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February 13, 2008
 2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4. Click image to enlarge |
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Review and photos by Norm Mort
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2008 Jeep Liberty
Belleville, Ontario – Jeep history dates back to 1940 when a struggling American auto company named Bantam became involved in the design competition for a scout vehicle for the American military. Bantam; who had emerged from the ashes of the American Austin company that had built the British Austin Seven under license, was itself now struggling to stay alive. Bantam’s design proved superior to that of Ford, Willys and others, but being a tiny manufacturer it was unable to supply the number of Jeeps necessary for military use and therefore Ford and Willys built the Jeeps designed by Bantam and Bantam’s war effort was confined to the building of trailers and other small goods.
The origin of the word “Jeep” comes from the letters GP, which some say stood for “Government Purchase,” while others argue it stemmed from the vehicle’s “General Purpose” design.
The heroic Jeep went on to become a legendary vehicle worldwide and following World War II, was the inspiration for many similar designs from other manufacturers including Land Rover.
In North America, Jeep production for the domestic market began in the late 1940s and has continued ever since despite the fact the company passed through numerous hands – from Willys to Kaiser to AMC and finally Chrysler. Even with the changes in ownership, the new managements recognized a good thing when they saw it. The original Jeep continued to evolve over the decades into the current Wrangler models. Other Jeep models were regularly introduced over the past sixty years, but the company has never reached the diversity of models that can be found in Chrysler showrooms today.
The current line-up includes the Commander, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Liberty, Compass and Patriot.
The compact Patriot is recognizable as a Jeep by its slotted grille and squared-off stance – and depending on the model you choose, its 4X4 prowess. Even Jeep has been forced to offer a lower priced 2WD version to stay competitive within the entry-level marketplace.
 2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4. Click image to enlarge |
Jeep describes the Patriot as having, “the packaging and interior flexibility of a sport-utility vehicle with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car or small pickup.” But to me, that muddies the waters of what the compact-sized Jeep Patriot really is: a thoroughly modern, very capable SUV that can be ordered to suit any buyer’s needs from a front-wheel drive, high-riding Jeep for commuting and the occasional cottage and ski run – to the “I feel safer and need four-wheel-drive” customer; and possibly the grounded star trekker: “I go where no man (or woman), has ever gone before!”
Jeep has the appropriate three drive configurations to fulfill these needs. The Patriot line-up consists of front-wheel drive, “Freedom-Drive I” (a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with lock mode), and “Freedom-Drive II Off-Road Package”, a full-time, active 4×4 system with Low range that provides true Jeep “Trail Rated” capability. The latter Patriot is for designed for those buyers who really want to do some serious off-roading, backwoods hunting, fishing, canoeing etc.
The Trail Rated badge attests to the fact this Jeep could tackle the Rubicon Trail, undisputedly North America’s toughest off-road test. However, if you do plan to attempt it, there are a few minor additions and modifications necessary such as skid plates and suspension adjustments.
 2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4. Click image to enlarge |
Having personally driven the two-day long route over the Rubicon Trail which involved eight hours of manoeuvring through seven miles of gorges, traversing rivers, scaling rock piles on the first day with food being flown in by helicopter, I can vouch for the integrity of the Trail Rated badge.
In fact, in my opinion, the 2008 Trail Rated Jeep Patriot 4×4 is the most capable off-road vehicle in the crowded compact SUV class. Although few buyers will tackle the Rubicon, Jeep recommends this version for those involved in off-road situations that include steep grades, occasional wheel lift, moderate rock or log climbing and fording up to 19 inches of water.
There are three different FWD and 4WD models in the Jeep Patriot line-up: the basic Patriot Sport at $16,995 to $18,995; followed by the Canada-only Patriot North Edition at $19,595 to $21,595; and the top-of-the-line Patriot Limited at $22,795 to $24,795. A long list of options can be added to any of those to further tailor the Patriot to your specific needs.
Regardless of the model you choose, all Patriot versions include standard brake traction control, driver-controlled three-mode ESP, brake assist, Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).
   2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4. Click image to enlarge |
Other standard niceties include the 172-hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine (you can get a 158-hp, 2.0-litre on front-wheel drive models only), a five-speed manual transmission, 16-inch styled steel wheels, a removable/washable rear cargo floor, a sliding armrest with MP3 or cell phone holder, fold-away mirrors and a rear 60/40 folding seat. A/C is not standard on the base Patriot Sport.
My test vehicle was a Patriot Limited 4X4 ($24,795) that included air conditioning, as well as power windows, locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry, reclining rear seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat, deep tint sunscreen glass, an AM/FM/CD stereo with steering wheel audio controls, heated front seats, 17-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps, and a removable/rechargeable flashlight integrated with the rear cargo lamp.
Pushing the base Patriot Limited 4X4 price to $29,730 were the “Customer Preferred Package 28F 9-Speaker Boston Acoustics Sound Group” which featured six Boston acoustic speakers with subwoofer and the two articulating liftgate speakers ($400); Freedom Drive Off-road Group ($675); luxury front and rear floor mats ($60); AM/FM/CD 6-disc MP3 radio ($475); P215/65R17 All-Terrain tires ($275) and the CVT with Off-Road Crawl Ratio ($1750). And, then there’s the added Federal A/C excise tax ($100) and a rather hefty Destination Charge ($1,200).
Although the Patriot was a new addition to the 2007 line-up there have been numerous changes and upgrades for 2008. Auto/Stick is now included with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT2) except the CVT2L version used with the Trail Rated Off-Road Group. Other changes include the UConnect Hands-Free Communication System that has been added to Security and Cargo Convenience Group on Limited; speed control available on the Patriot Sport, the YES Essentials stain and odor resistant, anti-static seat fabric standard on Patriot North; a rear-view auto-dimming mirror and an available HomeLink Universal Transceiver, Tire Pressure Monitoring Display and an Electronic Vehicle Information Centre. As well for 2008, the Light Khaki Metallic exterior paint is available with a choice of both Beige and Grey interior.
Jeep Patriot’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT2) apparently rewards drivers with a 6% to 8% improvement in fuel economy. I confess that I am not a fan of CVT transmissions. I find them lacking in punch when you need it and the source of an annoyingly loud engine drone when accelerating. Jeep notes this latest CVT maintains a familiar feel and it does, but the feel is unfortunately like most CVT transmissions. The Auto/Stick helps at times, but personally I’d opt for the five-speed manual transmission.
 2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4. Click image to enlarge |
The Patriot is very comfortable inside and I felt the fit and finish, variety of plastics, textures, colours and aluminum were tastefully executed. The dash is a series of rectangles and very functional; rather than stylish, with good ergonomics. There’s decent storage, enough cupholders and most importantly lots of elbow room.
The ride is surprisingly smooth during highway driving and somewhat choppy over broken roads. The higher road clearance and stiffer suspension are the basis of this, but as a go-anywhere kind of Jeep, these are the penalties you pay. The Jeep Patriot’s ride is not any worse than other sport-utes in its class and the noise level is nothing like you’d find in a Wrangler – but then I don’t find any SUV overly quiet. Somehow tough and quiet just don’t seem to go hand in hand.
Fuel economy varies considerably from day to day depending on weather conditions; acceleration and braking techniques; the number of stops and starts; and personal driving styles. There is no real absolute. The EnerGuide figures for the Patriot Limited 4X4 were 10.7 (27) City; 9.4 (30) Highway. My short trips around the village; Belleville, Trenton, etc. were more in the 10.5 – 11.5 L/100 km range and my runs along the 401 going back and forth from Toronto in the area of 10 L/100 km.
Although the Jeep Patriot didn’t figure in the top three finishers in the AJAC Car of the Year voting for the Best New SUV/CUV (under $35,000) category, it was still a very competitive and competent entry in this segment. Its handsome styling, rugged build quality and excellent value for the price are one of the reasons Chrysler Canada sales have increased every month for the past eight.
Definitely worth a test drive for those looking for a compact SUV – especially amongst buyers with some off-road aspirations.
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Pricing: 2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4
Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives Specifications
Competitors
Manufacturer’s web site
Crash test results
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Related posts:
- Test Drive: 2007 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4
- Buyer's Guide: 2008 Jeep Patriot
- Test Drive: 2008 Jeep Patriot North
- Inside Story: 2007 Jeep Patriot Limited
- Buyer's Guide: 2007 Jeep Patriot
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