2010 Jeep Patriot Review

The Jeep Patriot offers off-road capability in a compact SUV with a capable four-cylinder engine that gets an EPA-rated 22/27 mpg. The suspension is stable and comfortable, and cargo capacity is useful because all the passenger seats can easily fold flat. The Patriot is a compact sport utility vehicle that features classic Jeep styling in an affordable package. While it will spend most of its life on city streets, the Patriot includes components that provide it with off-road capability unparalleled by other vehicles in its class. Sharing a platform with the Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber, the Patriot is supposed to be the most rugged of the three. It seats five people. To give its macho looks some off road ability, the Patriot is available with two four-wheel-drive systems. The more capable of the two gets Jeep's Trail-Rated designation, meaning it's capable of meeting certain off-road standards for traction, water fording, ground clearance and more. The Patriot comes in Sport and Limited trim levels; its competitors include the Ford Escape and Kia Sportage. There are no significant changes for 2010.

Design of the '10 Patriot

 The Patriot is unmistakably a Jeep. The windshield and backlight are relatively vertical. The tailgate does not have separate opening glass. Up front, the iconic seven-slot grille is flanked by round headlights. The bumpers are defined and not molded into the fascia. They're silver on the Limited and body color on the Sport. The Jeep Patriot is considered a compact. It is built on the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but you'd never know it, because it doesn't look that small. It's almost exactly the same size as the new Jeep Compass but it looks more rugged, lacking the rounded edges of the gentrified Compass. It looks more like a Liberty, or maybe like a baby Commander. The 2010 Patriot is simply classic, the way a Jeep should be. The Jeep Patriot's exterior is upright and boxy, reminding many of the Jeep Cherokee of old. In another word, the Patriot remains true to traditional Jeep style that consumers love. Underneath, however, the Patriot utilizes the same platform as the Jeep Compass and the Dodge Caliber, two vehicles that get wobbly-kneed at the first sight of a dirt road. Setting the Patriot apart are steeper approach and departure angles, a low-range gear, slightly higher ground clearance and the availability of an optional package that adds protective skid plates.

Jeep Patriot Trim Levels

Patriot Sport has cloth upholstery, air conditioning, outside-temperature indicator, AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary audio jack and four speakers, 60/40 split rear seat, tilt steering column, roof rails, and P205/70R16 all-season tires on steel wheels. AWD models also have a locking center differential and four-wheel antilock disc brakes.

Patriot Limited adds cruise control; leather upholstery; heated front seats; height-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar adjustment; fold-flat front passenger seat; leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; a 6-disc CD changer; Sirius satellite radio; power windows, mirrors and locks; remote keyless entry; rear privacy glass; fog lamps; four-wheel disc brakes; and P215/60R17 tires on alloy wheels. The AWD model also gets a locking center differential.

Powering and Handling of Patriot

 The 2010 Patriot is powered by a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which gets 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. It is mated with a five-speed manual transmission. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive are available as options. Buyers interested in front-wheel-drive Sport trims equipped with a CVT can opt for a less-expensive engine: a 158-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The suspension works well in all conditions and the Patriot is stable and confident. The Patriot has become to be known as a rugged, entry level Jeep. Basically, its an affordable vehicle that can still tackle some tough terrain. The Patriot's AWD system can be enhanced with "hill-descent control," an electronic system that automatically modulates the brakes to maintain a low speed on steep declines, and an extra-low "off road" gear, which is only offered in models equipped with the CVT. There's also the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group package that adds skid plates, front and rear tow hooks and a full-size spare tire. The Patriot shares its small-SUV platform with the Jeep Compass but offers off-road capability its sibling does not. It is available in front-wheel drive or with a four-wheel-drive system that features a "lock" mode to enhance traction in inclement weather. The optional Freedom Drive Off-Road Group includes a continuously variable transaxle with a low range that engages when the off-road mode is activated. The package also features hill-descent control, brake lock differential, and an extra inch of ground clearance. Patriot with the trail-rated Freedom Drive II off-road package adds one inch to the ground clearance for a total of 9 inches, allowing a 29-degree approach angle, a 33-degree departure angle, a 23-degree breakover angle, and enabling the Patriot to ford 19 inches of water, that last part thanks to more body sealing and higher drivetrain vents.

Inside the Jeep Patriot

Jeep totally revamped the interior in 2009, giving it a new dash, a reworked instrument cluster and padding on the center console and door armrests. Considering this, the 2010 Patriot has a much better cabin than previous generations. The new dash is black instead of tan or gray and it has nicer graining and a more attractive shape, but it is still hard plastic. The center stack trades a cheap-looking silver plastic face for matching black and adds some nice chrome trim. The space between the seats includes a nook for change or cell phones, two fixed cupholders, and the parking brake lever. The center console is split for two levels of storage and is now padded. The standard rear seat is a 60/40 split. It folds flat easily. Simply flip up the seat cushion and flop down the seatback. Reclining rear seats are optional, as is a flat-folding front seat. With the rear seats folded flat, there's a spacious 54.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Fold down the passenger seat, and the Patriot has room for an eight-foot kayak. With all the seats in use there's 23 cubic feet in the back, comparable with any compact SUV. The rear cargo has a carpeted floor instead of a washable, removable vinyl floor.

Summary

For the latest updates on this model visit Jeep's official 2010 Patriot site. Standard safety features include front and side-curtain air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, and tire pressure monitoring. This is a great vehicle for any driver who needs a good commuter, but is also looking for some off road, or more rugged terrain, ability. It also can work for small families who live an active lifestyle. For further research, read a 2010 Jeep Patriot review by the Car Connection.