Jeep Patriot Review - 2007

Want a vehicle to cruise around town, take a smooth drive down the highway, and go off-roading? The Jeep Patriot does it all.  With its trademark Jeep looks and rugged edge, the Patriot is an affordable and versatile SUV that shares a platform with the Dodge Caliber.  To briefly describe the 2007 Patriot you could say it is a cross between the Liberty and the Compass. With front- and all-wheel-drive variants, and special packages such as the Freedom II (for off roading) the Patriot appeals to a wide variety of consumer.  With its interior comfort and easy handling it also works great as a family vehicle or every day commuter.

Driving the Patriot

The 2007 Jeep Patriot drives with confidence and control.  It is easy to handle 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 on any surface.

Jeep Power

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. Chrysler uses a 2.4-liter World engine on the 2007 Jeep Patriot, and this is a great engine for this vehicle.  A continuously variable transmission is optional.  Drivelines that are available 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.

2007 Trim Levels

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.

Safety Features

For the 2007 Patriot, multi-stage frontal airbags, electronic brake-force distribution, and side airbag electronic roll mitigation are standard. All-disc antilock brakes, an electronic stability system and side curtain-type airbags are also included. A tire pressure monitoring system is optional.

Patriot Cabin Features

The base Patriot has "Vinyl Tech" seats; premium cloth seating that is designed to prevent staining and discoloration is an option.  The rear cargo area is covered in Ultra Floor, a washable and removable vinyl. 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 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 Jeep Patriot excels in rear legroom, beating out both competitors and other Jeep models.  The Patriot has a number of uncommon options, too, 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.  It has two rows of seats that can carry five occupants.  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 cellphone.  The cabin is trimmed in shades of gray or beige. 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.  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.

Design and Style

The exterior look of the 2007 Patriot is unmistakably Jeep. The Jeep Patriot is considered a compact, built on the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but it doesn't look small from the outside.  The windshield and backlight are relatively vertical, and the bumpers are defined and not molded into the fascia. Trail-Rated Patriots have 9 inches of ground clearance.  They're silver on the Limited and body-colored on the Sport. 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.

Those looking for a compact SUV with a front-wheel or four-wheel-drive system at an affordable price will find it in the Patriot.  Furthermore, fuel economy is very reasonable, getting 30 mpg Hwy, and 26 mpg City.  Read Edmunds.com 'First Drive' for more another view on the Patriot.This Jeep knows how to handle just about any terrain.  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. For more details and specifications, click here.