OK, I've been promising this for a while...so here goes. All are done to wheelbase specs and height.

Here's the first, more to come this evening...

Jeep Patriot vs. Jeep Cherokee (XJ)

Much closer in size then I originally anticipated. The Patriot is noticeable "chunkier". They are similar in length, though the Patriot has a 2 inch longer wheelbase.

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/images/comparo/patriot_cherokee.jpg

Patriot vs Liberty (KJ) Size Comparo

This one surprised me a bit. The Liberty has a distinct height advantage (about 5 inches!) but not so much in length or wheelbase. I'm going to say the next gen Liberty will be closer in size to its platform mate, the Dodge Nitro in order to make room for the Patriot.

Edit: Note that the "hump" on the Liberty is in fact the roof rack. The actual roof height is in front of the "hump"

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/images/comparo/patriot_liberty.jpg

Patriot vs. Grand Cherokee (WK) Size Comparison

As expected, the Grand Cherokee dwarfs the Patriot in just about every dimension. Sitting higher, longer and with a cowl that sits a good few inches above the Patriot's...drivers of both should expect two VERY different vehicles. Cargo room is also a premium.

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/images/comparo/patriot_WK.jpg

Great work! It appears that the Patriot has alot more passenger room than the Cherokee due to the positioning of the engine. Give it one inch lift (FreedomII?) and the height and ground clearance will match up exactly.

Great Job! That looks great. I have been wondering how they stacked up next to each other.

One thing I noticed first off on all was the ground clearance and the angles (approach, break-over, and departure). Than the overall comparisons.

I think this one has some good potential off road. With the extra inch from the Freedom II package, it will have better angles over those of the Liberty, too.

The engine compartment is considerable smaller than that of the Cherokee... means more interior space. If you slide the interior volumes so the top of the windshields line up.. it looks like it will have nearly the same interior space of the Grand Cherokee.

Nice work!!! Any chance of a comparison to a Subaru Forrester or any other vehichle the Patriot is in direct competition with?

Hi everybody!

New to the board, but had to comment about how excited I am to see the Patriot come in so close in size to the old XJ. I miss the original Cherokees greatly and I really hope the Pat can live up to its Jeep heritage.

Considering it's based off the Caliber, anyone have any ideas if/how a mild lift can be accomplished for the Patriot? With FDII, that should really be all it needs unless you're into the hard-core stuff.

Hi everybody!

New to the board, but had to comment about how excited I am to see the Patriot come in so close in size to the old XJ. I miss the original Cherokees greatly and I really hope the Pat can live up to its Jeep heritage.

Considering it's based off the Caliber, anyone have any ideas if/how a mild lift can be accomplished for the Patriot? With FDII, that should really be all it needs unless you're into the hard-core stuff.

I would imagine the lift would be similar to how lifts were done with the KJ (withexception to the IRS). I installed a 2.5" Daystar lift in my old KJ. Involved removing the struts and adding spacers for the IFS and pucks in the rear (which was a SRA).

I'd imagine that a lift on a Patriot might be a little more involved than a Liberty, but similar. One should note that it took several years before off road lift kit manufacturers got their products out for the Liberty, so it might be awhile before the Patriot gets taller. The KJ is limited to 2.5" of lift due to the design of the suspension - past 2.5" and everything on the front end doesn't work.

Unless you're going to be replacing every suspension component, lifts usually just put unneeded stress on independent suspensions because they're getting smacked around at angles they weren't designed for. Still, if the FDII is lifting it one inch, it's possible that a "budget boost" might fit the Patriot - that is, poly coil spacers that lift up the coil springs front and rear. If that's all it takes, then you might be able to get one or two more inches. I'm not sure we'll be stuffing much larger tires than stock under the fenders, though. Just my two cents.

In terms of larger tires, can someone help me out with what exactly is being referred too. I read 17.5" wheels, 16' wheels...then 31.5" tires.....what the hell is what? Also, why wouldn't larger tires fit on the Patriot? Is it because there isn't enough room for them, ie they'll be rubbing against the car body? Also, is there are difference in tire thickness, and what is more desirable for off-roading?

Wheels are the rims. The inside diameter of the tire, in other words. The rim may be 16". When you hear tire size, that's the outsize diameter of the tires. Although, the actual measurement of the tire size tends to be different from tire manufacturer to tire manufacturer. The width of the tire is usually included in the tire's size.

Yes, the problem would be that there may not be enough room under the fenders to fit the tires - too big and they'll rub when the wheels are turned and possibly against rub against the fender flare and inside fender well if the suspension is flexed. Rubbing tires are not a pleasant experience.

...Also, is there are difference in tire thickness, and what is more desirable for off-roading?

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7812/tiresizenf6.jpg

O.D. = Outer Diameter. When someone refers to runnning 33's this is what they mean. They have tires that are 33"s in diameter.

Z = Rim Diameter. When they say they are running 22's, more than likely they mean the rims are 22"s in diameter.

X = Tire Width

Y = Tire Section Height.

http://img348.imageshack.us/img348/882/tireidzv9.jpg

http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/1619/84416632423440ja3.jpg

What works best for off-roading depends on the type of off-roading you plan on doing. In general, I believe taller and wider is the way to go. This is wher your vehicle will set the limits. You can only go so wide before you will rub on thwne the wheel is turned and/or when the shocks are under compression. You can only go so tall before you will rub for under the same conditions.

When off-roading on any hard surface or where you need to air the tire down, having a bigger tire section height (Y) gives you more room for bounce when under lower pressure without damaging your rims. See how in the image above the 70 series tire with the same OD as a 40 series tire would have more cushion between the tread and the rim - which means you would need a smaller rim. The breaks and lines will limit how small you can go with your rims. I wouldn't go any smaller than stock rim size.

Wider tires eat horsepower to turn. Narrow tires tend to dig in more on soft surfaces like mud and snow, where wider tires 'float' over the surface. So it is a balancing act between your 4x4s clearances, engine, and the type of wheeling you want to do.

Here's a good example of why you probably don't want to run with a 40 series set of wheels...

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6659/compdetxf6.jpg

Go with at least a 60 series if not 70 series tires.

pdxbubba and xjmatt,

Thanks guys. I love learning about this stuff, and its a hell of a lot better to ask questions and receive answers than trying to get your answers out of magazines.

Thanks again.

Here are two very similar shots to put things in more perspective. When you look at the two, it becomes so apparent how unnecessary the additional overhang is on the Patriot.

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2007/Jeep/100654316/20033906-E.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/generations/cherokee/01.jeep.cherokeelimited.500.jpg

U mean the overhang of the front bumper? Just chop off the bottom of it like I did to my ZJ :-)

Does it look okay? Obviously it isn't going to match up with the rest of the vehicle...but does it look ragged? How did you do it? How much did it cost?

See the pics here:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sirfuego/album?.dir=3fa0re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

It cost me nothing but time to do. Just took out a hacksaw and started to cut. The only tough thing was getting the sides of it straight. You can see some plastic burrs, but I don't have a sander, so I'll fix that later. Honestly, if I didn't tell you that I cut off the bottom, you probably wouldn't have noticed :-)

You're right....it looks pretty nice that way. I was worried that if you trim the front bumper, it would look silly against the low hanging side doors on the Patriot....but if it looks similar to the way your cherokee turned out it would be well worth it.

What about a drawing for the Compass and Patriot?

How will the patriot compare to the ford escape? I read somewhere they will be similar size but the patriot looks a little shorter and narrower

Patriot:
Height - 64.4
Width - 69.1
Length - 173.6
Clearance - 9
Approach/Ramp/Departure - 29/23/33

Escape:
Height - 69.1 w/roof rack
Width - 70.1
Length - 174.9
Clearance - 8.2
Approach/Ramp/Departure - 20.8/20.8/28.1

Hi-

I just sat in a Compass.

How does everyone expect the interior "feeling" of the Patriot to compare to that of the Compass? Will the Patriot feel higher up? Will it have better visibility?

Having seen the Compass up close, I'm not a big fan. I see why some people would like it...but it's not for me.

And of course, any news on the Patriot release date!?! :)

Thanks.

The interiors are pretty much the same. They have the same driver 'chair height' (hip to heel vertical measurement) which is about 1" higher than the Caliber (platform sibling) and I believe the interior trim is much the same. Hip room, shoulder room, leg room are all essentially the same.

I do kinda figure the Patriot will be about the same inside as the Compass, and also similar in size to a Subaru Forrester, but with better exterior looks and a bit better offroad capability.

At least when the Patriot shows up at my local dealer I can compare to the Subaru's, as their lot is right across the street.

How will the patriot compare to the ford escape? I read somewhere they will be similar size but the patriot looks a little shorter and narrower

Patriot rollover rating - 4 stars
Escape rollover rating - 3 stars

Has anybody spotted a picture of the patriot in the marine blue... I've been wondering what it looks like in real life.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/reviews/jeep/patriot_2007/first_drive/display.asp?photo=offroad3.jpg

Wow! The patriot is really not that much smaller than my current KJ. Sure it's shorter, but what I find interesting is the lower body apears to sit at the same height.

DMAG, any chance of a getting a comparison with the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited? Thanks.

I do kinda figure the Patriot will be about the same inside as the Compass, and also similar in size to a Subaru Forrester, but with better exterior looks and a bit better offroad capability.

I parked our 1998 Forester next to a Patriot Limited on the dealer's lot today.
The Patriot is about 3/4 inch longer and at least two inches taller with at least an inch more ground clearance
Wheelbase is very close to the same, Patriot's wheels are bigger.
Passenger room is a lot better on the Patriot, front and back, every dimension hips, shoulders, leg, head.
Entry is easier on the Patriot, Forester has taller greenhouse and much better visibility, especially to the rear.
Rear cargo room is better in the Forester, rear compartment is substantially longer and lower than in the Patriot.
You feel like you are sitting about a foot higher up in the Patriot, the windshield glass, while very vertical in both, is a lot farther away from the driver in the Patriot.
Patriot is much more substantial looking. Forester looks like a toy car next to it. Forester has better roof rails, full length with flat cargo bars. Interior fit, finish, and materials are better on the Forester. Patriot is less expensive and looks it inside, but not outside.

We drove the forester for 8 years, we drove the Jeep one day. It is already obvious the jeep will be vastly superior to the subaru offroad.

Does anyone know if a rear facing infant car seat will fit in the back seat with enough room for a person to sit in the front passenger seat?

Does anyone know if a rear facing infant car seat will fit in the back seat with enough room for a person to sit in the front passenger seat?

What type of rear facing seat? A carrier or a convertable? My son is no longer rear facing but I can turn around his seat and take a picture. I also have our old carrier if thats what you want to see. There is quite a bit of room so I would think you would be fine. As of right now I have my sons britax front facing in the middle, and my daughters booster next to him. I have rode in the back with the kids and have plenty of room for myself. Here is a picture with the kids seats in the patriot. Our Britax takes up alot of room you can kinda picture it turned around as far as the size of it. We used this carseat with him since he was 4 months old.



Well it wouldnt upload the picture, if anyone would like to see, you can e mail me at KayleesMommy03@aol.com

Also the Commander vs. Patriot.

How will the patriot compare to the ford escape? I read somewhere they will be similar size but the patriot looks a little shorter and narrower

http://driving.canada.com/research/compare/compare.spy?cls=sportutil&rid=&id1=1072902806&id2=1072902906&id3=1081801302

http://driving.canada.com/research/compare/compare.spy?cls=sportutil&rid=&id1=1072902806&id2=1072300303&id3=1076101903

Click Both links and compare – pay attention to the $ difference!!!
(Canadian Pricing)

:smiley_thumbs_up:

Patriot next to Forester
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5884/adsc00185kr9.jpg

more pics here:
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1969

Great pictures!. The Patriot looked a lot bigger in the first shot but only a little bigger in the rest of them.

Below is a shot of the Jeep Patriot compared against me (inside)....

http://www.planet.eon.net/~homac/me.jpg

How come yer not wearin' yer seatbelt?

Patriot next to Forester
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5884/adsc00185kr9.jpg

more pics here:
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1969

That is awesome! Thanks.

Love the comparison with the Cherokee. I had one and was so disappointed when they were discontinued. Didn't want another car until the Pat came out. Still like the Cherokee, but Pat is a very close second!

not to hijack, but after seeing the much improved 08 Libby, I would consider that as well. Nice rig, and probably closer to the old Cherokee than the Pat.

BigDuke6: The 08 Libby certainly will be a closer fit to the old Cherokee with respect to power - both are 6 cylinders.

Both have their place. I think that the Cherokee fits somewhere just between the two.

Unless I can figure out how to affordably get a v6 turbo diesel engine to fit into a used commander, we will be looking more closely at the Libby.

nice pics!

those pics of the patriot with the forester make the patriot look AMAZING :)

just for the hell of it -- my 1gen neon next to the patriot.. lol (high-res)
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/979/p1010145un8.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010145un8.jpg)

Thanks for the info, very informative!

Great post. Especially for those of us stillinsecure about size.

This weekend I noticed a Patriot parked next to a Scion xB in the parking lot of a grocery store. I was really surpised to see that the two vehicles appeared to be the same height; separately, the xB seems so much more diminutive than the Patriot. I snapped a pic with my phone...

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/rotten_bob/pat_xb.jpg

This weekend I noticed a Patriot parked next to a Scion xB in the parking lot of a grocery store. I was really surpised to see that the two vehicles appeared to be the same height; separately, the xB seems so much more diminutive than the Patriot. I snapped a pic with my phone...

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/rotten_bob/pat_xb.jpg

That is unreal, I'd have though that was Photo Shopped. The xB actually looks a fraction taller. Was that a 2 wheel drive Patriot ?

...The xB actually looks a fraction taller...

I think that is just a result of my vantage point when I snapped the pic. I noticed when I was standing off to the side of the xB that the Patriot looked a smidge taller (and vice versa), but when I stood exactly between them they appeared the same height.

...Was that a 2 wheel drive Patriot ?

Nope. It had the "4x4" badge on the back.

Dimensions in blurred format :doh:

1345

I purchased my '08 Patriot when the transmission died in my '02 Liberty (!?). People thought the Patriot was larger than the Liberty and I finally looked up the information - the Liberty (earlier years, I suppose) is 0.5" longer, 0.25" wider and 5" taller.

Also the 2009 Forester is going to be larger than previous ones.

Thought you might think this was a cool shot of the two:

http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii210/jeepwoman/My%20new%202008%20Patriot/?action=view&current=P1030953.jpg

Also, here are 3 Jeeps that just happened to be parked in a few spaces apart:

http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii210/jeepwoman/My%20new%202008%20Patriot/?action=view&current=P1030954.jpg

Cool, huh?:)

Great pictures! Thanks.

Those pics nice, you couldn't have planned a better shot much less luck up on it like that.

Thought you might think this was a cool shot of the two:


Cool, huh?:)

Thanks:):D

Since this is the size comparo thread... how about vertical? Just wanted to do a quick hijack and compare goebel1's pat before and after his lift kit install.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb247/brndnlee2074/Goebel1sidebyside.jpg

Do you have and outline of the Jeepster Commando and the Jeep Commando? That would also be an interesting comparison. The Jeepster commando, 1966 to 1971 had a 101 inch wheel base. The Jeep Commando 1972 and 73 had a 103" wheel base. AMC switched from the V6 to their I6 which required the extra 2 inches of space under the hood.


Todd

i would like to see that outline comparison with the new liberty...

The pats got some "unofficial" lift kits out already!!! Woohoo!

Since every auto rag compares the Jeep with the Rav4 and CR-V I would like to see a pic of all three lined up

Patriot next to X3 and Tiguan.

http://www.autobild.de/ir_img/52211188_553d18fd1e.jpg

Here are two very similar shots to put things in more perspective. When you look at the two, it becomes so apparent how unnecessary the additional overhang is on the Patriot.

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2007/Jeep/100654316/20033906-E.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/generations/cherokee/01.jeep.cherokeelimited.500.jpg

Of these 2 the old Cherokee looks like a cleaner design. A little lighter on it's feet. I like the bigger windows and the longer overhang behind the rear wheels. The Patriot being so near the ground with those massive bumpers gives it a real bulky wallowing look.

Round headlights are sexier though...

It looks to me that the major difference is the Patriot axles are tucked up into the body a little farther. This reduces the ground clearance all around, making it appear that the Patriot has bigger overhangs. Granted, the front bumper sticks out farther, but the angle of the front fascia would not effect approach angle as much as if it were a boxy bumper.

EDIT: And of course, round headlights FTW.

Man, when the Wrangler came out to "replace" the CJ with those square headlights, there was an uproar! Round headlights really do say Jeep.

Patriot and 1960 Willys Wagon
1850
Patriot and 1967 Jeepster
1851
Patriot and 1982 J-10 Pickup
1852

jepster, cool pics! I have a 60 Wagon as well, but no Patriot yet. Is it yours, and do you have any more pics of it? I would love more info. Your Jeepster is cool too!

Last night I had to make a quick trip to the grocery store in my Patriot, and when I came outside a Ford Excursion was parked in the space next to me. From the angle at which we were parked you could see about half the Patriot sticking out from behind the Excursion; it looked like the Patriot was a dinghy being towed behind a huge yacht! I just did a quick search, and the Excursion is 226.7" long versus the Patriot @ 173.6 - over 53" difference! Height for the Patriot is listed at 64.4" versus @ 80.4" for the Excursion 4X4, so 16" taller too. Funny to me when driving the Patriot I don't feel like I'm in a small vehicle at all (until I try to parallel park and get out and there's room for another car behind me); I don't think the Patriot is small so much as these other SUVs are simply huge.

The space inside the Patriot is deceivingly very deep/high. You are very much seated upright inside the car with much more legroom/ headroom compared to the old style Small SUVs like that Cherokee . When I went back into my s-10 blazer and I noticed the difference right away.

The other day I dropped something while driving and I could not reach down to grab it.. the floor being so very far away while seated I could not reach it..

I use to clean my old truck with a brush (no time for vacuum).. brushing out everything over the side.. no longer possible in the Patriot as the floors seems very deep over the entry lip. Not a big deal but just to highlight the distinction..

This changes the exterior look, but it's just kinda nice to have that much vertical space inside.

Hi you all, i am from Holland and making my mind up to buy A Patriot CRD Diesel, i go for the looks of the Patriot, but what is a Libby? Are there pics of a Libby....?

Hi you all, i am from Holland and making my mind up to buy A Patriot CRD Diesel, i go for the looks of the Patriot, but what is a Libby? Are there pics of a Libby....?

Welcome onboard!

Libby is the nickname of Liberty which is named Cherokee outside the US.

my patriot and my father's patrol gr, 7 seats... i feel so litle when i park near that nissan....:icon_rolleyes:

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7371/07062008001ff5.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=07062008001ff5.jpg)

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/9615/07062008wf2.th.jpg (http://img387.imageshack.us/my.php?image=07062008wf2.jpg)

:wow:

the nissan patrol gr exists in the US ?
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4052/dsc00817te7.th.jpg (http://img387.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00817te7.jpg)
Length: 5145 mm - 16'11"
Width: 1940 mm - 6'4" - exc. mirrors
Height: 1855 mm - 6'1"

jepster, cool pics! I have a 60 Wagon as well, but no Patriot yet. Is it yours, and do you have any more pics of it? I would love more info. Your Jeepster is cool too!
I missed your response earlier. I have many photos. Of the Willys Wagon, what are you looking for?

A few comparison pics of the Cherokee and Patriot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture095.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture097.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture091.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture086.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture081.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture076.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture078.jpg
Just a quick one underneath from beside the Cherokee
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture077.jpg

ditto unclejjg, had a ton of questions. This is a great site. Most if not all are being answered. I'm starting modifications this week on my 08 Black Sport 4x2. This site as really given me some great ideas.

Here's a pic of a Pat and one of our Mercedes 4x4

Here's a pic of a Pat and one of our Mercedes 4x4

Love the color of that pat man...
And I should say that your 4x4 Mercedes looks tough... :smiley_thumbs_up:

Thought of this discussion today and took a pic for the thread
2398

My '08 Escape next to wife's '07 Pat.3305
Pat vs. Escape: LOA 173.7 - 174.1", W/B 103.7 - 103.1", Track 59.8 - 61.1", Ht. 64.4 - 70", Width 69.1 - 71.1".
G/C 8 - 8.5", Cargo 23 - 29.2 cu/ft., Wt. 3108 - 3400 lbs.
Escape has more width inside and leg room all around, don't know how they do that.

My '08 Escape next to wife's '07 Pat.
I don't have the dimensions, but the Pat is at least 5-6 inches longer.
Escape has more width inside and leg room all around, don't know how they do that.

Since I like small SUVs, I liked those pictures and I think the Escape looks really good. Wish it was available here in Europe.

Euro..., Ford did a real decent job of re-skinning the Escape. Surprising they aren't offered in Europe. I find it a fine replacement for my Grand Cherokee. The 28-30 MPG on the highway is the key reason, but the interior space is right up there with Grand as well, and at 6'2"+ I need the room.
Had my folks , my wife and the sheltie out in the Jeep yesterday with plenty of room for all. Dad is 6', Bear is 30 lbs. and the girls are 5'3" and 5'5". Stopped to get two 18" pizzas and a couple of bottles of wine.....NO PROBLEM!!!
Gotta luv the power of 2.4L matched up with the CVT.....and the H&N.

Does anyone know if a rear facing infant car seat will fit in the back seat with enough room for a person to sit in the front passenger seat?

I have no problem with mine (rear facing carrier cabrio-fix)
my wife has plenty of room in the front

Interesting comparisons. The XJ shared its wheelbase with the Series 30 AMC Eagles (the Eagle was the XJ's testbed, but that is another story) so the WB of the Cherokee is about 3" more than the Patriot. But as mentioned, the interior room, except for cargo area behind the seat appears to be more spacious than the XJ. I feel cramped in my XJ at 6' 2" but find ample room in the front seat and ever rear seat of my new Patriot. IMO the Patriot now seems more akin to the XJ than the Liberty does.

nice thing to compare! mine is just enough for my family. . . Don't need to size it up!

I think if you were to lift a Patriot up a few inches from stock it would be wonderful. That is honestly the only thing which stops me from turning into some areas when I am off-road because I don't want to flatten out the surface with the bottom of the vehicle.

Indeed, in the photos, compared with the cheroke seem that it needs to lift it a couple of inches. But I would think a lot before proceeding to something like that. I wouldn't risk loosing the stability of the car...

I mentioned this before, and you can really tell in the one picture with both head on, that the Cherokee does have higher ground clearance, but that the pat is completely flat on the underbelly and has nothing hanging down as opposed to the Cherokee. In reality I don't see the useable ground clearance being as significant as at first glance.

I will trade that inch (compared to my FDII) for the ton more room inside the pat. In the back seat of the Cherokee I eat my knees while my head is pressed against the ceiling, hit a bump and break my neck.

I mentioned this before, and you can really tell in the one picture with both head on, that the Cherokee does have higher ground clearance, but that the pat is completely flat on the underbelly and has nothing hanging down as opposed to the Cherokee. In reality I don't see the useable ground clearance being as significant as at first glance.

I will trade that inch (compared to my FDII) for the ton more room inside the pat. In the back seat of the Cherokee I eat my knees while my head is pressed against the ceiling, hit a bump and break my neck.

A buddy of mine picked me up in his 2001 Cherokee, and I had to sit in the back on the way to the bar, and man, I'd forgotten how small it was! I told him he might have more ground clearance, but the Patriot is a better road trip car.

I agree, the Patriot is a much better ride the the veteran Cherokee. My buddy owns a 99 or 2000. The ride wasn't that great and looking over the hood made you feel like your leaning over. Feels weird. Im happy with the way my Pat rides.

Just a picture I found on internet...

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/deres/Jeep%20Patriot/2812584377_e88a06435c_b.jpg

Wow...those comparisons where great. I could really get a feel for the difference or lack of between all of the Jeeps. Thank you!!!

Think they are going to do some off-roading in that stretched Hummer? :-)

Think of how much of an emergency kit you could carry though. Hell, instead of carrying a sparetire in case of a flat, you could just carry a TJ in the back. :-)

They are called Jeep trails for a reason. I haven't seen a single Hummer on a trail yet.

This was parked out front this morning. It had 235/55/18s for what it is worth. They go for $24,950 these days in a AWD configuration. This looks bloated to me.4048

We have a 99 Cherokee Classic , 06 Liberty Sport, and 09 Patriot sport all in the driveway. It is amazing how the exterior dimensions are all so close, but interior spacing is so different.

The Patriot is also good at looking a lot smaller than it really is.

Biggest difference between the Patriot and the Liberty and Cherokee is the body height. Step back and look for the axles. You can't see them under the patriot unless you stoop down but and easily see them under the Cherokee and Liberty. That's where the Patriot "gains" its interior space while remaining more compact. Smart move on Jeep's part.

Here are two very similar shots to put things in more perspective. When you look at the two, it becomes so apparent how unnecessary the additional overhang is on the Patriot.

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2007/Jeep/100654316/20033906-E.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/generations/cherokee/01.jeep.cherokeelimited.500.jpg


Just like HOME...I'm a former Cherokee owner...and just got my Patriot
when I had my 2 door Cherokee my son was in a car seat talk about a major pain now my son is 15 and almost 6' tall and has no problems riding in the back seat of the Patriot.

Man, this is one popular post. Over 45,000 hits!

Just like HOME...I'm a former Cherokee owner...and just got my Patriot
when I had my 2 door Cherokee my son was in a car seat talk about a major pain now my son is 15 and almost 6' tall and has no problems riding in the back seat of the Patriot.

My PAT really gave me the riding comfort that I've been looking for...
Never own a Cherokee yet but I'm pretty satisfied with my PAT so far...

My PAT really gave me the riding comfort that I've been looking for...
Never own a Cherokee yet but I'm pretty satisfied with my PAT so far...

he he - I should get that one; a real cherokee and our Patriot. I happen to have both handy; but only have gone offroad in the Patriot so far, as the Cherokee still needs it's carb rebuilt.. maybe comparison pics tomorrow if the BF is up for it (his patriot, my Cherokee)

For now, my SJ Cherokee, Levi Laredo Smith (Levi for short) :D; click for bigger. (this is his bad side btw)
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3535/threequarter.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=threequarter.jpg)

And the Patriot, CheepJeep; again, click for bigger :D
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3425/p1014112.th.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1014112.jpg)

here's a shocker. They're actually about the same size. The SJ Cherokee just has a different sitting position, so it has higher ground clearance, just like the XJ Cherokee. You're in more of a "captains seat" in a Patriot; whereas in the Cherokees you're in a "car" seat; which is probably why the lil Patriot looks so fat. lol

Cell phone pic:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/8654/comparisonn.jpg

Pics as Promised Land Rover Discovery 3 TD with Pat Sport Diesel:smiley_thumbs_up:

here's a thread on langsta's size comparisons. (clic on the pic)

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=193&pictureid=1214 (http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21394)

Traded my XJ for a Patriot and I love the Patriot for what it is. No offense, but it's not a hardcore wheeler and it will never hit the tough stuff. The difference is more than skin deep. 4.0L I-6, real transfer case and solid axles is what distinguishes the Cherokee from the Liberty and Patriot. Let's enjoy our Jeeps, have fun, and keep reality in perspective.

I too traded a 97 (2wd) Cherokee w/238,000 miles for a Patriot - I miss the balls of the 4.0 but I never needed to do more than mild offroad stuff with the Cherokee, and I'm certain the 2wd Patriot could handle the same stuff. I think a supercharger would be great for this 2.4L engine to get it closer to the pull the Cherokee had, maybe someone will come out with one. The ride is much quieter and tighter, plus the A/C works ;)

An issue for me is that cargo space is a bit less, it looks like I may need to remove the back seats of the Patriot from time to time to get all my stuff in. Anybody tried this?

My first Jeep was a 1988 Wrangler which I lifted 4" and put 33" tires on plus a rear locker. I did plenty of tough trails in that thing and I definitely miss it from time to time but commuting in it or driving for more than 5 minutes on the highway was pure hell. The new Wranglers are better but pricey and still not good on gas....

I still loved my 2000 Cherokee better than my 09 Patriot...the body design seems cleaner and I like that it wasnt so low to the ground, also I found the visibility on my Cherokee alot better than the Patriot....larger windows and the back seat didnt have the headrest. I wish theyd bring back the Cherokee! But...my Patriot is slowly growing on me. :)


A few comparison pics of the Cherokee and Patriot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture095.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture097.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture091.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture086.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture081.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture076.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture078.jpg
Just a quick one underneath from beside the Cherokee
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/stewpi/Picture077.jpg

Nice comparison, but just for the record the patriot is an FDI, so the ground clearnace is closer with the FDII, but still very similar.

Once again, if you have the height adjustable seat, then visibility is hands down better in the patriot in my opinion. If you don't have the height adjustable seat then I can see your point some.

Traded my XJ for a Patriot and I love the Patriot for what it is. No offense, but it's not a hardcore wheeler and it will never hit the tough stuff. The difference is more than skin deep. 4.0L I-6, real transfer case and solid axles is what distinguishes the Cherokee from the Liberty and Patriot. Let's enjoy our Jeeps, have fun, and keep reality in perspective.

Do you have the FDI, or FDII? Your point still holds, but the FDII can handle some, "tough stuff."

I think one thing muckingup comparisons between the Cherokee and the Patriot is only a smaller percentage of pats are trail rated, and if you are comparing a cherokee's off road abiity to the Patriot's, then it only fair to compare the trai-rated/off-road version.

I like the FDI, but those that don't have an FDII, don't have a good idea when it comes to a comparison with the Cherokee. The FDI is not the FDII, and there are significant differences off-road.

There are pluses and minuses to both, the independent suspension on the patriot gives it a better ride, both on and off road, the solid axles are an across the board plus by any means, IMO opinion it gives it more agility off-road. The the low "gear," on the FDII is very adequate. Okay you have more power in the cherokee and more torque, undeniable. The FDII does have BLD, and lots of other electronic toys that are effective and get the job done very well. The patriot is way safer when it comes to breaking your neck than the cherokee. There is absolutely no head room in the cherokee and I have on more than one occassion hit my head on the roof in the cherokee especially when riding in the back seat.

What I am most envious about with the cherokee, is the bumpers, it has small, practical bumpers, instead of the big bulbous plastic ones we get with the patriot.

i sold my 89 Cherokee and got my 10 Patriot. I do miss the power and more cargo room but i do like the gas milage and more safety features, like side air bags, better antilock brakes etc. but one thing i cant do that i used to do in the Cherokee is bust through some big snow piles and not worry if i was going to mess up the front bumper sense is was steel. Ill have to get out and dig some with this new one. I dont want to bust up all the plastic on the front end. Later i might add the off road bumpers and install a lift kit. All and all the Patiot is doing fine.

My comparison pics:
Patriot, Ford Focus SW (Estate)
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1869/raffrontofocuspatriot.jpg

Caliber, Patriot, Wrangler, Liberty
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/4198/calaptrenlib.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8935/calpatren.jpg

PtCruiser, Journey, Patriot, Wrangler
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/6730/patjouren.jpg

Nitro, Patriot, Liberty, Wrangler
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8807/renlibpatnit.jpg

PAT Vs Toyota RAV4 5d
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6176&stc=1&d=1267779414
PAT Vs VW Tiguan
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6177&stc=1&d=1267779482
PAT Vs Suzuki Grand Vitara 5d
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6178&stc=1&d=1267779497

a very educational thread..really enjoying it..

the ride feels much bigger than dimensions..when driving
her it feels like a truck..then see it next to a full size and
then i realize it needs a lift..:confused:

I still loved my 2000 Cherokee better than my 09 Patriot...the body design seems cleaner and I like that it wasnt so low to the ground, also I found the visibility on my Cherokee alot better than the Patriot....larger windows and the back seat didnt have the headrest. I wish theyd bring back the Cherokee! But...my Patriot is slowly growing on me. :)

can you photoshop those Cherokee wheels on to the Patriot?..or does
anyone have them on their Patriots?

i like that its low to the ground. i do alot of curvy mtn driving and the speed limit is still 55 so i like that it corners well, like a car would but still has 4x4 for the snow and a lil more clearance than a subaru or an audi awd. i couldnt fully commit to buying a car so this fit me perfect i think. if i wanted a tougher bigger higher suv i would have bought something different. the pat suits my needs perfect!

I was about to purchase a 2010 Ford Transit Connect van then switched to the Patriot Sport 4x4. I saw a post somewhere in this forum of comparison pics of different vehicles to the Patriot. I'd like to add this one to that thread. The Transit is a sweet ride but the main Patriot points that won out are:
1) Patriot 2.4L 172HP vs. Ford Transit 2.0L 136HP
2) Patriot 5-spd Manual Tx vs. Transit- Automatic Only
3) Patriot 4-wheel disc brakes vs. Transit Front Disc, Rear Drum
4) Patriot 17" Cast Alum Wheels vs. Transit- Steel wheels only in U.S. (the pics are from Europe)
5) Patriot Max Towing Cap 2000# vs. Transit- Towing not recommended

But the Transit wins points for wow factor and cargo volume and 4 huge doors!
And of course they will both fit in your garage.

I'm not really getting the comparison. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see many people cross shopping these two vehicles. The Transit is a very purpose built commercial vehicle.

Wouldn't you agree they both have Sport Truck genes? I can see avid campers or outdoorsmen going either way. I'll be living in my Pat occasionally but the Transit would make a better pad. Yes, at this stage the US offering of the Transit is designed for the city. They do handle sweet though. My opinion about the Transit for small businesses; Not a lot of bang for your buck.

I wanted a Ranger with Ecoboost very badly, then Ford went and told me I'd have to choose between an F-150 or a Focus, and instead of importing the Euro Ranger it decided to import that underpowered Connect. Ford's replacing the Ranger with the Transit will ensure I will never buy a Ford product. Transits have no ground clearance, no towing capacity, and no woodland charm.

Transits are better than an F-150 in one way though: At least nobody uses them as an oversized garage queen.

My Patriot next to a Smart.

I wanted a Ranger with Ecoboost very badly, then Ford went and told me I'd have to choose between an F-150 or a Focus, and instead of importing the Euro Ranger it decided to import that underpowered Connect. Ford's replacing the Ranger with the Transit will ensure I will never buy a Ford product. Transits have no ground clearance, no towing capacity, and no woodland charm.

Transits are better than an F-150 in one way though: At least nobody uses them as an oversized garage queen.

Have you ever driven a Transit? They handle like a sports car (almost) with little body roll. I drove one on a test track and tried to roll it, but couldn't. It is sad that the $21K+ Transit has the same motor as the base $12K Focus.
The Transit is imported from Turkey, so that could enter into the purchase equation I suppose.

Have you ever driven a Transit? They handle like a sports car (almost) with little body roll. I drove one on a test track and tried to roll it, but couldn't. It is sad that the $21K+ Transit has the same motor as the base $12K Focus.
The Transit is imported from Turkey, so that could enter into the purchase equation I suppose.

I'm sure they're great to drive, and I have sat in many and can say that they will be my favorite Ford product once the Ranger goes away. I like their interior room and Spartan interior quite a bit. But they don't have all-wheel drive, no underbody protection, and are really quite city-biased.

All I'm saying is that Ford had an opportunity to offer a 21+ mpg 4x4 truck and totally blew it. The Ranger was born for a small, powerful motor like the 2.0 liter Ecoboost. Instead, Ford decided to just kill it because it wants something that won't compete with the F-150. That's more than a little bit irritating for me because the Ranger was a truck I've wanted since I was a kid, but I can't justify it because the 4.0 liter is such a gas hog and the 2.3 liter is only available in the boring ugly contractor trims.

I still love the Ranger. But I won't buy from a company that wants me to choose between the F-150 and a Focus, no matter how good they are.

I'm sure they're great to drive, and I have sat in many and can say that they will be my favorite Ford product once the Ranger goes away. I like their interior room and Spartan interior quite a bit. But they don't have all-wheel drive, no underbody protection, and are really quite city-biased.

All I'm saying is that Ford had an opportunity to offer a 21+ mpg 4x4 truck and totally blew it. The Ranger was born for a small, powerful motor like the 2.0 liter Ecoboost. Instead, Ford decided to just kill it because it wants something that won't compete with the F-150. That's more than a little bit irritating for me because the Ranger was a truck I've wanted since I was a kid, but I can't justify it because the 4.0 liter is such a gas hog and the 2.3 liter is only available in the boring ugly contractor trims.

I still love the Ranger. But I won't buy from a company that wants me to choose between the F-150 and a Focus, no matter how good they are.

I agree completely, except . . . is there anything valid in the stigma attached to the Ranger as being top heavy and prone to roll-over with its narrow track? I shopped for the Ranger once but there was something about not getting the engine/transmission combination I wanted. I only buy vehicles with manual transmissions.

The Jeep Cherokee is a unibody (monocoque) compact SUV. It shared the name of the original full-size SJ model, but without a body-on-frame chassis, it set the stage for the modern SUV. While the Jeep Patriot is a compact crossover SUV introduced in early 2007 for the 2007 model year by the Jeep marque of Chrysler.


They have a great resemblance. :D

I love learning about this stuff. I love the image of Patriot vs. Cherokee. Great works.

Patriot vs. Grand Cherokee (WK) Size Comparison

As expected, the Grand Cherokee dwarfs the Patriot in just about every dimension. Sitting higher, longer and with a cowl that sits a good few inches above the Patriot's...drivers of both should expect two VERY different vehicles. Cargo room is also a premium.

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/images/comparo/patriot_WK.jpg

Wow, that is awesome, great post my friend!

Whats your source for the correct sizing and specs? Looks fairly accurate, but I'm a little surprised at the results.

I'm not being an arse or anything, just curious to look into this a little further.

:D

I don't know how he proceeded, but I would create scale with the rims size (supposely known on each chosen model)

Example, knowing from first model that 16 inches corresponds to "x" value on the pictures.You get;

16 inches = x millimeters (on picture)

Then from a second picture you can scale it with that factor, knowing the rim size.

After, you can superpose the 2 images approximately, but this is relative. Best would be to match center of front rims and compare.

For sure, this imply a small margin of error. Maybe half an inch?

those are interesting comparisons

I don't know how he proceeded, but I would create scale with the rims size (supposely known on each chosen model)

Example, knowing from first model that 16 inches corresponds to "x" value on the pictures.You get;

16 inches = x millimeters (on picture)

Then from a second picture you can scale it with that factor, knowing the rim size.

After, you can superpose the 2 images approximately, but this is relative. Best would be to match center of front rims and compare.

For sure, this imply a small margin of error. Maybe half an inch?

Makes sense....interesting results.

Is the new body of the Patriot (2011-2012) different from older models? In length or width?

Should be the same. The only exterior differences are bumpers and cladding on the doors.

Is the new body of the Patriot (2011-2012) different from older models? In length or width?

all the 4x4 2011-12 models have a 1 inch lift in height from the old patriots

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9802&stc=1&d=1333668251
took some pictures by a friends grand cherokee laredo today , lots of different angles here's one of me one spot over.