The Jeep Patriot is undeniably a product of the Jeep garage, with its boxy lines, seven-slot grille, and circular headlights. The Patriot and its sibling, the Jeep Compass, are on an automotive platform, but still offer moderate off-road capabilities. .
For 2011, the Jeep Patriot has been updated. The 2011 Patriot features new styling, advanced suspension and steering, new interior fabrics and a revised styling lineup. The updates make the 2011 Jeep Patriot a notable improvement over the 2010 styling.
The four-door Patriot has plenty of room inside. There’s adult-size headroom and legroom for rear-seat passengers. The 60/40-split rear seat folds flat, and a flat-folding front passenger seat is optional; with all the seats flat, you can slide an eight-foot kayak inside, for example.
Two four-cylinder engines are offered. The larger of the two, a 2. 4-liter four-cylinder, makes 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, has an EPA rating of 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with a manual transmission, and is a popular piece of equipment. It offers smart energy; Press the pedal while cruising uphill at 75 miles per hour and you’ll accelerate. The smallest engine measures 2. 0 liters, makes 158 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque and has an EPA rating of 23/29 mpg with manual transmission. The optional variable frequency transmission works well and we found the Auto Stick manual shift feature useful.
We found the Patriot to be gentle and nimble on winding roads and when maneuvering around town. The turn is abrupt. The bodywork is well away from the wheels: you can hear the tires hitting the expansion strips of the road, but you can’t feel it. The independent suspension works well. During a long day driving on two asymmetrical lanes, hard dirt roads, sandy off-road trails, shallow rivers, and deep ravines, he brought stability and comfort in all abusive situations.
The Patriot is available with front-wheel drive or a choice of two all-wheel-drive systems, one that Jeep qualifies as Trail Rated. Those who like to go off the pavement (or tow more than 1000 pounds) should choose the Trail-Rated Freedom II AWD system. This uses gearing about 20-percent lower than the other models for steeper climbs and descents, but if you mistake it for a 4WD with a low-range transfer case like a Wrangler or Grand Cherokee you’ll soon find yourself well and truly stuck.
The 2011 Jeep Patriot comes with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and a choice of engines with manual and automatic transmissions.
Patriot Sport ($15,595) comes with cloth upholstery, carpeting, fog lamps, tinted glass, reclining front seats, 60/40-split folding rear seat, cruise control, smart-key engine immobilizer, and an AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA four-speaker stereo. All-wheel drive versions also have the 2.4-liter engine and rear disc brakes. Options include front side airbags ($250), 17-inch aluminum wheels ($640), air conditioning ($895), media center radio ($350), and the Power Value package ($1,405) with remote keyless entry, power windows/door locks/heated mirrors. An all-weather group ($795) adds tow hooks, block heater, floor mats, daytime running lights, aluminum wheels and P215/65R17 tires.
Patriot Latitude X ($22,195) gets the big engine and rear disc brakes, chrome trim, climate control, leather upholstery, power driver’s seat, Sirius radio and a 6CD/DVD audio system. Options include upgrades to radio ($290) with Garmin navigation ($695), Boston-Acoustics speakers ($650), plus the Sun & Sound, Security & Convenience, and tow packages.
Optional on any Patriot are UConnect Phone with Bluetooth and/or Web service and a smoker’s package. The Freedom II Off-Road group ($550) upgrades 4WD models with a bigger alternator, skid plates, electronic traction assists, tow hooks, floor mats, P215/65R17 tires and full-size spare; it requires the CVT2L automatic transmission ($1050). (All New Car Test Drive prices are Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices, which do not include destination charge and may change at any time without notice.)
Safety features on all Patriot models come with dual front airbags, curtain airbags to protect the head, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, TractionArray electronic stability with rollover mitigation, and active front head restraints. Torso-protective front side airbags are an option we have. recommend.
The Patriot has Jeep’s favorite styling features, namely circular headlights and seven vertical openings for a square-shaped grille with a windshield and hatch directly. Unlike bean-shaped competitors, the Patriot’s box shape produces a feeling of greater internal space because the roof doesn’t roll up over you and the vertical rear allows for more internal shipping and greater snow and ice removal in the winter.
For 2011, the styling of the front finish has been sleek, a little cleaner and neater than before. On the Patriot Latitude X models, most of the finish is done with glossy surfaces, however, we find the body-coloured finish on the other. More attractive and more suitable models for a Jeep. Tow hooks and roof rail crossbars are optional and prefer fog lights farther apart.
Eschewing trends to make everything lower and more car-like, the 2011 Patriot rides a little bit higher than the 2010 version and it has half-an-inch more ground clearance. You won’t find that a benefit until it’s the half-inch that makes a difference but it doesn’t hurt in Patriot’s quest to make a cute-ute look more macho.
For 2011, the rear end gets an update to match the front and it’s the biggest improvement. Although it’s acceptable for trucks and genuine four-wheel drives to have lots of mechanical bits visible underneath it’s less desirable in a compact crossover. To that end the rear bumper on the 2011 Patriot is deeper and almost totally hides the muffler that looked like a large industrial afterthought on earlier versions.
The Jeep Patriot is compact, although it looks bigger. With plenty of front and rear wheel clearance and a total lifespan of less than 15 feet, the lack of bodywork beyond the wheels adds size and improves off-road accessibility. It’s only a few inches of the same height and width, and the ground clearance matches that of many heavy-duty pickup trucks.
The wheels are made of 16-inch metal. There are attractive 17-inch aluminum wheels on the Latitude and X models, and optional on the Sport. The Patriot looks much better with aluminum rims, or get your own when the rims wear out and use the original metal rims with compromised winter tires.
A wider seating position provides the Jeep Patriot driver with an unobstructed view of the road. The Patriot Sport’s front seats are manually adjustable and upholstered in fabric; the Latitude has heated cloth seats that we prefer for all 4 seasons. The Latitude X has leather upholstery that in the past seemed to overdo the Patriot; It has greater compatibilities with the revised 2011 interior, but we still have Jeep and leather compatibility in the same sentence.
Interior materials have been revamped for 2011. Soft-touch panels line the top of the doors, the pockets have cleaner edges, the three-spoke steering wheel shared with the Wrangler has cruise and audio controls on it and the console is improved.
The cabin layout is functional and spacious. The dark design of the dashboard and tools is simple, and the indicators are a neat white-on-black with bright orange hands. The air conditioning and sound formula controls are easy to perceive and use. Jeep says the available UConnect Tunes formula can hold up to 6,700 songs, which can be ripped from a CD or USB drive. We found that the doors seemed a bit thin when closed.
The space between the seats includes a corner for coins or a mobile phone, two constant cup holders and the handbrake lever. The center console is divided into two garage levels and is now padded.
The wallet at the door is small, but holds six CD cases; Much of the area is taken up by the 6 x nine inch speakers. The door handles are easy to use. There’s a large tray above the good-sized glove box, big enough to hold books.
The popular rear seat is split 60/40. Simply lift the seat cushion and fold down the backrest. Reclining rear seats are optional, as is the fold-down front passenger seat. With the rear seats folded down, shipping capacity is a spacious 54. 2 cubic feet. Fold down the passenger seat and the Patriot will have room for anything 8 feet long. With all seats used, 23 cubic feet in the rear, comparable to any compact SUV.
The glass in the hatch doesn’t open, but the hatch itself isn’t that heavy. A removable carpeted floor borders the shipping area and conceals a full-size spare tire underneath on max models. This cargo bed is relatively higher than 31 inches off the ground. , so the maximum loading height is 27. 4 inches, and other tall people deserve to look at their heads under the open hatch.
The Jeep Patriot comes with a selection of engines. The larger 2. 4-liter engine performs better. It’s got smart power, with 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, and it responds where you want it. You can go up a hill at 75 miles per hour and you’ll still accelerate. Our complaint is that it seems abruptly at full speed. Fuel economy for the 2. 4-liter engine is 23/28 EPA-estimated city/highway mpg with manual transmission.
The 2. 0-liter engine offers almost as much power and improved fuel economy. The 2. 0-liter engine makes 158 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque and is rated by the EPA at 23/29 mpg with the manual transmission. However, the smaller engine needs to rev up a bit to generate power. So, for the minimum difference in value and the extra torque, we introduced the larger 2. 4-liter engine.
The 5-speed manual gearbox is a joy to use, even with its long throws. The lever comes out of the center stack above the driver’s right knee, an improvement over being on the floor near the right thigh. The 5-speed makes the Patriot feel like a Jeep. Properly used, it brings out the potential of the engine.
The suspension works well in all conditions. We cleverly checked it out on a 20-mile stretch of dirt road: hard, bumpy, a layer of loose dust, masses of uphill and downhill curves. The Patriot was solid and confident. We drove fast and used the brakes hard; ABS activates when gliding consistently with dust with all-season (non-off-road) tires. We focused on a few potholes, adding a row of small potholes that were 50 feet long. The independent suspension ate them up with enthusiasm. Then came a washboard surface. , and the Patriot stood its ground. We reached a higher farm animal crossing at 30 miles per hour and tensed up in anticipation of an effect that never happened. The Patriot did a great job in those conditions.
On paved country roads the Patriot feels light and nimble. The ride is steady over rough asphalt patches. The body feels well isolated and you can hit a bump with one wheel without your head being tossed.
We also drove a Patriot with the trail-friendly Freedom Drive II off-road package. It adds one inch to the ground clearance for a total of 9. 5 inches, allowing for a technical angle of 29 degrees, a decay angle of 34 degrees, a tilt angle of 22 degrees. -degree tilt angle and allows the Patriot to wade through 19 inches of water, the latter component thanks to increased frame sealing and superior transmission vents. (To put things in perspective, a 30-inch Ford Wrangler Rubicon and a nearly 28-inch Range Rover Sport. ) Unfortunately, Freedom Drive II is not available with the manual transmission.
Both AWD systems have a locking center differential that sends half the power to the rear wheels. They also have a brake lock differential that can shift the power from side to side on each axle, important in slippery terrain. The Freedom II package also gives the CVT a low range with a ratio of 19:1, good for crawling over obstacles.
We tested the Freedom Drive II combination on an off-road trail in the Arizona desert, led by a member of the local Jeep club. We crossed some ridges and ditches that raised one front or one rear wheel two feet in the air. It felt effortless, as the Patriot just slowly and securely picked its way over. We made a sharp U-turn that showed off the tight turning radius. In a sand pit, the off-road brake traction control dabbed the brakes of the slipping wheel or wheels, and pulled the Jeep through.
The Freedom II package includes Hill Descent Control, which automatically activates in low diversity on steep descents. Helps keep the Jeep under five mph and under control on steep, even icy, descents. You can take your feet off the pedals and it will do its job. It’s a wonderful setup.
We crashed into a sand ravine and crushed it, running up to 45mph, the engine almost squealed at the redline with its foot on the ground, and the CVT remained in low diversity as it can be used up to about 45mph. that when driving at full speed in a straight line on the washboard surface, with the wheels bouncing in all directions, the Patriot remained steady, responsive, and faithfully tracked. We went through a few corners of the washboard, relying on stability to keep the Jeep from crashing into the washboard surface. rocks, and that’s what happened. Below 35 mph, ESP only uses the brakes to keep the Jeep on the line; Above 35, also cut off the throttle, if necessary.
The Jeep Patriot offers off-road capability in a compact SUV with a powerful four-cylinder engine that offers decent fuel economy. The suspension is solid and comfortable, and the shipping capability comes in handy as all passenger seats can be folded down smoothly. Interior updates for 2011 have taken a step forward, especially in the cabin.
NewCarTestDrive. com correspondent Sam Moses presented this from Scottsdale, Arizona, with Chicago correspondents Kirk Bell and G. R. Los Angeles Whale.
Jeep Patriot Sport 2WD ($15,995); Sport AWD ($17,695); Latitude X 2WD ($22,195); Latitude X AWD ($23,895).
Belvidere, Illinois.
The 26B Sport Package ($4,985) includes CVT2L automatic transmission with Autostick, remote vehicle start, 115-volt auxiliary power outlet, 17-inch aluminum wheels, 215/60R17 passenger tires, body-color door handles, heated front seats and driver height, adjustable rear passenger seat that folds flat, illuminated keyless entry system, Latitude badge, heated force-folding mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, forced windows and force-locked speed-sensitive doors.