The Patriot may not necessarily have the off-road capabilities of its bigger brethren, but it is anything but a watered down Jeep. In fact, despite my initial misgivings, the 2,0 CRD Ltd proved to be a capable, well-packaged and increasingly endearing product. The more I drove it, the more I liked it…
I have been reserved in my praise for petrol-powered Chrysler Group products (apart from HEMIs, but they are such guilty pleasures!), because their engines always seem a bit listless and transmissions laid back to the point of sloppiness. But the VW-sourced common rail turbodiesel motor, mated with a slick and snappy manual transmission, is this Jeep’s strong point. The throaty oil-burner pulls heartily from just before 1 500 r/min and transforms the Patriot into an effortless long-distance cruiser that offers just enough flexibility not to be overly troubled by mild inclines.
Finished in a Champagne colour and adorned with handsome titanium-look rims, the Patriot strikes a purposeful and ruggedly-handsome pose. The low roofline adds to the sportiness of the vehicle (without reducing headroom, mind you) and the bold front treatment is very eye-catching. The Patriot looks much bigger and more butch than what it actually is and the news is even better when you peruse the cabin… The recent facelift has added “Audi-like” circular vents, neat aluminium accents and a high-end audio system that is intuitive to operate (the CD-changer works particularly well).
The interior build quality of the Patriot is commendable. The raised centre console, however, felt a bit wiggly and, despite the added versatility the lidded stowage compartment offers, I found that my elbow would jar against it when releasing the handbrake. Otherwise, the (optional, R7 500) tan-coloured leather upholstery combined nicely with the similarly coloured interior trim, which exudes an air of durability without being garish.
The front- and driver’s seat aren’t particularly wide, but comfortable enough, and there is decent rear legroom, even if the rear bench is on the floppy side of soft to sit on. The 60/40 split seatback was appreciated and although the loading sill was high, there is a full-sized spare wheel under the loading floor. It would have liked to see a remote rear hatch release function in the key fob, or a fuel flap lever in the cockpit, but perhaps a pocket-sized lifestyle vehicle shouldn’t be too sensible – for fear of being labelled an “MPV with stubble”.
I am not the off-roading type (urgh, I recoil at the mucky sunscreen and carnivorous insects that find me so irresistible), but I nevertheless appreciate the breadbin-like utilitarianism of the Patriot’s styling, the fact that it could handle the odd rutted dirt road if it needed to, and the fact that it is arguably as easy to drive as a passenger car of a similar size. The steering was direct and accurate, and although I didn’t expect enthusiastic handling, the Patriot offered solid road holding and responded positively to driving inputs. Body roll tended to intrude during high speed cornering, but there is more grip on offer than what the leaning cab suggests.
Overall, the Patriot 2,0 CRD Ltd offers a well-rounded driving experience – the suspension soaks up minor bumps and the ride is generally quite forgiving. The biggest annoyance of all was that the view through the compact rear-view mirror was impeded by the rear headrests. No, really folks, the Patriot is an underrated product and the turbodiesel model is, in my opinion, the one to have. This is the third Jeep that CARtoday.com has reviewed, and it is the best one so far.
