2007 Jeep Patriot Sport 4X2 (642)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2007 Jeep Patriot Sport 4X2 SUV with genes from the very beginning of “auto time” for one of a handful of the most recognizable of car products on the market.

Yes it is basic and yes it gets great fuel economy and no it doesn’t cost a lot of money to own it. Come on – we all know there is no free lunch. Someone has to pay for the goodies and gadgets. In this case you will have to push them to take your money for options like power windows and door locks. Basic is not a bad thing in transportation.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – USA

Class: – Special Purpose

Cars: – Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty , Patriot and Wrangler.

Rumor has it:

Daimler-Chrysler may be selling the Chrysler division and the word is that Toyota may be the buyer. Good news for consumers and Toyota would be smart to do just that. I would hope, however, that Toyota would bring as much to Chrysler as Mercedes Benz has. But whoever is responsible Chrysler has done some pretty great things over the past several years. Bold design in their products such as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger and the warmly embraced PT Cruiser are examples of a great car company. The Plymouth prowler is classic and I wish it would be resurrected.

Handling & Performance:

Very adequate because I didn’t miss those jack rabbit starts and I surely didn’t miss frequent stops at the gas pump, but I did miss not having cruise control since I do a lot of highway driving. Basic cars however do NOT need to give up good steering or responsive well performing engines and transmissions. Having traction and stability controls is a great inclusion in the standard equipped base model of this Patriot.

Styling:

Basic Jeep. You’ll see the unrefined look as you do in the Wrangler and styles of early day Jeeps. That’s not a bad thing and in a sense this Patriot is just a larger Wrangler and roomier and more basic than the Liberty which is smaller but gussied up a little more than this Patriot.

Fit and Finish:

Good in class.

Cost:

The equipment list is short and sweet and to the point so if you don’t need it you don’t get it. But you don’t pay for it either.

Conveniences and comfort:

You will have to be willing to drive a car with hand crank roll up windows, manual seat adjustment, no navigation system, no leather seating and no power seat adjustment. Sun roofs are unavailable as well.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you’re not turned off by now you, like me, are a Jeep devotee. The Patriot may not have all the bells and whistles of many up-scaled SUVs but it does have some very important things like controls for traction and stability (roll over protection) that come standard.

Sometimes owning a car is more than simply the name or even a perception of quality. Often it is a tradition or historical strength that evolves over a long time that draws people to own a car, truck or any other motorized vehicle. Many years ago I attended a Jeep Jamboree outing that converted me to Jeep. I met devoted Jeep owners who were rugged individualists certain about the image of Jeep and the tradition and track record of a true off road vehicle. I drove every Jeep they made at the time over terrain I would have never imagined a car could negotiate. I gained confidence in the product. And after the mud, boulders and other obstacles we battled for several days as a group of 120 owners and journalists I took to the highways of New England for a week of other historic sites. And then there were the flashbacks of my Navy days and the Jeeps we drove.

Recognized Competition:

Jeep Patriot $14-21,000, Dodge Caliber $14-20,000, Chevrolet HHR $16-19,000, Pontiac Vibe $16,710, Toyota Matrix $15-17,000, Honda Element $19-23,000, Mazda 5 $18-21,000, Suzuki SX4 $18-16,000, Kia Spectra 5 $15,995.

Good News:

Bare bones basic equipment without the high cost of having it all, very good fuel economy and a consistent image.

Bad News:

Bare bones basic equipment so you’ll give up several creature comforts (but eating is still allowed).

Standard Equipment:

2.4 liter 172 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, traction control, stability control, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, Second row folding seat, and radio with CD player.

Gas Stats:

$2.69/ Gal avg. Mar. 15, ‘07

 www.fueleconomy.gov 

for more information.

26 City and 30 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $14,425.

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