My lovely bride and I have just returned from a 2,000 mile vacation trip in my '12 Patriot.Most of the trip was merely boring(a trip I have made literally dozens of times),and the Patriot performed flawlessly.
Firstly,the Patriot is a comfortable car.Two 18-hour days behind the wheel were done with no ill effects.The seats are supportive,and only on wash-board roads does it ride like a Jeep.
Secondly,the fuel mileage in most instances was excellent,and in two cases was phenomenal.Interstate driving was mostly done withe cruise set at 65mph,with the a/c on.Those stretches yielded an average of 32.5mpg.The home stretch was on the cruise at 70 with the a/c,and gave 29.0mpg.Those are decent numbers,and around my usual average of 31.7mpg during my routine daily driving.Now for the phenomenal part:two of our tanks of fuel were burned at highway speeds of 60 mph or less,and country roads that only permitted speeds of 40-45 mph.The first tank yielded 37.6mpg,and second gave 36.7mpg.I couldn't believe those numbers,so each was figured twice.They are actual computed mileages,not EVIC-generated.I don't know if they are repeatable,but they do show that with careful driving,these cars can deliver decent gas mileage.
Another plus on this trip was the ESP/brake assist.When exiting Mississippi Hwy.27 onto I-20W at Vicksburg,the on-ramp is a tight,decreasing-radius 270-degree turn with no banking.There was Mississippi trooper"escorting"us through their fair city.I lost him half-way through the curve.There was zero body lean,and third gear gave good acceleration onto the Interstate.The brake assist was demonstrated when a MORON in a Chevy van pulled onto I-10 from the shoulder when we were less than 100 yds, from him.Traffic prevented changing lanes,so it was hit the brakes and pray.The brake assist engaged,and deceleration was dramatic.
My car now has 5,300 miles on the clock,and I am completely satisfied with it.There have been zero problems so far.Compared to my wife's '08 the ride is better,the engine is smoother(and quieter).and the Eagle LS2s don't howl.The only fly in the ointment is the lack of torque from the 2.0,but I knew that going in.Other than that,it has been smooth sailing so far.
Clark
Firstly,the Patriot is a comfortable car.Two 18-hour days behind the wheel were done with no ill effects.The seats are supportive,and only on wash-board roads does it ride like a Jeep.
Secondly,the fuel mileage in most instances was excellent,and in two cases was phenomenal.Interstate driving was mostly done withe cruise set at 65mph,with the a/c on.Those stretches yielded an average of 32.5mpg.The home stretch was on the cruise at 70 with the a/c,and gave 29.0mpg.Those are decent numbers,and around my usual average of 31.7mpg during my routine daily driving.Now for the phenomenal part:two of our tanks of fuel were burned at highway speeds of 60 mph or less,and country roads that only permitted speeds of 40-45 mph.The first tank yielded 37.6mpg,and second gave 36.7mpg.I couldn't believe those numbers,so each was figured twice.They are actual computed mileages,not EVIC-generated.I don't know if they are repeatable,but they do show that with careful driving,these cars can deliver decent gas mileage.
Another plus on this trip was the ESP/brake assist.When exiting Mississippi Hwy.27 onto I-20W at Vicksburg,the on-ramp is a tight,decreasing-radius 270-degree turn with no banking.There was Mississippi trooper"escorting"us through their fair city.I lost him half-way through the curve.There was zero body lean,and third gear gave good acceleration onto the Interstate.The brake assist was demonstrated when a MORON in a Chevy van pulled onto I-10 from the shoulder when we were less than 100 yds, from him.Traffic prevented changing lanes,so it was hit the brakes and pray.The brake assist engaged,and deceleration was dramatic.
My car now has 5,300 miles on the clock,and I am completely satisfied with it.There have been zero problems so far.Compared to my wife's '08 the ride is better,the engine is smoother(and quieter).and the Eagle LS2s don't howl.The only fly in the ointment is the lack of torque from the 2.0,but I knew that going in.Other than that,it has been smooth sailing so far.
Clark
