Jeep Patriot: Old-school, budget-wise crossover still selling well - The Spokesman Review (blog)
I drove the Jeep Patriot a thousand miles before grasping its appeal. For all intents and purposes, the Patriot is firmly rooted in a previous generation. Yet, each year, Patriot sales surpass the previous year’s sales. At $17,891 (including freight), and $19,991 for AWD models, Patriot is the lowest-priced crossover in the U. S. . When ordered with the $1,125 Freedom II Off-Road Group, it’s also one of the most capable. Freedom II adds low-range gearing, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, tow hooks, all-terrain tires, a full-size spare and skid plates. But are these reasons enough to explain the Patriot’s popularity. If you’ve driven a small crossover lately, you’ll know that hoods have largely disappeared from the driver’s view, driven downward by aerodynamics and fashion. But the Patriot wears its hood proudly. In fact, with its upright, seven-bar grille and square-bodied stance, the Patriot carries more than a hint of traditional Jeep styling. Legacy alone must account for a handsome chunk of Patriot business. A pair of four-cylinder engines power the Patriot, one rated at 158 horsepower, the other at 172. The default transmission is a five-speed manual, with either six-speed automatic or a continuously variable unit available. Source: www.spokesman.com
