Been looking at a compact SUV to replace my aging Caravan for a while now, and have been impressed by both the Compass and the Patriot. With my lifestyle, I want a capable road vehicle, that should be able to handle some poor country backroads (seasonal, poorly maintained, but not quite offroading), and that gets good gas milage! I want an AMERICAN vehicle, but don't like Ford (maker of the only viable American competition - the Escape). When I found the Patriot a few months ago - I thought "My God, it's exactly what I want!"