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2012 Jeep Patriot Philadelphia
The 2012 Jeep Patriot has had its available continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) recalibrated for improved performance. The four-door Patriot has plenty of room inside. There's adult-size headroom and legroom for rear-seat passengers. The 60/40-split rear seat folds flat, and a flat-folding front passenger seat is optional; with all the seats flat, you can slide an eight-foot kayak inside, for example. Two four-cylinder engines are offered. The larger of the two, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, makes 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, and the manual transmission is standard equipment. It delivers good power and acceleration. The smaller engine is 2.0 liters, makes 158 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque, and manual transmission is also standard. The Patriot is available with front-wheel drive or a choice of two all-wheel-drive systems, one that Jeep qualifies as Trail Rated. Those who like to go off the pavement (or tow more than 1000 pounds) should choose the Trail-Rated Freedom II AWD system. This uses gearing about 20-percent lower than the other models for steeper climbs and descents.
Driving Impressions of the '12 Jeep Patriot
The 5-speed manual gearbox is a joy to use, even with its long throws. The lever comes out of the center stack above the driver's right knee. The 5-speed makes the Patriot feel like a Jeep. Properly used, it brings out the potential of the engine. The suspension works well in all conditions. The ride is steady over rough asphalt patches. The body feels well isolated and you can hit a bump with one wheel without your head being tossed.
Interior Features of the '12 Jeep Patriot
A high seating position gives the Jeep Patriot driver a commanding view of the trail. The Patriot Sport's front seats have manual adjustment and come with cloth upholstery; the Latitude has heated cloth seats. The Latitude X gets leather upholstery. The cabin layout is functional and roomy. The dark dashboard and instrument layout is simple, and the gauges are a tidy white on black with glowing orange needles. The climate and sound system controls are easy to understand and operate. Jeep says the available UConnect Tunes system can hold up to 6700 songs, which can be ripped from a CD or USB memory stick.
Exterior Features of the '12 Jeep Patriot
TThe Patriot has Jeep's favorite styling cues, namely round headlights and seven vertical openings for a grille, in a boxy shape with fairly upright windshield and hatch. Unlike jelly bean-shaped competitors, Patriot's box shape translates to a more spacious feeling inside because the roof doesn't curl in on you, and the vertical rear end allows more cargo inside and better sheds snow and ice in the winter. The Jeep Patriot is considered a compact, although it looks larger. With a lot of space between front and rear wheels and overall length less than 15 feet, the lack of bodywork beyond the wheels adds dimension and improves backcountry accessibility. It's only a couple of inches from identical height and width and the ground clearance matches many heavy-duty pickup trucks.
Model Lineup
The 2012 Jeep Patriot comes with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and a choice of engines with manual and automatic transmissions.
Patriot Sport comes with cloth upholstery, carpeting, fog lamps, tinted glass, reclining front seats, 60/40-split folding rear seat, cruise control, smart-key engine immobilizer, and an AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA four-speaker stereo. All-wheel drive versions also have the 2.4-liter engine and rear disc brakes. Options include front side airbags, 17-inch aluminum wheels, air conditioning, media center radio, and the Power Value package with remote keyless entry, power windows/door locks/heated mirrors. An all-weather grou adds tow hooks, block heater, floor mats, daytime running lights, aluminum wheels and P215/65R17 tires.
Patriot Latitude X gets the big engine and rear disc brakes, chrome trim, climate control, leather upholstery, power driver's seat, Sirius radio and a 6CD/DVD audio system. Options include upgrades to radio with Garmin navigation, Boston-Acoustics speakers, plus the Sun & Sound, Security & Convenience, and tow packages.
Optional on any Patriot are UConnect Phone with Bluetooth and/or Web service and a smoker's package. The Freedom II Off-Road group upgrades 4WD models with a bigger alternator, skid plates, electronic traction assists, tow hooks, floor mats, P215/65R17 tires and full-size spare; it requires the CVT2L automatic transmission.
Conclusions
The Jeep Patriot offers off-highway capability in a compact SUV with a capable four-cylinder engine that gets decent fuel economy. The suspension is stable and comfortable, and cargo capacity is useful because all the passenger seats can easily fold flat. The interior for 2012 adds a nice overall finish to this SUV. To learn more about the 2012 Jeep Liberty, click here.
Some of the information for this review was obtained through newcartestdrive.com