It's really comfy, rides stable on the interstate, but(personal opinion, choice is yours of course) I don't see any reason to buy a Jeep if you're never gonna leave the asphalt.

 

A fellow Jersey native! I have the 2014 Patriot Latitude 4x4s (FDI) package. I can tell you that I find the ride to be very comfortable. I don't really feel the road so much, but then again that's just me. The Patriot shares its platform with the Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber, so it's more of a crossover. That may be something that could be in your favor if you have a bad back.

That being said, I absolutely love this thing. I have the 6 speed auto and I find that I have more than enough get up and go. Its no hot rod, but you won't have problems merging and keeping up with traffic. I just got mine two months ago, so I can't vouch for its performance in the snow, but everything I have read online and on this forum points to it being a great vehicle in the snow.

As you look for a Patriot (if you decide to get one), you may see two different 4x4s packages... Freedom Drive I and Freedom Drive II. The easy version is the FDI would probably suit your needs, but research the FDII just in case and check out its additional features. Here are good videos explaining the differences of the 4x4s systems (thet don't cover the other features though):

Freedom Drive I

Freedom Drive II

Good luck with your decision! Let us know what you decide!

 

I just bought a latitude 4x4 trail rated model.. I love it I live in a mountainous area and travel highway 4 days a week to work 45 mins each way.. It is a great ride and decent gas mileage. I am averaging 27 mpg right now according to fuelly

 

27 MPG with FDII, really?

 

The higher clearance is why someone like me bought a Jeep as opposed to an AWD Subaru or other. I have a 2014 with 6 spd AT. As stated above, it has no problem keeping up with traffic. I went from CT to RI, a 2.5 hour drive, with speeds from 60-70, on (of course) typical New England hilly interstates. I still got 25 mpg (my usual is 26). On flat road, I find it gets better mpg. It's very comfortable, and I had 2 adults in the back- no complaints about foot room. On long trips, I like that I can stretch my legs down the foot well, or use the dead pedal. I bought mine in April, so we shall see how it does in the snow- I'm betting it will do great with 4 wheel drive and good ground clearance.

 

I love my Patriot. It's a 2014 Latitude 4x4. The only thing you might regret about it is the seat if you have a bad back. It's a very smooth ride, but I've found that the seat itself doesn't provide as much support as I had expected, so it's not the most comfortable ride on long commutes. It's not terribly uncomfortable, but I've been in vehicles with much more comfortable seats.

However, like RossoRacer said, if your commute is going to be on asphalt alone (not dirt roads of off road), maybe you might want to consider something all wheel drive that is a little easier on gas? The Ford Fusion SE AWD is about the same price as the Patriot, gets much better gas mileage, and is a beast in the snow (from what I've heard; I haven't owned one, so I can't speak from personal experience). It has plenty of leg room, and if you need something bigger, there's always the Taurus AWD! I promise I don't work for Ford haha

If you're set on an SUV, though, I think you'll like the Jeep other than maybe the seat comfort. It's a great car, and the transmission is very smooth. It has a tight turning radius, and it drives almost like a car; it's not nearly as bulky as a truck.

 

Bad back?

Hi, I have a back injury too and use a medical cushion from Relax the Back store. It cost me $110, but it is worth it. There is a model with a built in adjustable lumbar support, the Sport model does not have it. Good smooth ride on the highway. I will buy better softer tires and I prefer 225 65R16 Touring tire. I call it my civilized jeep with A/C, automatic, power package, and a roof. I will not drive off road either. I like to go and take only pictures and leave only footprints. Bottom line for me was the low price and I can say I'm very happy with this Jeep. At 10,000 of city driving, 22 mpg and I have no complaints.

 

Yeah, seat can hurt my underside after maybe 4+ hrs, but I can get out and walk a little, then get back in if needed. And that seems to be lessened when I have the seat adjusted just right(then it feels almost like a racing seat). No complaints about how it is on my spine, though.

 

Bet the demo you drove had over-inflated tires. My daughter picked up a 2014 in July that seemed harsh until I checked the tires and found they were inflated to 40+ lbs. Think they come that way from the factory.
If anything, Pats are known for a smooth & comfortable ride, particularly on the freeway.

 

Funny you say that, I took a road trip to Toronto from Pittsburgh a few months ago and on the way back I got a warning light for my tire pressure. I stopped at a gas station expecting to have a low tire only to find my tires were incredibly overinflated. I don't remember what they were at exactly, but it wasn't even close to what they should have been. Rides so much smoother now.

 

I drove my '12 Patriot most of last winter when my S10 couldn't get out of the driveway.
Mine is a sport model with stock tires, very good on snow and ice covered roads, a positive feel of control. I never had any problems with it. Mine rides stiff because I overinflate my tires a bit for extra fuel economy but it doesn't bother me

 

The seats are fine for short drives, but after 2 hours I have to get up and stretch and walk around (I have crappy knees). Most of my driving is highway and the ride is smooth, the only problem is when it's windy. Kinda fault by design by being square, but it gets tossed around a little bit when there's a strong crosswind or when you're coming up to pass a tractor trailer. I've gone through two western NY winters and even with all the snow we get, not once have I had an issue.

 

That's how I felt also. Short drives are ok (not anymore) and long drives sucked after an hour or two if you didn't stop.

 

I was in the same boat as the OP in 2013 and had a year to study vehicle replacement for our 10 yr. old short wheelbase Caravan, which we loved, but was discontinued.

It was difficult to access the rag reviews for important things like reliability, since they seemed to focus on infotainment abilities, leading edge engines (direct injection, turbo, etc.). At the same time, there is somewhat of a cult bias on this site and it was difficult to access reviews here also.

Here are my thoughts. The early Patriots suffered from the gutting of Chrysler up through 2009. Quality control was horrid. My professional Mopar mechanic friend said the quality control improvements since Fiat took over are EXTREMELY noticeable.

- The (my) base model Pat is an entry level, economy type vehicle. You get what you pay for. I'm a minimalist, so no problems. But the Honda CRV I also considered (but couldn't stomach $4 K more) had much better fit and finish. Nothing on the Pat seems heavy duty: the door/hood hinges, the suspension parts (amazed guys rock crawl with them). The seat fabric looks thin, but inspection of a '09 Forest Service (abused) Pat shows them to hold up well.

- The GEMA engine is unrefined. But a google search turns up NO major problems. For comparison, investigate Honda VCM problems, Subie oil consumption problems, various mfg. direct injection problems. I'll take iron clad reliability vs. refinement any day (that's just my take). My mechanic friend told me Chrysler bought out the rights to this engine and made a few improvements. Plenty of get up and go for me....I don't understand the negative power complaints. Extremely easy maintenance: plugs, oil, etc..

- I didn't like the CVT, so the 6 speed was a selling point. Chrysler has a deal with JATCO to only replace CVT's($4K), they are not allowed to rebuild them ($2K). While Nissan will rebuild them, I have no recollection of anyone doing this.

-It's still a bit early to tell if the '11 upgrade eliminates the ball joint issue. Since I DIY, this most prevalent problem was not a deal breaker for me, compared to the unresolved Subie Forester oil consumption problems.

-Ride quality? My Caravans rode like sedans. The Pat has a stiffer suspension and improved, but still not enough noise padding. There is a bit of wind noise, road noise (crappy Goodyears maybe?). Michigan roads are terrible, so I actually run my tires 2 lbs. under the label to soften the ride. Ride quality is good enough for me. Seat comfort is no problem (for me).

-Paint quality seems very high. Windshield was replaced already from rock hit, a bit more prevalent due to it's more upright angle.

-The 2wd Pat fits our farm life needs. It handled our very bad winter excellent.

- It's the little things associated with an economy vehicle that have been my only minor complaints: side plastic seat trim broke (warranteed), weatherstrip shrinkage (warranty). Certainly better than dealing with a major drivetrain problem that I read about on other mfg.forums.

Overall, I am satisfied with my purchase. It's just tough (for me) to get over the stigma associated with the Pat and Chrysler, in general.

 

Hey! I am also from jersey. I too had to buy my patriot because my job requires me to work it the snow (Power Co.) I used to drive a civic and it was awful in the snow last year. The patriot preformed well in the snow though I only had it for 1 storm but it is definitely a tank in the snow. Also I just took 1000 mile road trip in the jeep (all interstate) and it was extremely front and comfortable. Hope I helped your decision

 

I'm in NY, about 65 miles from NYC, and spend quite a bit of time traveling to New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania for work. My daily commute (round trip) is about 150 miles, with most of my time being on the highway. I came from a 2012 Accord, but didn't like feeling trapped by the weather, plus the only way to get home is uphill. Plus, the Accord has the worst seats I have ever sat in.

Ten years ago, I fractured my back in an accident and still have issues today. The Accord was the most uncomfortable car I have ever owned. Even in my trips to Philly for work (160 miles each way), I'm pretty comfortable in the Patriot. We also have a 2012 Forester that has been to North Carolina and back, but I feel that Subaru made the cargo area bigger by shrinking the legroom in the front seat. I'm only 5'10" and I feel claustrophobic in the Forester, despite the comfy seats. The Patriot works for us, and especially me. I bought it 5 weeks ago and already drove 4,500 miles. I do have a manual transmission, so that says a lot that I'm more comfortable than in my Accord with pretty leather seats.

Oh, and I'm averaging 27 miles per gallon, and less than $40 to fill up. The Accord was about 28-29 miles per gallon, $60 to fill up, and only had FWD.