic-controlled differential coupling senses how quickly the throttle is applied and the slightest differences in wheel speeds and adjusts front/rear torque split accordingly for best traction. Maximum split is 50/50.
CHEROKEE REINCARNATED
Jeep adds a 7th vehicle to the brand — a trail-worthy compact SUV called the PatriotIT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY that we drove the very first unibody fourdoor SUV — the Jeep Cherokee. In reality that first off-road adventure happened nearly two decades ago. But back in 1984 it was really big news in the automotive and off-road worlds. The Cherokee was a reliable, rugged four-door 4x4, which met the transportation needs of younger families and outdoors types faced with tight budgets.
A flood of unibody SUVs soon followed in its tracks over the next 17 years, leading Daimler-Chrysler to kill the Cherokee “Classic” at the end of the 2001 model year, leaving Jeep lovers with only the two-door Wranglers and upscale four-door Grand Cherokees to choose from for their adventure travels.
What we didn’t know at the time was Jeep was about to launch a whole family of new vehicles to fit Jeep aficionado’s tastes, budgets and lifestyles.
Today the Jeep brand offers seven different vehicles: Commander; Grand Cherokee; Wrangler; Wrangler Unlimited; Compass; Liberty; and the most recent to be added, Patriot — an inexpensive, capable compact, four-door, unibody- based SUV that evokes a strong sense of déjà vu. So much so that one might think the venerable Cherokee of old has been reincarnated.
Between 1984 and 2001 the Jeep Cherokee, referred to as the “Classic” after the Grand Cherokee debuted, was well-received by buyers who wanted a practical, capable, affordable 4x4 fourdoor SUV. The new Patriot follows in those very tracks.
MULTIPLE CHOICES
Patriot is available in either a front-wheel-drive model or two all-wheel-drive models, with a standard manual 5-speed or optional Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT) available for all. The 2wd model is only available with the 158hp 2.0L four-cylinder while the four-wheel-drive Patriots get the 172hp 2.4L “World Engine” that’s found in many of the new Daimler-Chrysler vehicles.
EPA numbers range from a low of 21/23 for some 4x4 CVT models with the 2.4L to 26 /30mpg (best in the class) for the 2.0L-equipped 2wd versions equipped with the manual 5-speed.
We drove Patriots equipped with the various configurations. Our take: The 2.0L is adequate for those seeking the most basic of transportation needs and the best fuel economy. But there’s no sense of power when it comes to merging into traffic, making passes, or having any sporty performance off-road. The 2.4L, on the other hand is a decent all-around performer in the Patriot.
As for the transmissions, the CVT can be a little annoying when it comes time to accelerate quickly. The transmission lets the engine sit on 6,000 rpm sounding like a PWC or snowmobile — or to those who come from the days of manual transmissions, a badly slipping clutch. The manual 5-speed on the other hand, is a delight to use; the gates are tight, shifter-throw short, and the clutch smooth.
However, the most off-road worthy 4x4 system offered in the Patriot is only available with the CVT, a point that we’ll discuss a little later.
CLASSIC APPROACH
Speaking of driving, what immediately strikes us is how similar the Patriot is to the Cherokee of old — almost to the point of being a “retro.” The Patriot’s dimensions are within an inch of duplicating its four-door ancestor.
Patriot designers kept that size and style for a reason — too form follows function.
“Simple yet distinctive geometric forms and planar surfaces define Jeep Patriot’s timeless proportions,” says Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President - Design. “Combined, these features give Jeep Patriot its robust, strong, capable off-road image.”
But more importantly, that boxy body style that goes against today’s norm of trying to round off the edges of every vehicle on the road maximizes space: You can fit more people and cargo in a box than in a bowl – and the new Patriot, like its predecessor, delivers more interior and cargo room than its competitors.
The Patriot is designed to appeal to customers who want a vehicle that is practical in terms of form and function, as well as different from the crowd of compact SUVs currently on the road, according to Creed.
Left: “Trail Rated” Jeep Patriots come with the Freedom Drive II electronic 4x4
system, the 2.4L World Engine, and a new CVT transmission with a lowrange.
They also sit an inch higher than the standard 4x4 model because
they are shod with 17-inch all-terrain tires on aluminum wheels.
Right: Layout of the Patriot center console and CVT shifter is tastefully simple
and efficient. Two-tone interior is standard on Patriots, as are the surprisingly
comfortable and easy-to-clean Vinyl Tech-covered seats that
are impervious to staining.
ROOMY,VERSATILE INTERIOR
The same theme is applied to the Patriot interior. We were surprised at how much room there is inside. The spacious two-toned interior combines comfort, function, and versatility in an appealing and roomy package. There are little cubbies all over the place to store things like maps, bottles, keys, purses and wallets, and those off-road necessities like tow straps and tools.
You quickly realize the interior gives owners the capability to do more in terms of seating friends and storing gear. We really like the way the Patriot’s front passenger seat folds forward to create a table-like surface and makes space for hauling everything from an 8-foot ladder to skis or snowboards.
Another nicety is the standard 60/40 fold-flat second-row seats with an available recline feature that really improves passenger comfort. Folding the seatbacks forward creates a nearly flat load surface, maximizing rear storage. (Patriot has “class-leading” 54.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat and 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the front passenger seat back and rear seats folded flat.)
Although the Dodge Caliber shares the same chassis as the Patriot, the Jeep has a much better interior layout when it comes to driver positioning. The Patriot places the driver a full two inches higher, which allows you to really see the road and have a much better feeling of command behind the wheel.
TRAIL WORTHY
Traversing off-pavement and adverse road conditions are also key aspects that make the “Trail Rated” Patriot a strong compact SUV choice for any ORA reader who has their sights set on backcountry adventure. It’s not a Wrangler, but short of hard-core forays the 4x4 model Patriot will get you through just fine, thank you.
We spent a few hours driving the new Patriot in the Vulture Mountains near Wickenburg, Arizona. Skepticism as to its off-road prowess faded as paved and gravel road surfaces were replaced with deeply rutted Jeep trails and sand-filled washes. The four-wheel-drive Patriot is surprisingly nimble of foot off-road.
Both four-wheel-drive systems operate the same way. Unlike other on-demand four-wheel-drive systems that rely on pumps or viscous fluids to transfer torque, the Jeep Patriot’s all-new computerized four-wheel-drive system requires no front-to-rear slippage for activation. It’s state-of-the-art electronic four-wheel-drive system anticipates the need for added traction by monitoring a lot of factors, including throttle speed and position, and responds to wheel slippage by automatically transferring power to the rear wheels.
Jeep actually offers two different packages: Freedom Drive I and Freedom Drive II. In a nutshell, Drive I is the fancy name for the basic Patriot all-wheel-drive system, which uses an electronically controlled coupling (ECC) attached to the rear differential to seamlessly and automatically transfer driving power front-to-rear as needed with a max split of 50/50.
A little, chrome-plated “T”-handle, partially hidden down on the top front of the center console, allows the driver to “lock” the system in a 50/50 mode, which would be good for those times you encounter deep sand, snow, or mud.
GREATER OFF-ROAD ABILITY
Freedom Drive II, which is available in the Sport and Limited models, is the 4x4 system off-road adventurers will want — and it ‘s the system that gives the Patriot the coveted Jeep “Trail Rated 4x4” badge of approval.
Freedom Drive II not only includes Jeep’s CVT2L (a CVT with a 19:1 low-range), but also an inch more ground clearance, 17- inch all-terrain OWL tires and aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps and manual seat height adjuster.
When the CVT2L transaxle is shifted to from “D” to “L” (lowrange,) the advanced traction control system uses the ABS system to maximize traction at all four corners instead of applying both brakes and reducing engine power to control wheel spin as happens in the Freedom Drive 1 system. You also have the ability to lock the system so power is distributed equally front/rear all the time.
We drove Patriots equipped with the Freedom Drive II system over some pretty rough desert terrain and it never missed a beat. Even with open differentials at both ends the little Jeep crawled through very demanding off-road situations other SUVs in its same class would have found impassable. The Patriot’s unibody ride is remarkably controlled and not as harsh as one would expect from such an SUV. The steering is quick, turning radius small, the brakes very responsive.
We were pleasantly surprised at how its four-wheel-independent suspension moved over washout sections and handled deep ruts. The Freedom Drive II package sets the Patriot an inch higher than the standard model, and combined with its already wide footprint and short body overhang, gives it excellent approach and departure angles.
The Freedom Drive II package also gives the Patriot additional body sealing and high-mount drivetrain vents so it could, in theory, ford water depths to 19-inches. We wouldn’t try such antics when there’s water flowing that deep for fear the Patriot would suddenly become the SS Patriot. But if standing water and solid footing prevail beneath, Jeep engineers say there’s not a problem.
Left: Interior cargo space is best in the compact SUV class. Split 60/40 second
row seats fold flat to provide 52.4 cubic feet of open cargo space. Front
passenger seat also folds flat for even more room. Rear cargo floor can be
easily removed for cleaning.
Right: A short wheelbase, independent four-wheel suspension, and a stiff unibody
contribute to a lot of wheel lifting in some situations. But the
Freedom Drive II four-wheel-drive system does a good job keeping the
Patriot moving along.
A FEW NITS TO PIK
One of the few nits to pick is the low-range could be even deeper in my opinion, giving the little four-cylinder more creeping power and faster low-speed acceleration. As it is, it feels like the CVT handcuffs the Patriot’s potential for a sporty, responsive ride.
A more annoying ride quality is a lot of highway road noise rolls into the interior when the pavement is rough or the roads graveled. But one has to take into consideration this is an entry-level, compact 4x4 SUV, not a $40,000 Grand Cherokee. We just turned up the stereo and remarked about the price.
The base price of the 2wd Patriot is only $14,985, and the 4x4 Sport starts at $16,175. A nicely equipped Sport model, outfitted with the Freedom Drive II off-road package, sunroof, and premium cloth bucket seats, tips the price scale at a meager $21,730.
That’s a really attractive price for a four-wheel-drive SUV that can actually handle some pretty challenging driving conditions. Ironically, that is also about the same price as the old Cherokee 4x4 sold for before its demise. The big difference is the 2007 Jeep Patriot is filled with wonderful technology to make life on- and off-road far more pleasant and far more safer than any vehicle like it now - or before.
What it shares with the old Cherokee is being an excellent entry-level 4x4 SUV that delivers younger, less affluent, offroad adventurers a lot of fun and utility value for the dollar.
ACHIEVING TRAIL-RATED STATUS
That “Trail Rated 4x4” badge on Jeeps, such as the new Patriot, isn’t just for show. Jeep engineers say Trail-Rated models are designed and tested to perform in a variety of off-road conditions defined by five key consumer-oriented performance categories tested in both lab and off-road conditions.
These include meeting Jeep off-road capability requirements for traction, ground clearance, articulation, maneuverability and water fording, as well as measurements that demonstrate the engine and transmission continue to self-lubricate, while the vehicle is traveling up a side slope or a on a fore/aft grade, for consistent performance and capability.
The Trail Rated badge isn’t just marketing hype. It communicates to the customer that a vehicle such as the new Jeep Patriot 4x4 with the Freedom Drive II Off-road Package delivers authentic 4x4 capabilities.