I sat in, climbed around, and checked out both Patriot's at the Portland International Auto Show today. One was a preproduction (very basic - with the rims everyone didn't like) and one that was up for sale...

All my shots are of the actual 'street-ready' Patriot. Here are the first three shots:

Here's another set:

and the last of the shots if just the Patriot...

We were impressed by the Patriot. It was nice to see that there wasn't anything hanging down that could get hung up on the trail.

We thought that the fit and finish on the Compass was a bit disappointing when we first saw it when it first came out. The Patriot was put together very well. We liked the quality for this price level.

As noted by another poster earlier, the person who sits in the middle in the rear seat gets the short end of the stick when it comes to foot space.

I asked around and no one had any brochures for the Patriot. the first guy tried to give me something on the Compass and said "it's the same vehicle, so that's why there isn't any." Can you believe that?!?!? The next guy said he'd worked in Jeep sales for something like +20 years and seemed to know more than the first guy. He was glad that there weren't any commercials out with the Patriot yet. Not until they hit the lots because he didn't like people coming in to se something they saw on TV, not being able too because they weren't released yet, and then heading over to another manuf.s lot to se things that were on the lots. (I understand where he's coming from and can sota agree now.)

Thanks for the pics and impressions!

Sooooo....do you still like it after playing with it in person?

Pdx,

Thanks for the pics! Is the standing child in the backseat a standard feature or optional? (j/k)...this vehicle is going to be one of the most photographed vehicles by the time it hits all of the dealers in North America!

Nice pic of the engine compartment. I was told by a sales rep that anything in yellow is the stuff that you can do yourself. I get a kick outta that. 4 things. washer fluid / brake fluid / engine oil / coolant. (that was about a compass - it looks like the same four yellow do it yourself stuff in the patriot)

Thanks for the pics and impressions!

Sooooo....do you still like it after playing with it in person?

I want to give it a test drive to see how the CVT/engine combo feels. I am still interested in it but haven't been completely sold on it. The Patriot is still in the running... and so is the Wrangler 4-door, and the Suzuki Grand Vit... (they said "...of the concpet cars they have out, the Dune is the least modified... and that it wouldn't be suprising to see if in an aftermarket kit, though they will not make it because they are only focused on putting out the vehicles.)

I wish that the Patriot's rear cup holders (on the floor) were removable. That is a little pebble in my shoe.

It felt bigger than roomier in the seating portion than the older Cherokee but smaller in storage. The thickness of the pillars gave it a safer feel than the older Cherokee too.

I noticed that there was a button for heated seats and a "L" position on the shifter but no locking "T" bar for low range.

It might kill off the Compass unless the Compass gets some new 'ralley/race' marketing/packaging.

It was interesting listening to various people walking around it. several people wondered if it was the replacement for the Liberty. Women tended to climb in behind the wheel first thing. Guys would look under it.

I don't think I saw anyone in the Compass. The liberty had some folks here and there. The Wrangler 4-door had people all around them constantly, which is why I was glad we made a bee-line right for the Jeep area as soon as the doors opened.

The Hurricane was interesting. I would have liked to see it with one engine and two rows of seats.

Pdx,

Thanks for the pics! Is the standing child in the backseat a standard feature or optional? (j/k)...this vehicle is going to be one of the most photographed vehicles by the time it hits all of the dealers in North America!

An expensive but well worth it upgrade! Like going from a 13" B&W tv to a 103" HD Flatscreen color... life is so much more. It's hard to explain without experiencing.

I agree. About 4/5 the people had digitals in hand walking around the show. Too bad they didn't have any Patriot brochures.

Thanks for the undercarriage pics. I would really like to see some pics of the undercarriage of the FDII with the skid plates.

Has anyone seen a Patriot with the controls on the steering wheel? All the pictures haven't shown that option. Just curious. I'm still anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first Patriot here in Utah. :rolleyes:

Has anyone seen a Patriot with the controls on the steering wheel? All the pictures haven't shown that option. Just curious. I'm still anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first Patriot here in Utah. :rolleyes:

You know, I was wondering about that, too. I guess I'll have to wait until the Limiteds beocme widely available at the dealerships and then go take a peek. I want the sunroof, too.

I have the controls in my Mazda6 now & when I had a rental a while back I went crazy without those controls. I'm also looking forward to seeing the Limiteds with the sunroof. Time can't pass quick enough. Although now that I think about it I've been watching this forum for quite sometime. I'm just anxious to sit in one & actually take it for a spin, then I'll order mine & hopefully take advantage of the free lift I've been offered. :D

Thanks for the undercarriage pics. I would really like to see some pics of the undercarriage of the FDII with the skid plates.

x2 Thanks!

Mine came out too blurry. :D