The Jeep Patriot launched in 2006 as a 2007 model, simultaneously with the Compass with which it shares underpinnings. Jeep's logic behind building two very similar models was to pitch the Patriot as a cheaper, more rugged vehicle and the Compass as a more civilized, comfortable crossover version. Unfortunately, the automaker has failed at both tasks and will soon replace the Patriot and Compass with a single model. The Patriot's only selling point nowadays is its price, as it's the most affordable model sold by the 4×4 specialist. Apart from its above-average off-road capabilities with the optional Freedom Drive II all-wheel drive package, the Patriot lags behind its rivals in all areas.
PROS & CONS
Pros
Strong Points
- Low Pricing
- Above-Average Off-Road Capability With Freedom Drive Ii
- Comfortable Front Seats
Recommended Versions
- If You Must, Go For A Facelifted Model (2011 Model Year And Later)
Cons
Weak Points
- Coarse, Slow 2.0-Liter Gasoline Engine
- Cvt Unpleasant To Use
- Poor Standard Equipment
- Cheap-Looking Cabin
- Noisy 2.2-Liter Diesel Engine (Europe)
Stay Away From
- Early Models
Attention
Known Problems & Recalls
- Jeep Recalled Some 2009 Model Year Patriot Vehicles In October 2008 To Replace The Power Control Module (Pcm) To Avoid The Printed Circuit Board To Break
- Certain 2010-2012 Model Year Jeep Patriot Suvs Were Recalled In June 2013 To Correct A Software Error That Might Result In A Delayed Deployment Or Non-Deployment Of The Seatbelt Pre-Tensioners And Side Airbags
- The Automaker Recalled Some 2011 Model Year Patriot Vehicles To See If The Steering Column Pivot Rivet Was Present And Aligned And To Repair It
- Certain 2012 Model Year Patriot Suvs Were Recalled In April 2013 To Replace The Fuel Tank Transfer Tube To Prevent Engine Stalling
- Jeep Recalled Some 2012 Model Year Patriot Vehicles In April 2012 To Replace The Fuel Tank
- Certain 2014 Model Year Patriot Models Equipped With The 2.4L Engine Were Recalled In November 2013 To Replace The Engine Balance Shaft Module To Prevent Engine Stall Or Engine Failure
- Jeep Recalled Certain 2015 Model Year Patriot Suvs In December 2015 To Inspect The Retention Clamp For The Return Power Steering Hose And Reposition It As Necessary
CAR DETAILS
Drive
Powertrain
The standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 158 hp and 141 lb-ft (191 Nm) of torque is underpowered and lacks refinement, so our pick is the optional (standard with AWD) 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit rated at 172 hp and 165 lb-ft (223 Nm) of torque. The base transmission for both engines is a five-speed manual, but higher grades get an annoying CVT or a better six-speed auto (only for the 4WD model). European models have been offered with a VW-sourced 138 hp 2.0-liter unit, replaced in 2011 by a 2.2-liter from Mercedes-Benz that produced 134 hp in FWD form and 161 hp with AWD.
Handling
The Jeep Patriot is a capable vehicle off-road, provided it is equipped with the optional Freedom Drive II package. Sadly, that comes with the CVT included, but that's a sacrifice to make if you want a decent 4×4 vehicle. On the road, the Patriot exhibits a lot of body roll in corners and a harsh ride – which is curious because these two characteristics shouldn't go hand in hand. The steering lacks feedback, but the brakes are good. Standard front-wheel drive models are agonizingly slow, but 4WD versions equipped with the larger engine and CVT aren't much quicker.
Safety
Just like the Compass, the Patriot only received three stars out of five in NHTSA's frontal impact and rollover tests. However, in a side crash scenario the model received five stars. Still, these results are really bad. In IIHS testing, the Patriot received the minimum "Poor" rating in the small overlap front crash test and the maximum "Good" rating in all other tests (moderate overlap front impact, side impact, roof strength, and head restraints & seats). The Patriot's crashworthiness was not assessed in Europe. Overall, the Patriot is safer than the Compass, but not by much.
Interior
Comfort
The ride is unpleasantly harsh, particularly on rougher surfaces, and that affects comfort a lot – although the soft seats mitigate that to an extent. The Patriot's interior is not a quiet environment: there's lots of wind and tire noise, as well as engine noise (particularly in models equipped with the 2.0L unit). Entry-level Jeep Patriot Sport vehicles lack basic amenities such as power accessories and air conditioning. Even a telescoping steering wheel and height-adjustable driver's seat are missing from the base model, which means finding a good driving position is not easy.
Quality
The Patriot's interior is as rugged as its exterior. The entry-level model's cabin is covered with cheap, hard plastics, and the cloth upholstery is as basic as they come. The fit and finish are nothing special, although higher trims look and feel better thanks to features such as the leather upholstery and slightly upgraded materials. Don't get your hopes up too high, though: even the range-topping Limited trim looks more like an economy car inside than a modern crossover. The buttons and switches won't give you any tactile pleasure, but at least they're well-placed and intuitive to use.
Practicality
As with the Compass, interior space is rather disappointing in the Patriot. While the front seats offer plenty of headroom and legroom, things are tight in the back. Legroom is in short supply, and the bottom cushion is placed too low. Even so, two adults can travel in reasonable comfort for longer trips. Put three adult passengers in there, though, and they would end up hating each other. Cargo capacity is too small, with 23 cu-ft behind the rear seat backs and just 53.5 cu-ft with the rear seats folded down. These values are good for a compact hatchback, not for a crossover SUV.
Infotainment
Compared to modern crossovers, the Compass offers an outdated (and optional) 6.5-inch touchscreen that is less user-friendly than the 8.4-inch UConnect interface found in newer Jeep models. The optional speakers that drop down from the tailgate to blast music outside are a welcome feature for outdoor parties. Standard infotainment features for the base Sport model only include a four-speaker sound system with CD player, satellite radio and auxiliary audio jack, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
Budget
Efficiency
Apart from European-spec models fitted with diesel engines, the Patriot's fuel economy record is not competitive. Both the 2.0- and 2.4-liter gasoline engines return below-average values. The most fuel-efficient model is the standard front-wheel drive Compass with manual transmission which returns 26 mpg combined (23 mpg city/30 mpg highway). With the same gearbox and traction, the larger engine burns a little more fuel: 25 mpg combined (23 mpg city/29 mpg highway). In comparison, the Patriot 2.2 CRD 4×4 sold in Europe has a claimed average fuel consumption of 6.6 l/100 km (equivalent to 35.6 mpg US).
Equipment
The 2016 Jeep Patriot is available in two primary trim levels (Sport and Latitude) as well as two better-equipped sub-trims (Sport SE and High Altitude Edition). The entry-level Sport trim is quite spartan, to say the least. Standard features include 16-inch steel wheels, roof rails, fog lights, manual exterior mirrors and locks, crank-down windows, a tilt-only steering wheel, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, cruise control, cloth upholstery and a four-speaker sound system, among other things.
Acquisition
The 2016 Patriot is Jeep's most affordable model, with a U.S. MSRP of $17,695 (excluding destination) for the entry-level Sport trim. Upgrading to all-wheel drive and the larger 2.4L engine adds $2,000 to the starting price, also making it Jeep's cheapest 4×4 model. Even so, it's priced too close to the newer, much better Renegade. The bottom line is we wouldn't recommend you buy a Patriot unless you get a very consistent discount. If you do buy one, make sure it's a 2011 model or higher – these are improved facelifted versions.