The Jeep Patriot is all-new for 2007. It is a compact SUV that is
roomy, powerful and economical. It is offered with four-wheel
drive and a five-speed manual transmission. This is one vehicle
that is unmistakably a Jeep, and looks like a cross between a
Liberty and the new Compass. The standard 60/40 split rear seat
folds flat and a flat-folding front passenger seat is optional.
For off-roading, the Patriot is available with a Freedom II
off-road package that makes the Patriot Trail Rated. The Jeep
Patriot is built on the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but it
doesn't look that small. The 2007 Patriot has a rugged look
compared to some Jeeps, and lacks the rounded edges of the
Compass. The Compass helps move Jeep further into the realm of
car-based sport utility vehicles. Available in both front- and
all-wheel-drive variants, standard features include a 2.4-liter
four-cylinder engine, side curtain-type airbags and an
electronic stability system.
Trims
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.
Handling
The 2007 Jeep Patriot drives with ease 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 and confident.
Powertrain
Chrysler uses a 2.4-liter World engine on the 2007 Jeep Patriot,
and this is a great engine for this vehicle. 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. 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.
Interior
The 2007 Patriot has two rows of seats that can carry five
occupants. The cabin is trimmed in shades of gray or beige. The
base Patriot has "Vinyl Tech" seats: premium cloth seating that
is designed to prevent staining and discoloration is an option.
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 rear
cargo area is covered in Ultra Floor, a washable and removable
vinyl. 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. 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. 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
Jeep Patriot excels in rear legroom, beating out both
competitors and other Jeep models. 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. 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.
Exterior
The 2007 Patriot is all Jeep. The windshield and backlight are
relatively vertical, and the bumpers are defined and not molded
into the fascia. They're silver on the Limited and body-colored
on the Sport. The Jeep Patriot is considered a compact, built on
the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but it doesn’t look small
from the outside. 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. Trail-Rated Patriots have 9 inches of ground clearance.
Safety
The Patriot includes all-disc antilock brakes, an electronic
stability system and side curtain-type airbags as standard. A
tire pressure monitoring system is optional. Multi-stage frontal
airbags, electronic brake-force distribution, and side airbag
electronic roll mitigation.
The Patriot is a compact SUV that is available in front-wheel
drive or with a four-wheel-drive system with a Lock mode to
enhance traction in inclement weather. 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. The Patriot is a
great value. It has an estimated fuel economy range of 30 mpg
Hwy, and 26 mpg City.
