A Rugged Cute-Ute with a New Interior?

The 2009 Jeep Patriot

The Patriot is based on the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass platform, though it has been lifted up and given a more rugged suspension than its siblings.  It competes with the Honda CR-V, four-cylinder Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester.  For 2009, the Patriot received an all-new interior that, according to Jeep, is a result of a fast-action correction of the mediocre interior on the 2008 model.  Considered to be in the 'cute-ute' category, the Patriot also gained some sound insulation and revised suspension tuning for 2009.  The Patriot?s new cabin design makes it the most-impressive high-value interior currently on the market in an inexpensive vehicle.  The 2009 model has an EPA fuel economy of 20 - 23 in the city and 22 - 28 on the highway.  It has a starting MSRP of $17,540 - $23,980.  

Patriot Powertrain

Standard on the 2009 Patriot is a 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 141 pounds-feet of torque.  Available is a 172-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 165 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 offroad driving. It also has Hill Descent Control and Brake Traction Control.

Exterior Features for '09

At first glance, the Patriot is seemingly the successor to the boxy Jeep Cherokee, the 1984 design credited with beginning the SUV craze. The Jeep Cherokee was last produce in 2001, yet Cherokees still command about a third of their original retail price is evidence enough that American consumers like boxy Jeeps.  However, the Patriot stretches about six inches longer than the Cherokee did. The Patriot forgets about the common design for vehicles in this class which includes a lot of rounded curves.  Instead, it goes for a two-box configuration. Unlike the Cherokee, the Patriot gets round headlights ? a Jeep tradition.  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.

Drive the Patriot

The Patriot wasn't designed specifically to be an off-road beast like some of its Jeep siblings.  The low percentage of buyers who actually venture off road - let alone know what to do with a transfer case - it makes sense for Jeep to expand the brand in order to keep afloat.  The Patriot's steering feels a little slow, but it provides reasonably good feel over bumpy terrain. Optional is the 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. 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.

Jeep Patriot Cabin

For 2009, Jeep gave the Patriot a brand-new interior in its boxy small SUV with the hopes that it would turn a low class cabin into a class standout.  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.  Integrated into the tailgate is Chrysler's unique flop-down speaker setup, an ideal picnic or tailgating companion. 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's an optional passenger seat that folds forward for a flat surface.

Lineup and Options Patriot Style

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 other trim, 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 ($800); and 17-inch all-terrain tires ($140). Safety features include frontal airbags, curtain airbags; electronic stability control, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution.

Summary

Besides the new cabin for 2009, the Patriot receives new floor and engine compartment insulation as well as a revised exhaust resonator for a quieter ride. For another view on the Jeep Patriot read Motortrend Magazine's review. Revised suspension tuning also provides a smoother and more comfortable ride. Sharing a platform with the Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber, the Patriot is supposed to be the most rugged of the three. The Patriot is available with two four-wheel-drive systems and comes in Sport and Limited trim levels.  For more details on specifications and pricing, click here.