Edmunds.com did a pretty good preview article of the Jeep Patriot. I liked their summation of the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package.

Here's the link (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/FVDP/Preview/styleId=100654316)

Edmunds.com did a pretty good preview article of the Jeep Patriot. I liked their summation of the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package.

Here's the link (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/FVDP/Preview/styleId=100654316)

I honestly don't think many people (reviewers, journalists, etc.) get the Patriot. First, I think they often confuse it with the Compass...saying that it isn't an off-road vehicle. Second, I don't think they understand why it is in the market....they just don't get it.

The market placement is simple....it is the perfect vehicle for people who want something in between a Jeep Wrangler and a Nissan Murango.....it is great on the road, and capable off the road....simple.

Their article contains one piece of GLARING inaccurate information, which is passed on as fact to an uninformed public. The Edmund.com editor should take this reporter to task. Can one say Journalism 101?

The article states: ".... Unlike every other Jeep before it, the Patriot isn't a hard-core off road machine." This reporter obviously did not do ANY research before writing this article. One can say Jeepster. How about a 2WD truck, or 2WD Jeep Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Commanders, or--gasp--a 2007 2WD Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?

Honestly, I'm hoping that the Patriot can be turned into a pretty decent off-road machine with a little modification. I don't see why an AWD system can't perform well off-road. Obviously it isn't as hardcore as something with diff-lockers, but what the hell?

I think as soon as they saw that it was car-based they said it can't possibly be equipt to do any real off-roading. There are several people, loyal to Jeep, who are a little miffed about the concept too.

I don't think it will ever be built into a boulder crawler or mud pit runner... but there are a lot of other off-roading activities which it will be very capable of handling.

When the XJ came out it wasn't considered a real "Jeep" either.

The three things most off-roaders notice about the Patriot:
1) 2.5L 4 banger -- maybe the torque and lower curb weight of the Patriot will be able to cancel out the smaller engine problem, but many off-roaders are thinking its underpowered

2) No transfer case

3) Independent front suspension (IFS)-- not having a solid front axle is a big turn off for off roaders. Although there was an article in 4 wheeler magazine that said that an IFS works for lower end off-roading, but is not suitable for hard core. This is the main criticism of the Liberty (besides it's looks) and the 2005 and later Grand Cherokees.

I think it is going to fit in perfectly for those of us in the midwest. Winters can be pretty extreme from a foot of snow to slush and ice. Also, I think it is going to be a fine vehicle for hunters who don't go to the depth of the woods. It'll be fine down narrow muddy paths. As for serious off roading, we'll have to wait and see if it surprises us.

172 hp is only 18 ponies shy of my 98 XJ. What is the Wrangler 4 banger rated hp and torgue-wise. It's probably not much--if any--better, is it?

I believe, the Patriot will weigh a little more than the XJ.

I don't think anyone is thinking of the Patriot for serious offroading. I know I am not, thats why I have my TJ. But, for a daily driver that can handle winter conditions, gets better milage and still carries the Jeep name, that ain't bad. I am anxious to test drive one and decide on its power for myself.

When the XJ came out it had either a 2.5L 4 with 132 ft. lbs. of torque or a 2.8L v6 with a whopping 150 ft. lbs of torque. They were not considered true offroad vehicles because they had unibody. Quality control sucked with trim falling off within a few months of the sale.

I don't think that I would take a Patriot rock climbing but I suspect that within 5 years Jeep and aftermarket producers will have it going everywhere that a Cherokee would go except over boulders. That may take another 2 years!

I am still impressed with the basic design of the Cherokee. In 1984 it was light years ahead of everybody else. In 2001 it was still competitive but had to make way for the second vehicle designed to replace it.

The Patriot cannot be as revolutionary as the Cherokee was but it has the potential of moving the entire SUV market with a very capable offroader based on a car platform.

Let me add a few more points:
Prior to the Cherokee you owned a car and had a 4x4 for when you needed it. You could not drive "SUV"s because they did not exist. The 4x4s were too rough riding, too unreliable, and too inefficient to drive daily. A Cherokee could.

The Patriot may be the first car based SUV which can go everywhere a Jeep can go. An Escape cannot. A RAV4 cannot, a CRV cannot. In this market it is not what the Patriot does not have but what it doesn't do.