Okay guys, I took all the pics I could stand because I was really just wanting to climb all over it instead of fool with a camera, but check out the photos. Detailed write-up coming in the next few minutes ...

http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/outside.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/front.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/side.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/back.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/driver.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/frontwindshield.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/frontbumper.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/nexttopt.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/interior.jpg
http://tmcgahee.myweb.uga.edu/rearwindow.jpg

First, the test drive ... It was awesome! Seriously, I was really worried about the small engine & the CVT, but I loved it. I owned a '98 XJ with the I6 for 8 years, and I loved that engine. This thing isn't on the same level as the XJ I6, but it is definitely no honda civic or typical entry level car. I got to take it on the highway, so I got up to 75 or so in it ... The engine got from 0 to 60 without a second thought ... No loud revving like some people have said about CVT's ... Just smooth and effortless. The on-ramp was just SLIGHTLY downhill, so that may have helped, but I had no trouble keeping up 75 mph while going slightly back uphill. At 75, I still hardly heard the engine at all ... There was road noise, but the engine didn't sound at any point like it was struggling. I loved the CVT. It was at least as effective as a regular auto, but no being jerked a little by gear shifts ... very nice & refined. Also, the ride was very smooth. The road had plenty of ripples and cracks in it, but I couldn't feel a thing in the Patriot. I've owned the XJ, a civic, a saab 9-3, and an explorer, and the Patriot dealt with the cracked road & such more smoothly and easily than any of those. I'm sure some people like the "feedback" of feeling every bump in the road, but after owning a sport sedan with tiny low-profile tires, I'm grateful for a smooth ride now. On the off-ramp, I took a curve pretty hard to test the cornering. It definitely wasn't as effortless as it is with an XJ, but it could handle it. I mean, I was going like 60 where there was a "caution, 35 mph" sign, so I guess it makes sense. I'm kinda mad that I didn't think to really check the visibility while driving, but I'd say there's more than in the new Grand Cherokee, but less than in the Nitro (and therefore upcoming Liberty). Anyway, the important thing is: 0-60 was effortless. Passing and swapping lanes on the highway was easy. It didn't feel underpowered. And the CVT was totally unintrusive and the lack of gear-shifting appreciated.

Next up: Walk-around write-up ...

The walk-around ... Well, I'm an even 6' tall, and you can see me beside the Patriot in the first pic above. And me sitting in it in one of the next ones. You should know about the driver's window pic that I had not yet figured out how to lower the seat with the crank (didn't have that kinda stuff on my XJ), so that's with the seat higher than it needed to be.

Anyway, the headroom was awesome. I know others have said it, but really, there's plenty of headroom in front and back. It didn't have a sunroof, and I'm curious would that would take away.

Plenty of legroom as well. Interesting thing about the back seat: The foot wells (for lack of a better term) were really deep. I mean, there's the cupholder on the floor in the middle, but the two side seats have deep foot wells, so for the first time ever, I sat in the back seat of a vehicle without my knees vs. the front seat even being an issue. It's a small luxury, but I definitely noticed it.

I didn't have my 30gb 5th gen iPod to see if it fit in the mp3 holder (Jalopnik had a video where one wouldn't, but it may've been 60 or they could've been not really trying ... after all, I would want it to fit snugly if at all, else it would go flying.) ... Anyone try fitting a 30gb in there?

Biggest surprise: The rear window! It looks huge from the outside, but that's just glass over metal. The actual window is tiny! The last picture above doesn't even do it justice. It couldn't have been 6 inches high. You wouldn't think you'd need a back-up camera in a Patriot, but seriously, I can't imagine why they weren't able to give us a little bigger window (obviously not for the sake of style, since it looks like a big window from outside).

Another surprise ... the center console is really deep! My wife's arm fit down into it past her elbow. It's not very long, so I don't think you could get a laptop down there, but, for the sake of illustration, a typical box of cereal could easily fit inside it. I can't think of anything more useful to say you could put in there (?).

The cargo room didn't seem impressive to me, but my wife said later she thought it was.

I'll also agree with a guy from another thread that the styled steel wheels are awful. They look silly and if not silly then horrible. Looking forward to seeing one with alloys, roof rack crossbars, and the extra 1" of lift (and in pretty much any color other than white).

Last thing, I love the reclining rear seat. Such a nice luxury. Combined with the deep foot wells and extra headroom, that's a nice back seat!

That's about it. I walked away impressed, though I would never buy that particular Patriot ... The vehicle in general lived up to my expectations (except for that back window), and I still hope to get one soon.

Tom, thanks for the excellent write-up. I will definately check out the rear window deal when I see one.

Cool to hear about the rear legs room. I gotta stick some car seats back there and most vehicles don't leave enough room for rear facing car seats.

Thanks for all the photos, too.

What's the price on the sticker?

Great review in all regards. You are right, those basic wheels suck!

The roof rack, some upscale wheels and the extra inch of the 4x4 with FDII will help a lot.

Thanks again!

Price on the sticker is $18,785. That's for the E package, yes essentials cloth, cvt, floor mats, and fog lights.

I agree on the rear window. I test drove a compass and I was suprised at the rear window and your pic looks the exact same.
Great writeup

tommcg,

You might want to get a job at 'Car and Driver'....great job with the pics and review...no snow where you are and there's even flowers in the background in January....wow!....I just got back from snowmobiling....

....I think what some people are referring to when they talk about the CVT and noise/lack of power is when you really stomp on the accelerator under hard acceleration(say for example to pass somebody in a hurry) or to very quickly accelerate ((i.e, floor it from say from 20mph to 55mph)....the engine makes more noise during this type of maneouver and the engine revs up to about 6000 rpm until the desired speed is reached--almost like the tranny is playing catchup....

...for more passive types of acceleration, you wouldn't notice any problems....and I agree that the CVT works well when you are not in a hurry...

How ugly are those wheels? wow.

-Patrick.

they are fugly for sure - think the 17" + the OWL tires are the way to go

Great write up! Thanks for it and the pics!

Agreed on the wheels...YEECH!