2007 Jeep Patriot Limited 4X4

Affordable fun
By Nina Russin

2007 Jeep Patriot

In 1958, my parents paid twenty-five thousand dollars for the house I grew up in. Today houses cost ten times that, and the average cost of a new car is twenty-six thousand. Since most of us don’t earn ten times what our parents did, this presents a problem.

Pricing is what makes the Jeep Patriot special. For under $15,000, buyers can get a sport-utility vehicle with off-road capability, a spacious cargo area and seating for five. Call Patriot the poster child for our best value category.

The test car is the upscale Limited grade, with the Freedom II off-road package, including skid plates, hill descent control, tow hooks, locking differentials and a full-sized spare. It also has some extra creature comforts such as leather trim, satellite radio, ambient temperature display and compass. Put simply, it’s the fully loaded package. Cost is $25,295: a jump up from the base model, but still a good value. Fuel economy is a respectable 21/23 miles-per gallon city/highway.

I’m not saying that the Patriot is a perfect car: the four-cylinder engine is anemic in a vehicle this size, and the gas tank should be bigger, to give the car better range. But having driven the car for a week, I found those flaws pretty easy to live with.

Chrysler contained engineering and production costs via its alliance with Mitsubishi and Hyundai. The Patriot’s four-cylinder engines are part of the joint venture, produced at a dedicated plant in Dundee, Michigan.

The Limited has the larger engine: a 2.4-liter block, that produces 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. The Patriot is available with either manual or automatic transmissions. The test car has the automatic: a continuously variable transmission with a low-end crawl ratio for off-road driving.

The Patriot is capable of accelerating hard enough to merge onto the freeway and pass at high speeds as long as it isn’t hauling too much weight. Towing capacity is 1000 pounds: 2000 with the trailer tow group option. That’s well below the 3500-pound minimum we use to identify vehicles with good towing capability.

While it isn’t a speed demon, the Patriot is certainly a pleasant car to drive. The four-wheel independent suspension gives it a compliant ride both on and off paved roads, while the rack-and-pinion steering provides steering response typical of smaller passenger cars. Braking is firm and linear.

The test car comes with 17-inch wheels and tires: an upgrade from the 16-inch rims on the base model. It also has a full-sized spare mounted under the cargo floor as part of the off-road option package. All season tires aren’t ideal for off-road driving, but they are adequate for graded dirt roads, and they are quieter on paved roads than off-road treads.

Driving the car through dense traffic, I found visibility to be good all the way around the vehicle. The Patriot cruised along at highway speeds comfortably, and had enough high-end power to pass when necessary.

Testing the air conditioning in the heat of the day, I was impressed with its ability to cool the interior down quickly and maintain a comfortable temperature. When the mercury reaches 115 degrees Fahrenheit, there are more expensive cars that can’t pass the test.

Attractive, spacious interior

Both rows of passengers have ample leg, shoulder and headroom. The Patriot will hold four adults comfortably: five for a short trip. The seats have manual adjustments that are easy to use. There is a lumbar adjustment on the driver’s seat. Heated front seats are standard on the Limited model.

Both front doors have map pockets and smaller cubbies for a cell phone or PDA. The armrest on the center console slides fore and aft to accommodate drivers of different sizes. It flips open to reveal a small pocket for cell phones or MP3 players.

There is a 115-volt power outlet in the center console, and a 12-volt power point on the instrument panel. Power locks and power fold-away mirrors are standard.

The audio and temperature controls are easy to reach from both front seating positions. A shelf above the glovebox stows maps or paperwork.

The gate shifter is located in the center stack, keeping the center console open for cups, bottles and storage. The audio system includes an AM/FM radio, Sirius satellite radio,  CD player and MP3 jack. In back, the rear speakers flip down from the tailgate to send music outside the car.

Rear passengers have two cupholders in the back of the center console as well as bottle holders in the door pockets. The 60/40 rear seats flip down using a pull-strap located outboard of the seat cushions. It’s a quick operation that makes the Patriot bike friendly.

The cargo floor is textured plastic: a durable material that’s easy to clean. There are four tie-down hooks around the cargo floor. With the rear seats in place, I had enough room to stash several large cartons. A tonneau cover keeps the items in back out of sight.

Standard safety

The Patriot is laden with standard safety features, including antilock brakes, front and side curtain airbags, and electronic stability program with roll mitigation. A button on the instrument panel turns off the electronic stability program so drivers can maneuver through uneven terrain off-road. There are also tow hooks to the front and rear of the car, in case it gets stuck in a rut.

The all-new Patriot is on display and ready for test drives at Jeep dealerships nationwide.

Likes: An affordable off-road vehicle with seating for five, a high level of standard safety features and a well-designed cargo area. The bike-friendly Patriot offers people with active lifestyles a car that should fit their needs, at a price that won’t break the bank.

Dislikes: The four-cylinder engine lacks low-end power. Towing capacity does not meet our active lifestyle vehicle standards. The gas tank is too small and limits the car’s driving range.

Quick facts:

Base price: $14,985
Price as tested: $25,295
Horsepower: 172 Hp @ 6000 r.p.m.
Torque: 165 lbs.-ft. @ 4400 r.p.m.
0 to 60: N/A
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: No
Towing: No
Off-road: Yes
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Fuel economy: 21/23 m.p.g. city/highway