CD Article: 2007 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4

[CD_Editor]

Today's Test Drive:

Limited 4x4: New for 2007, the Jeep Patriot is available with the coveted "Trail Rated" badge when equipped with an optional AWD system. Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh found it attractive, but acceleration was tepid and interior quality could be better, she says.
   
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Read the article | View the photos | All The Test Drives

[Benhaze]

The company would do well to amalgamate these two models into one

Nooooo! Don't amalgamate: just put the Compass out of its misery!   

[The Mighty Duck]

Sounds like the Patriot would make a great vehicle for the outdoors crowd - cheap enough, decent fuel mileage, and an AWD system that, while mostly slip'n'grip, still sounds better than most such systems.  I would certainly look at on - it would be great for tackling unpaved logging roads and a little more in the summer, and offers some added peace of mind in winter driving and getting up the ski hill.

Agreed on WHY do they offer the Patriot and Compass, though. 

[jcon]

I would think that this would appeal to 20-somethings, much like the Jeep Cherokee appealed to me when I bought mine. At the time I wanted a 4-door option with off-road capability at a reasonable price. This fits the bill.

You can go on about the disappointing interior, but in my mind, this is a winner. Much better than the Liberty which a someone once described to me as "Nicole Kidman - Nice to look at but nothing under the hood!"

[tortoise]

I wonder whose idea it was to send the Jeep engineers to the school of redundancy school.

[safristi]

"school of redundancy Skool"..Tortoise isn't just a GRADUATE but the OWNED ...err!!! ........

  I'd look under Nicole's Hood fer FREE...i'm just a wild & Hairy type of guy....

[Mitlov]

"school of redundancy Skool"..Tortoise isn't just a GRADUATE but the OWNED ...err!!! ........

I'm pretty sure that was deliberate on tortoise's part...

[Craig M]

a quick scan of the Jeep website uncovers some erroneous information regarding the engine/transmission pairings in the article; namely that the 2.4 is the base engine in all 3 models, not the 2.0; the 5 speed standard transmission is the base transmission on all three models; the optional CVT is mated only to the 2.0, not the 2.4, in Sport and North editions.

Mechanical and Capability (Sport and North)
   
    * 2.4L 4-cylinder DOHC 16V Dual VVT Engine with 5-speed manual transmission
    * Fully independent, front McPherson struts, rear multilink suspension (increased ride height/ground clearance with Freedom-Drive II™ Off-Road Group)
    * Power-assisted, rack and pinion steering
    * Anti-lock front disc/rear drum brakes
    * Engine block heater
    * Freedom-Drive I™ – Active full-time 4WD with selectable LOCK Electronically Controlled Coupling (4WD model)

Optional

    * Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT2)
    * 2.0L 4-cylinder DOHC 16V Dual VVT engine with continously variable transaxle II
    * Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT2L) with off-road crawl ratio transmission (packaged with Freedom-Drive II)

Mechanical and Capability (Limited)
   
    * 2.4L 4-cylinder DOHC 16V Dual VVT Engine with 5-speed manual transmission
    * Fully independent, front McPherson struts, rear multilink suspension (increased ride height/ground clearance with Freedom-Drive II™ Off-Road Group)
    * Power-assisted, rack and pinion steering
    * Freedom-Drive I™ – Active full-time 4WD with selectable LOCK Electronically Controlled Coupling (4WD model)
    * Anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes
    * Engine block heater

Optional

    * Freedom-Drive II Off-Road Group – Active full-time 4WD with selectable LOCK Electronically Controlled Coupling
    * Trailer Tow Prep Group – engine oil cooler and trailer tow wiring harness; not available with 2.0L engine
    * Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT2) transaxle II