Jeep Patriot Sport 2011 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $30,000
Options fitted (not included in above price): Metallic paint $450
Crash rating: TBA
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 8.9
CO2 emissions (g/km): 206
Also consider: Nissan X-TRAIL, Suzuki Grand Vitara

A little over 18 months ago this writer tried out an upgraded Patriot, having already driven the original machine on its launch here back in 2007. The magnitude of improvement from the first Patriot to the upgrade was a stark contrast indeed, but the latest model is even better again — albeit the returns on investment are diminishing.

While the Jeep certainly hasn't slipped backwards with its latest update, its competitors are slowly catching it and, in this update many of the changes are purely cosmetic. One notable exception is the standard stability control.

The engine remains peaky and undernourished for straightline performance or offroading, but it has a slightly rorty note to it and is nicely refined by compact SUV standards. At open-road speeds there's just a smidge of induction noise, but it's quite pleasant to the ear. The engine will operate down to 1500rpm without demonstrable laboring, despite working at its best higher in the rev range.

But you may find the engine operating at such low speed in the first instance because it has a habit of falling off the pace. There's just nothing down low in the way of torque. Even in the midrange the engine struggles and can't keep the revs up with the now standard cruise control operating on a decent incline, for instance.

The engine is a fantastic partner for the five-speed manual transmission and the rest of the driveline however. There's no snatch or slackness in the drivetrain and, as said in the past about this particular transmission and its selection, it's practically foolproof and can be shifted very smoothly and precisely indeed. Nor does the engine flare during gear changes. Chrysler engineers have achieved very impressive results in respect of NVH and general drivetrain refinement.

Suspension provides a ride and handling balance that straddles a moderately placed line between offroad-tough and on-road safe. There's not much body roll for a vehicle of this distinction (and the Patriot will go offroad, unlike some compact SUVs). Ride is well controlled at highway speeds, but the Patriot can be blown around by cross winds. On a particularly cold, wet night the stability control modulated the Patriot's attitude on more than one occasion. Each time the safety system delivered differing levels of progressive safety; sometimes barely noticeable other than the blinking light in the dash and other times getting stuck in with forceful brake pressure relief.

The Patriot is not a vehicle to communicate earnestly with the driver through the large steering wheel, although turn-in was quite responsive and the feedback was generally better than a number of competitors in the same market segment. As for the wheel itself, it's large in diameter and leaves a clear, unobstructed view of the instruments ahead of the driver.

This writer has complained in the past about the Patriot's lack of lane-change indicators, but that's now sorted, it's pleasing to note. The indicators, in keeping with most of the Patriots instruments and controls were easy to use and soft-damped. Fit and finish seems to be one of those elements improving constantly. The doors close with a strong measure of solidity and silence, the materials inside achieve a quality look and feel, plus there is next to nothing in the way of rattles and squeaks, such as we experienced in a Patriot on a previous occasion.

There's no footrest for the driver's left foot and the clutch pedal must be depressed before the car will start. If we're on the subject of safety or security features that annoy us, there's also the perennial two-stage remote unlocking function. But the designers have provided the Patriot with a hill-start assist system that will hold the vehicle braked on a hill when the driver lifts the foot off the brake pedal to go for the gas and release the clutch. It works well and is a very sensible convenience feature in a vehicle a manual transmission. Yes, you can use the handbrake to hold the vehicle on the hill — but how many people do?

There's a trip computer in the Patriot now and it calculated fuel consumption over the course of the week to be 10.5L/100km, which is not especially good for all the open-road work involved. That said, we feel sure that touring alone would reduce the consumption figure to below 9.0L/100km.

The audio system is moderately complex to use. There are various redundant switches (such as for the optional Bluetooth that wasn't fitted to the test vehicle) and a separate 'Set' button to change the radio station presets. HVAC controls were perfectly straightforward however and, as with other controls throughout the Patriot, impressed with the subtle tactility they conveyed.

From a packaging point of view, the Patriot offers plenty of space in the rear seat, both for legroom and headroom, but the door is a little narrow, surprisingly. That aside, kids and adults of average height will have no difficulty dismounting, since the Patriot's H point is well judged. Luggage space is useful, but the floor is quite high, as it must be to make way for drivetrain components, spare wheel and the like.

The long and the short of it all is this: The Patriot delivers quality and comfort in a well-conceived package, at an affordable price. But it could be better still with the torque of a diesel...

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