I know you guys probably hate Land Rover....but at least they give their potential customers a look at the new product. This is how you work up excitement for a new vehicle.....as discussed in another thread, Jeep hasn't released any info in a while.

Check this out....this is the video that shows the new LR2 (keep in mind it is fully independent suspension and an AWD vehicle with less ground clearance than the Patriot).

You can see an incredible amount of details if you browse all the info on the LR2...but this video is great. Skip ahead to the mud and ruts part (about 1/3 thru).

http://www.landroverusa.com/us/en/Vehicles/LR2/overview.htm

Will the Patriot be more capable than this vehicle....can we expect a little pebble climbing along with the grass, gravel, and mud? Or will the Patriot get hung up in a mud pit similar to the one this LR2 just breezed thru?

-on a side note, my freakin' Blazer almost got stuck in very minimal mud when I took it off-road.....I couldn't help it...I wanted to go off the pavement sooooo bad....it was fun, but the damned thing got stuck to the point where I had to back out!

I'm actaully a big fan of Land Rover, except the Range Rover, that's just another rappers dream vehicle, put some 26's on it and they are set. (eyes roll)

LR3 (aka Discovery) is an amazing off road vehicle, sure it won't blast through trails as fast as a Wrangler but I'm sure it's just as capable if you take it slow.

I'm with you unclejjg, wondering how capable the Patriot is gonna be compared to the LR2. The only thing I'm still concerned about are these stock GoodYear Wrangler SR-A tires, that Chrysler and many other companies use as OE tires (Honda Element owners absolutely hate them) Check out this thread http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218

In general, I'm a big fan of Goodyear Tires. I haven't had any dealings with the SR-A's. However, the stock Wrangler RTS tires on my XJ have been fantastic. For a tire that bridges highway and mild off roading, this is the BEST tire I have owned. I am on my third set of RTS tires, with over 228,000 miles on my XJ. By my calculations, that is over 70,000 miles per set.

If I went by some of the reviews from Tire Rack or 1010 Tires, I would never purchase the RTS. However, reading how some of these people drive, how could they like ANY tire attached to their vehicle? It's how the tire responds to MY driving and driving needs. In my case, Goodyear and RTS tires, in particular, have served me very well.

The Goodyear Wrangler ST tires on my wife's JGC leave some doubt about their abilities. When her tires need replaced, it will probably be with the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor Kevlar protected tire.

Nice writeup HoosierMud, changes my outlook on Goodyear tires.

I was just on goodyear.com checking out tires, and the Fortera TripleTred comes in 225/65-17 which seems like It would fit fine on the Patriot.

GoodYear rates it Dry Traction = 10, Wet Traction = 10, Snow Traction = 10, Offroad Traction = 5, Quiet Ride = 8
http://www.goodyeartires.com/goodyeartireselector/graphics/Tires/full/109060.jpg


The Wrangler SR-A is rated Dry Traction = 7, Wet Traction = 7, Snow Traction = 7, Offroad Traction = 7, Quiet Ride = 7

I'm with you unclejjg, wondering how capable the Patriot is gonna be compared to the LR2. The only thing I'm still concerned about are these stock GoodYear Wrangler SR-A tires, that Chrysler and many other companies use as OE tires (Honda Element owners absolutely hate them) Check out this thread http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218


I just don't understand how they have videos of a Compass wizzing thru the sand on a beach (and lame videos at that....), but they have nothing for the Patriot.

Here is a vehicle that's only distinction between itself and the Compass is its body shell and its promise of off-road capability. Wouldn't you think they would let us in on an example (read: video demonstration) of why this thing has earned the "Trail Rated" badge?:confused:

I'm looking at a 07 Caliber brochure that I found on the back seat of an unlocked Caliber at the dealer last Sunday, it has a CAD drawing of the AWD system. the driveshafts and half-shafts are sure a heck of a lot more heavy duty looking then any of the compact SUVs from Honda, Suzuki or Toyota.

A while ago I almost bought an Element, those things, like the CR-V have half-shafts the size of a toothpick. The Ford Escape is the same way, tiny weak looking drivetrain components.

The CAD drawings might look impressive.....but hey, I thought the Boston Bruins looked good on paper last year, and they ended up lousy. The moral: We need to see a little action before we can make a judgement!

On a side note, did anybody else notice how Land Rover didn't include a "rock adventure" in there demonstration for the LR2? It is what it is, I guess...I just find it funny because their write ups advertise it as "capable", (and lets face it, that mud sequence was impressive) but if it can hop even small rocks they aren't showing it.

Makes me wonder what "capable" means to Jeep.......I'm so curious to see what the Patriot can do.....in my opinion, this SUV will either knock everybody for a loop, or it will be a dud.

I think this picture says enough, that it will spank a Patriot, knowing the articulation capabilities of the Caliber platform, there is no way possible for it to have this much flex.
http://index.hu/cikkepek/totalcar/magazin/hirek/landrover/plus/.gdata/gp_fl2pv.jpg

I think this picture says enough, that it will spank a Patriot, knowing the articulation capabilities of the Caliber platform, there is no way possible for it to have this much flex.
http://index.hu/cikkepek/totalcar/magazin/hirek/landrover/plus/.gdata/gp_fl2pv.jpg

That is an LR3.......this is an LR2:
http://nouvelles.autonet.ca/FR/Nouvelles/2006/06/27/LR2_013_LR.jpg

Quite a different vehicle....built on the Ford Focus platform?

Hahaha, I thought that looked like a pretty LR3 looking LR2, I just was in a hurry to post it.

Land Rovers are nice looking cars, and I'm sure that they're capable of some hardcore off-roading (http://www.landroverg4challenge.com/default.asp?ru=%2FDefault%2Easp%3F), but i recently read a review that ranked their vehicles in the top 6 poorest quality vehicles for the money.
And, does anyone remember the picture posted on the "Jeep News" section of the jeep website showing a JGC pulling out a LR3 from the mud.
I think that when it comes to offroading, even in the "girly" compass (check out the thread "has anyone seen this?"), I'll stick with Jeep!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sDhlKG77I

I just remember this, thought maybe you'd all be interested in seeing it, if you haven't. It's kinda old. (it's an LR3)

I wonder how the older Land Rover Freelander (freelander was discontinued and replaced soon by the LR2) would compare to a Patriot, it has 7.3" of ground clearance and 175hp, I've seen videos of it getting through some pretty technical stuff.


EDIT:
So where exactly is the switch on the Patriot FDII to enable "low range/offroad mode"?
I was thinking it was L on the shifter, but the Compass has that too, although the Caliber doesn't, from what I've been reading the Patriot only has the low range CVT doesn't it?

The only video I have seen of the Patriot, is when it is tooling down some PAVED road. Jeep is notorious for not releasing a lot of video information about their vehicles.

Did you se a different video for the LR2 than I did ?!?!?!?!? There wasn't any off-roading at all in the video I watched from the initial linked clip. If you watch close every place it drives is a hard packed and smooth road. Some smooth rocky beach and thats about it. Not even so much as a 6" pot hole! Some interesting camera angles but seriously even a 2wd Scio xB could have easily made that same route.

Whoops!!!!!

PDX, you are right, it is the wrong video!!!!!

Okay, anyone who made the same mistake follow these directions:

1) Go to "Take for Spin" - a picture of the vehicle will come up and there will be highlights.

2.) Go to "Look Inside" - you'll have to click on the window or something.

3.) Follow the arrow prompt to the section with the Wheel. - instead of the section with the seats.

4.) Click on the "Terrain Response" nob - by the shifter.

5.) Click on the video once the screen comes up for the Terrain Response...it is a blue link to the left.



3.)

Thanks for the directions... I got lost on the previous attempt.

The video is great. Interesting vehicle. Very informative video. I think it will sell a lot of vehicles. Could be some serisou competition for the Patriot. Price will be a big factor.

I finally got a chance to check out the video. The new LR2 looks a lot bigger than the Freelander; isn't the LR2 the replacement?

But, it is hard to say whether the Patriot will be able to fully compete with the LR2. If anything, the 2008 Liberty may be a better match, especially when it comes to size.

Why shouldn't it compete? Of course it has a less powerful engine and may be a bit smaller.....but it shares some common traits:

-compact/cross-over SUV
-fully independent suspension
-AWD
-"capability"

It is superior because it has:
-a low range
-better gas mileage
-an off-road package

It is inferior because it has:
-a weaker engine
-less interior refinement, ie "Terrain Response", Navigation, quality materials, etc.
-a lower approach angle
-is smaller in stature and has less room

Also, one must consider that the LR2 will likely start at 29 - 30k, while the Patriot will be stacked at 24K. Hell, that leaves better than $5,000.00 to add after market modifications.

Sure, the LR2 might be the better looking and more comfortablely appointed vehicle, but who has the better AWD system? Which is more capable? Which car will have more problems (something Land Rover is unknown for)? Which ride will be nicer? And which can be modified to fit the owners wants?

From what I've just read tonight, the LR2 will be offered with an electronic rear 'e' locker.

That adds a bit of beef. I wonder why Jeep didn't do that with the Patriot.....anyone want to bet how long it will take them to add it to further differentiate the Patriot from the Compass/Caliber? I say 2009.

So the Patriot has AWD with 19:1 ratio, and a 172 hp, 165 torque engine with 25/29 mpg. The LR2 has AWD, a simplified Terrain Response, an electronic rear locker, and 230 hp/torque with an expected combined fuel economy of around 25 mpg....

Anybody want to take a stab at the capability comparison now?

From what I've just read tonight, the LR2 will be offered with an electronic rear 'e' locker.

That adds a bit of beef. I wonder why Jeep didn't do that with the Patriot.....anyone want to bet how long it will take them to add it to further differentiate the Patriot from the Compass/Caliber? I say 2009.

Never.