Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Jeep Patriot: Styling Impressions
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
They should brought back the Cherokee name for the Patriot because that's what it is.
CK
SUV's have grown larger. As noted, the XJ's were not very large. There are almost no SUV's left on the road smaller. The Wrangler is shorter, but heavier. Even the RAV4 is larger now. The Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are perhaps the only true compact SUV's left!
Look at these specs:
84-96 Cherokee 4 door (from Consumer Guide):
Wheelbase, in.----------101.4
Overall Length, in.------166.9
Overall Width, in.--------67.7
Overall Height, in.-------63.8
Curb Weight, lbs.-------2955
2006 Honda CR-V
Wheelbase, in.----------103.3
Overall Length, in.------181.0
Overall Width, in.--------70.2
Overall Height, in.-------66.2
Curb Weight, lbs.-------3428
Now, the 2006 Jeep Liberty
Wheelbase, in.----------104.3
Overall Length, in.------174.4
Overall Width, in.--------71.6
Overall Height, in.-------70.2
Curb Weight, lbs.-------4011
And, just for comparison, the original 93-98 Grand CHerokee:
Wheelbase, in.----------105.9
Overall Length, in.------179.0
Overall Width, in.--------70.9
Overall Height, in.-------64.7
Curb Weight, lbs.-------3614
The CR-V is over 10 inches longer, and almost 500 lbs heavier. The Liberty is a bit longer, though in both of these cases the spare tire accounts for a good amount of the length. Also, note that the Liberty has gained over 1000 lbs., 4 lbs in length, and 6 inches in height. Still, both the current Liberty and CR-V are almost the size of the original Grand Cherokee.
What has happened is a shift in how we view SUV sizes. In the 80's and early 90's, an S10 Based blazer, Jeep Cherokee, or Ranger-based Explorer passed as a midsize, while smaller vehicles such as the Suzuki Samurai and sidekick represented the compact end. We have forgotten just how small the XJ's truly were! At least, those of us who have never ridden in the back seat of one!!!
The (02+)Explorer, Grand Cherokee, and Trailblazer are all a size larger than their predecessors. Compact SUV's have grown to take their place, leaving an opening below them. Even the little Sidekick grew into the larger Grand Vitara! The Patriot has the potential to be the only off-road capable SUV in this this market, while offering the styling that made the Cherokee so popular for so many years.
I am not an off roader, but like the stiff, up high, rougher ride of a real SUV, not the padded down socker mom trophy car. I love my 03 Grand Cherokee, but like new things every now and again. Would this new machine even come close to what the Jeep linage has been pre liberty?
Its all going to come down to how well the freedom drive 2 works .
Sadly my cherokee is slowly dieing and I doubt it will last past this fall. So I have to buy soon and nothing is coming close to my old jeep. I'm hoping this will and whats nice is it will be a good 5 grand or so less than the cherokee when my father bought it new in 1994 and for the price I will get alot more inside (leather seats , chlilzone cooling , 60/40 seats in the back , keyless entry , sunroof , decent stero )
If it's the same as the Dodge Caliber, which it's based on, then that means only 1000 pounds—which is lousy. The Cherokee, properly equipped, could tow 5000.
Bob
Perhaps the caliber was designed around towing with the smallest engine which is the 1.8 . The power train may also play a part in the towing capacity.
The patriot is using the 2.4l engine . So perhaps we can get a higher capacity.
I think the Patriot is going to replace the old Cherokee quite nicely. I don't want something bigger. I like the size of my 91 Cherokee.
And to the gentleman that has the CRV. I had one too. You can't compare any CRV to a Cherokee. If you took any CRV off road. It would get stuck when it got to any mud over 6 deep" or snow got over a foot deep! and they would power out with 13" of snow. No low range. An awd Subaru will run circles around a CRV.
My CRV went into passing gear at 65 any time it started up a 2% grade! You can't drive a CRV in Montana without it being in passing gear 1/2 the time. and that's on a level road!
The CRV is an all wheel drive for ladies who don't want to get stuck on road with an inch or so of snow on them.
I want a new toy to play with and break and fix and break and fix ...
The CR-V is for folks who want some characteristics of an SUV (high driving position, ability to drive on flooded roads, good traction when the roads are slick, versatile interior with plentiful cargo space), without the downsides that come with a vehicle such as the Cherokee; for example, sloppy driving dynamics, stiff springs, solid axles, and numb steering. The XJs were truly awful on paved roads, much like the TJs, but these same liabilities became assetts offroad.
*I owned a Wrangler for a while, but decided that with the infrequency that I left paved roads, it wasn't worth the terrible ride or squirrely handling. I'm sure I'll be run out on a rail for saying this, but I'd love to see the open top, doors off customizability of the Jeep implemented on this chassis. Rather than the Compass which essentially is a Patriot with curvy styling, make a short wheelbase, open top, unibody FWD/AWD vehicle with the traditional Jeep soft top, or even a semi-soft-top setup like the old Amigos and Sidekicks.
I have a wrangler and a Cherokee and I'd take the ride and handling and road ability of both of those over a CRV (which I also owned) any day! Both of my Jeeps will go places your CRV couldn't even try.
That being said, You couldn't even drive your CRV in anything over a foot of snow here in Montana. My CRV would power out all the time.
As I said before, the CRV is for ladies who don't want to be stuck in and inch or two of snow.
I have driven my Cherokee 1991 on a 4k trip this summer. Great ride, great seats, plenty of power, lots of room.
It just comes down to the fact that here in the west there are lots of places I would feel uncomfortable going in the winter in a CRV for fear of getting stuck, should it snow. I take a Jeep. That way I know I'll not usually get stuck.
Very unusual, but once we had over 48" of snow. Yes 4 feet! It took me several hours and three sets of chains to get down my 1/4 drive. But with low range and 2 sets of chains on the front and one on the back of the Cherokee I got out. My 4x4 Subaru with a low range got 6 feet! IN IT'S LOW RANGE. No power. A CRV wouldn't have had a chance. I know they were not built for that type of snow, the Jeep wasn't either, but the Jeep got out. It took some time. Back and forth, snow was over the hood but it did get out. So the CRV is not an option if you really want a 4x4 you can trust to get you out or get you home in the winter in the west. + the CRV is built with the structural integrity of an aluminium beer can!. Don't tell me it isn't I had one. Maybe the newer ones are better but my 2001 was nothing more than a beer can on wheels.
Even my wife thought it was the most unsafe car we ever drove. If the CRV is good for you, Great. It's
just not strong or powerful enough for the mountains
Also used CRV's sell for about 25 under book out here. So they are a good buy for those ladies that don't want to be stuck in the snow.
The CR-V is NOT, I repeat NOT an offroad vehicle. I thought that was a given, but you seem to be arguing with a your straw man perception of my post. So, lets take it down the line again.
CR-Vs are NOT offroaders. A Cherokee or Wrangler cannot:
- Approach 27+ mpg on the highway, save for the early models of the XJ with the Renault sourced diesel.
- Carry passengers in the same comfort. Less legroom, awful back seat (no headrests for Chrissake!), small trunk with tire intruding on space, bulbous center hump through entire vehicle, narrow doors.
- Offer same road experience. Awkward ergonomics (they were still using 80's GM-style controls until at least the 97 models; that was replaced by Neon-esque interior which lives on in almost identical form in the '06 Wrangler)
- Offer the same supple ride. The solid axles of the Cherokee are not the choice for a compliant ride. They are jittery on rough surfaces, though not as bad as a leaf-sprunk axle under an empty pickup bed. There's a reason that solid axles are not used in passenger cars anymore. They are crude and unrefined... for an application which requires extreme strength, they are marvelous. For a road vehicle, they are terrible.
- Offer the same steering feel. The XJ's used recirculating ball steering, with a very slow ratio for maximum precision in precarious tracking, and with extra play and numb feedback to keep jarring impacts from transmitting from the tires to your wristbones. Once you touch pavement, the steering is absolutely horrendous. Get out on the highway, and whip the wheel to and fro through about 5-10 degrees of rotation. Pure slop!
The CR-V, on the other hand, is slighty more adept than a typical FWD car in nasty conditions. I don't live in Montana, and barring outbreak of nuclear war, will not. I don't like dealing with the snow in the suburban midwest, being a native sun-belter. You can see from our geographic origins alone that we are looking at two entirely different concepts of a vehicle.
For you, an all-terrain capable SUV is a necessity to claw over the river and through the woods of America's Siberia. To me, it's a suburban street car with some extra capabilites for weekend fun. To you, a crossover ute is a wannabe that can't handle your daily needs. For me, it's the perfect best-of-both-worlds blend. It is all the advantages of the SUV form and packaging without the liabilities.
You keep talking about the mountains, but there are no mountains here... my Honda has seen mountains twice, and they were pansy Appalacians as experienced on a dynamite blasted interstate grade. It doesn't matter if there is snow piled up, as the plow will be here before I leave the house! I could just as easily drive a car, except:
A - the CR-V does better on ice. Not avalanches of snow, but simple freezing rain. Chains are irrelevant... they are banned in this state because they are not needed and damage roads.
B - I traded in my pickup, and I need the space to haul bulky items. With the seats folded flat, I have a great deal of space.
C - At 6'2, I don't have much headroom in short cars.
Don't get the impression that I am slamming the XJ either. If you have the need for what is essentially an ATV with a weathershell, it is hard to beat. Every single issue which makes it a poor street vehicle allows it to shine in rough conditions. It's on-road performance is simply wretched, and with the large numbers of 4x2, 4 door automatic XJ that were produced, it was clearly most often bought as an alternative to a passenger car, not as, well, a Jeep.
Bob
The CRV VS. Jeep is not a true test, as they are two completely different rigs.
You might take a look at the new Patriot. Has all kinds of new stuff for a very good highway ride. Roll midigation<sp. etc.
Yes but the 1.8 is standard . I would expect the power train and towing set up to be built around that engine instead of the 2.4 and turbo .
I doubt we will get 5k , however I think we will get more than 1k .
The Patriot isn't really a good choice for a FWD vehicle, plus the gas mileage is fairly low probably under 25 combined.
I was interested in how the Elantra was going to turn out, but upon it's unvieling its a bit bland looking and I don't like the modest 4AT and 2.0L engine, they should have gone with a GEMA engine.
I'm going to assume its close to the same as the caliber with the 2.4 l engine , the low 20s
I highly doubt the Patriot will have a Class III trailer towing rating seeing as the most powerful engine available will be a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder.
I think my 94 cherokee gets something like 14/16 now if even (yea its a piece of poo) so i would end up saving alot of moeny and having roughly the same amount of room and features of my old jeep.
I have a 91 Cherokee with the 4L and get 22 at 75 on the hw and 23 at 70.
The 91 gets about 18 in town and the 2001 GC gets about 16 in town.
I'm not a great driver. I'm probably like most drives. How do you get only 14 and 16 mpg? Unless you have the 360 V8?
CK
Farout
CR tested the Caliber and it only averaged 22mpg with the 2.4 engine. If the Patriot weighs more, as I would expect with the 4 wheel transmission, mileage should be worse. Also the fit and finish wasn't that great nor was the noise. :confuse:
I'm looking for an inexpensive vehicle with a manual 4 wheel drive low gear with average mileage and decent reliability. Not sure this exists.
:Your talking about the new Wrangler! I don't know if the 4 Dr. comes with manual and the transfer case but I bet it does. That is your car!!
CK
The Patriot will be marketed towards people who want an economical 4 cylinder vehicle with a maximum tow capacity well below the 5000 lbs capacity of the 6 cylinder Liberty. While the Patriot has an 'old school' square Jeep look, the Compass is for those individuals who want something more stylish, modern and 'rally car' inspired.
Towing should not be something a person would buy this Patriot for.
Farout
....for those who need a vehicle to tow a large camper or large boat...the Liberty or G.C./Commander would be the way to go....
An inexpensive, not too low mileage manual with low range would be the outgoing jeep wrangler 4cyl model. I don't think the new one has a 4 cyl because its quite a bit heavier.
Wendy
Jeep Liberty Sport 4X4, 3.7L V6, 6-Speed Manual Trans, decently equipped at $22,875 before options or freight, EPA 18 mpg city/22 hwy. I'm holding out for the redesigned (Cherokee-ized) '08 model...
I have been a Mopar fan for years, owning several Dodge and Jeep products over my driving career. I have been anxious about the Caliber since I saw the early pre-production pictures. I waited, watched and read everything I could to see how they would hold up, especially the CVT. Then I saw that Jeep was coming out with a Cherokee sized vehicle that delivered decent mileage; so I decided to wait until I could see that. But first I had to wait for the Compass to come out first. I never warmed up to the looks of the Compass, and honestly, I think the Patriot is going to outsell it 3 to 1.
With intent to finally buy, I began to test drive my interest and the competition so that I had a point of reference. The Caliber and Patriot stayed right at the top of list the whole time. They both looked good, had good crash ratings, good mileage and were priced well. With Patriots arriving, I found myself taking turns driving a sport appearance Caliber and Sport Patriot. In the in end, the Patriot had a better interior, outer body hardware, more room, bigger engine and future better resale. I still like the Caliber, but the interior was light coloured and was already scuffed up on the lot. It also had some plastic trim along the roofline that would degrade in a few years in the Florida sun. I was so glad to have them side-by-side and happy with my Patriot.
My first fill up yielded a tad over 27 mpg, which was mostly mixed highway. I am 6'2 and 180 pounds and the driving position is great. I like the Yes Essential fabric better than the leather, and the darker interior plastic seems to be good and cleans easily. The CVT is very nice, and the motor seems powerful, but a little pokey off the line but still strong. I was used to an straight six in a Cherokee. The long-term reliability of the CVT is my main concern though, but that withstanding, I really like the Patriot.
DJP
I'd like to know the water fording capabilities of the 2008 Jeep Patriot 4x2? I'm not planning to take this vehicle to the outdoors, it's just that when it rains heavily on my home town, you have to cross several flooded avenues on your way home.
I've read that the 4x4 model with the additional off-road package provides and extra inch of ground clearance (from 8" to 9") and a water fording level of 19 inches, but it clearly says that it has to do with some "extra sealing" a feature present only with the off-road model.
thanks
-pastor