If you like the idea of the Jeep Patriot as much as I do, I want to urge each and everyone of you to go to the Jeep web site and send them a letter wishing that the vehicle be made. I sent them a letter and they couldn't give much info and insisted that it was still a "concept" vehicle. I for one don't care for the compass. It looks like something the Germans came up with. The Patriot looks like a true Jeep. Go to www.jeep.com and look for the "Contact Us" thumb nail. I currently drive a Honda CR-V and would love to go back to driving a Jeep that got good gas mileage. I still have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but can no longer use that vehicle for business as the mileage is prohibitive. Gas in CA is approaching the $3.00 price again.

Is there really much to differentiate between the Caliber and Compass (besides price)?

I just loaded up a Caliber R/T AWD with everything at Dodge.com, and it is $24,340 MSRP. A Compass Limited 4X4 F Pkg loaded with everything but the tow package ($130) and full-size spare ($120) was $27,680 MSRP based on Jeep's "preliminary" Build and Price.

So the Caliber is AWD versus the Compass' 4X4 capability. To go from 4X2 to 4X4 on the Compass Limited is only $1,650, so it seems like going from AWD to 4X4 should cost less than half ($1,670) of what the price differential actually is ($3,340).

For comparisons sake, I believe a Mercury Mariner is approximately $2,000 than a comparable Ford Escape. But a Mariner is really just an upscale Escape. Is the Compass somehow trying to be passed off as an up-scale Caliber with the added benefit of having the 4x4 and towing capability?

The caliber is smaller than the compass. If you look at the specs, you will see that the Compass has more head room, hip room, and overall volume than the caliber.

Also, I didn't see the option for the Auto-Stick feature in the Caliber (I am assuming this is a clutchless manual shifting feature?), which you have to get in the Compass Limited if you don't go with the manual transmission, but this auto-stick feature is only worth $150, anyways (Configured a base model of the Compass and you'll see where I got this number).

To me it seems like the difference between the Forester and the Impreza Wagon. Both have identical engines, and the same frame, but the Forester has more room and is a couple grand more expensive.

Plus, I've never really considered Jeeps to be inexpensive vehicles. Many people consider the Wrangler to be overpriced (granted, as a "road" vehicle it may be overpriced, but the off-roading is the main reason they can get away with the price) and many people also consider the Grand Cherokee to be overpriced as well. But people still buy them because Jeeps rock. So I wouldn't be surprised if Jeep jacked up the price a bit just because of the name.

Thanks, SirFuego. I hadn't noticed that. I had been busy comparing Compass and Patriot specifications. The size of the car is a factor in my decision, so that is definitely helpful.

The dimensions of the Caliber can be located at Dodge.com. The dimensions of the Compass and Patriot can be located at the following website:
http://jeepin.com/news/patriotcompass/index.asp

The heights of the cars
Caliber - 60.4"
Compass - 63.3"
Patriot - 65.6"

Oops! I goofed. The heights I listed for the Compass and Patriot are the Concept Preliminary Specifications.

The height of the production Compass is 64.2" (can be found at Jeep.com).

cfarina,

there's an awful lot of links on jeep's official websites if it is not going to be produced:

http://www.jeep.com/autoshow/archives.html#

http://www.daimlerchryslerefamily.ca/en/#

http://www.daimlerchryslerefamily.ca/en/dcxfamily.php?id=Patriot

The fact that the Patriot is all over their web sites, is encouraging. Let's hope we see it in the show rooms, come this fall. Also, has any one seen pictures of the interior. I curious to know if there is ample storage behind the back seat for a couple of files and the usual products that I carry around for sales.

cfarina, Here are the dimensions, taken from what I've seen online.

Car: Length/Width/Height/Wheel Base
Patriot: 173.7 / 69.1 / 65.6 / 103.7 in
Cherokee: 167.5 / 69.4 / 66.8 / 101.4 in
CRV: 181.0 / 70.2 / 66.2 / 103.3 in

The CRV specs are for the 2006 model, older models like the 2002 have a length of 178.6. I put the CRV here since I saw that you drive one.

So you can see that the Patriot is a little shorter than the Cherokee, but still a bit longer. The height difference MIGHT be due to ground clearance, too.

I used to drive a 1992 Cherokee and never had any problems with storage space. The only qualm I had (same with the 93 Grand Cherokee I drive now) was that the spare tire was mounted on the inside of the trunk, so that took up some space, but I could still easily 4 sets of golf clubs in the trunk. The new Grand Cherokees now have the spare tire under the trunk, so it's not taking up any room now. Hopefully the Patriot will be the same way.

Granted the interior dimensions could be totally different, but figured that the exterior might give some idea...

"So you can see that the Patriot is a little shorter than the Cherokee, but still a bit longer. The height difference MIGHT be due to ground clearance, too."

Should read:

"So you can see that the Cherokee is a little shorter than the Patriot, but still a little taller. The height difference MIGHT be due to ground clearance, too."

"So you can see that the Patriot is a little shorter than the Cherokee, but still a bit longer. The height difference MIGHT be due to ground clearance, too."

Should read:

"So you can see that the Cherokee is a little shorter than the Patriot, but still a little taller. The height difference MIGHT be due to ground clearance, too."

The Cherokee has 7.9" ground clearance and the Patriot is supposed to have +9".

The Patriot's nose is a bit longer, decreasing the aproach angle. The breakover and departure angles are better in the Patriot!