From what I've been reading the Patriot isn't popular, gets a bad rap, on the list of disappointing vehicles. I'm thinking about a 2014 Patriot - I like the style, remains me of my old 2000 Cherokee Sport.
surgtech1956
Perhaps its because of the pricing, if it was priced higher people would "think" they got a high quality product. If its priced low like it is, people might avoid it thinking its "cheap" when in fact its has high quality compared to high priced vehicles.
Not sure where you're getting that it isn't popular. The sales for both MK's have been increasing. The bad reputation is due to "professional" reviews. Those so-to-speak experts don't praise anything unless it has Toyota or Honda badge on it. If you read those reviews carefully, they often make mistakes that I wonder if they ever even driven one. I first saw Patriot back in 2006 in San Francisco international auto show and it caught my attention. In 2010 I needed a new car and went directly to local Jeep dealership for a test drive. I knew for the price I couldn't get anything else that Patriot had to offer. And yes it does remind of a good ol XJ.
1) its based off a Mitsubishi platform, the same platform that the dodge caliber is based off of, and if you've driven one, the car is pretty terrible. so despite the fact that jeep made significant changes, people see them as the same car, and judge it as such.
2) its front wheel drive based, and full independent suspension, as far as jeep enthusiasts go, this is like pissing in the holy grail.
3) the compass originally had some very unfortunate styling, just like the new cherokee... some people liked it, most thought it was horrendous (myself included) and since the patriot is based off the same platform, it likewise gets a bad reputation for looks.
4) the first models had pretty cheap interiors, not horrible, just a lot of hard plastic, so the fact that it wasn't as capable as wrangler, but wasn't as nice as a crv got critics' panties in a bunch. They figure that every car should have hand stitched leather, price be damned. This was a major gripe of my chevy colorado, lots of hard plastics. All that meant to me is after a day of hauling farm animals around, I could just wipe it down with a wet cloth and be on my way. i feel the same way with the jeep, its just easier to clean after wheeling and with kids..
5) its built to a price, and even though the interior is a lot nicer than it used to be, its not up to the same standards as its competition... But reviewers seem to forget about a few things... a patriot/compass can be had for thousands less than the competition with very similar features. and that it can be actually take off road, people who want the fuel economy of a cuv, but need some capability as well don't have a lot of choice. I am impressed by my FDII system every time I ask it to do its job.
2) its front wheel drive based, and full independent suspension, as far as jeep enthusiasts go, this is like pissing in the holy grail.
3) the compass originally had some very unfortunate styling, just like the new cherokee... some people liked it, most thought it was horrendous (myself included) and since the patriot is based off the same platform, it likewise gets a bad reputation for looks.
4) the first models had pretty cheap interiors, not horrible, just a lot of hard plastic, so the fact that it wasn't as capable as wrangler, but wasn't as nice as a crv got critics' panties in a bunch. They figure that every car should have hand stitched leather, price be damned. This was a major gripe of my chevy colorado, lots of hard plastics. All that meant to me is after a day of hauling farm animals around, I could just wipe it down with a wet cloth and be on my way. i feel the same way with the jeep, its just easier to clean after wheeling and with kids..
5) its built to a price, and even though the interior is a lot nicer than it used to be, its not up to the same standards as its competition... But reviewers seem to forget about a few things... a patriot/compass can be had for thousands less than the competition with very similar features. and that it can be actually take off road, people who want the fuel economy of a cuv, but need some capability as well don't have a lot of choice. I am impressed by my FDII system every time I ask it to do its job.
it gets no love because they keep trying to throw it in an existing vehicle category and judge it in that category
aka... "not as luxuriously soft suspension as a honda or toyota"... because of it's offroad capability and it's low price tag it can't be a luxury ride
or... "not as offroad capable as a wrangler"... but it rides so much better on the freeway and costs half as much
or... "lacks the power of a subaru"... well duh... it's not trying to be a race car. It's geared toward off-road and good mpg's.
patriot is a unique vehicle for sure. It's just not like what any of the other car manufacturers are making... it's different
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aka... "not as luxuriously soft suspension as a honda or toyota"... because of it's offroad capability and it's low price tag it can't be a luxury ride
or... "not as offroad capable as a wrangler"... but it rides so much better on the freeway and costs half as much
or... "lacks the power of a subaru"... well duh... it's not trying to be a race car. It's geared toward off-road and good mpg's.
patriot is a unique vehicle for sure. It's just not like what any of the other car manufacturers are making... it's different
.
The Patriot is plenty popular in Northwestern Pennsylvania, this is a pretty common occurrence.
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When I started shopping/researching new vehicles about 6 months ago, I desperately wanted the Patriot to stack up to the CRV, Forester, etc.. But, it didn't. When I researched the forums, what I found were lots of complaints about leaky sunroofs, premature ball joint replacement, and ......the controversial CVT. Add to that Chrysler's less than stellar reputation and you have a basis for underwhelming popularity. This coming from a man that has owned Chrysler products for the past 25 years.
And, lets talk about popularity. The Patriot is a niche vehicle. Especially now, it does not fit the mold of the sheeple pleasing, cockroach appearance styling that the fashion show auto designers have pushed on the public. But, this does not explain the lesser popularity of the Patriot when all SUV's were boxy looking.
I just think it boils down to the quality image that the Patriot (and Chrysler) has had trouble establishing. I mean, geez, the Subaru head gasket debacle barely affected the Subie love affair. Go figure. And now, the Forester Forum is awash with complaints of excessive oil burning in the new FB engine (last time I checked a few months ago). The CRV had a horrible spell of very expensive air conditioner replacement syndrome.....still, it is loved. The RAV 4.....pre mature water pump destruction.
And, lets talk about popularity. The Patriot is a niche vehicle. Especially now, it does not fit the mold of the sheeple pleasing, cockroach appearance styling that the fashion show auto designers have pushed on the public. But, this does not explain the lesser popularity of the Patriot when all SUV's were boxy looking.
I just think it boils down to the quality image that the Patriot (and Chrysler) has had trouble establishing. I mean, geez, the Subaru head gasket debacle barely affected the Subie love affair. Go figure. And now, the Forester Forum is awash with complaints of excessive oil burning in the new FB engine (last time I checked a few months ago). The CRV had a horrible spell of very expensive air conditioner replacement syndrome.....still, it is loved. The RAV 4.....pre mature water pump destruction.
Who cares if the Patriot is not popular. If you want popular then buy something else, you wanna be popular ? The word Jeep speaks for itself.
i think it's not popular because it doesn't quite fit into a certain category like others have said and its cheap. price wise. too good to be true?
i had a 2006 honda civic. That thing was cheaply made. it felt cheap. yet everybody loves them! it was 17k$, for the lower end model.
i bought that because everybody else does. i fell into that trap.
i think alot of people buy because they think that other people will want to buy their used car when they go to trade it in. they don't really think about the 3-5 years or whatever that they will be driving it. they are sheeple.
personally, i like to be different. i traded a 2010 hyundai accent blue 5spd, base model for my jeep. at the time i bought it, nobody liked them and thought they were cheap. I loved that car and on my trade, i made a killing!
only reason i got rid of it was because i wanted a lower payment for my jeep!
i wanted a bigger vehicle that could hull me and my boys to go camping and that would get better mileage than my xterra and savde miles on the xterra for the really hardcore 4x4 adventures.
turns out, my jeep can take me places the xterra has taken me where no normal car can do. so i am extremely happy with it.
to me, it is a beautiful vehicle. solid- less the thinner sheet metal- and feels very safe with the larger size and awd.
a 4x4, off road capable for less than $20k? Seriously? I am sold.
and fyi, the fdI is more than capable for the off-roading i do- mountain campsites that are on gravel/dirt/steep/rocky "roads".
i had a 2006 honda civic. That thing was cheaply made. it felt cheap. yet everybody loves them! it was 17k$, for the lower end model.
i bought that because everybody else does. i fell into that trap.
i think alot of people buy because they think that other people will want to buy their used car when they go to trade it in. they don't really think about the 3-5 years or whatever that they will be driving it. they are sheeple.
personally, i like to be different. i traded a 2010 hyundai accent blue 5spd, base model for my jeep. at the time i bought it, nobody liked them and thought they were cheap. I loved that car and on my trade, i made a killing!
only reason i got rid of it was because i wanted a lower payment for my jeep!
i wanted a bigger vehicle that could hull me and my boys to go camping and that would get better mileage than my xterra and savde miles on the xterra for the really hardcore 4x4 adventures.
turns out, my jeep can take me places the xterra has taken me where no normal car can do. so i am extremely happy with it.
to me, it is a beautiful vehicle. solid- less the thinner sheet metal- and feels very safe with the larger size and awd.
a 4x4, off road capable for less than $20k? Seriously? I am sold.
and fyi, the fdI is more than capable for the off-roading i do- mountain campsites that are on gravel/dirt/steep/rocky "roads".
I am coming from a 2003 Jeep Liberty (a 2000 Chevy Tracker that followed a 1990 Suzuki Samurai). The Liberty at 87000 miles was being repair after repair and at 12 mpg I was beginning to think it would be cheaper too replace it. After reading the dreadful reviews, I completely dismissed the Patriot (it was one of my first thoughts).
I test drove every Asian CUV on the market. Most were crap or felt like mini-vans. The Mazda came close - although it felt more like a small car, it was at least fun to drive, but the base AWD model was out of my league.
Lucky for me the local Jeep dealer ran my Credit with out my permission and said they could get me real good financing - I was not having much luck in that department. So I test drive the Patriot. I have decided the reviewers are biased idiots, because immediately I found what I was looking for! This dealer had some unscrupulous practices, so I used the financing info at another dealer and got a loaded FD1 that had everything I wanted except power leather seats for $5000 less than the striped down Mazda. I could not be more happy with the vehicle and even enjoy the CVT - well the autostick to be accurate. My car insurance even dropped $20/month.
My guess is the reviewers have a picture in thier heads and just cannot get past it. Their complaints: hard plastics in interiors, also in the competition for the most part. Noisy, underpowered engine, in all the fuel efficient competition - many were worse! Space in back is too small - the extra space in the Honda is all vertical and not useful. The seats lift forward before folding flat and the front passenger seat does not fold down. The Rav4 was the only one that really arranged to have more usable space and serving it was like driving a whiny mini-van.
I love the "out-dated" styling - the last complaint of reviewers. Our Partriots have visual roots that extend generations. And who seriously wants to drive around in a tennis shoe that has the profile of a worn bar of soap!
I test drove every Asian CUV on the market. Most were crap or felt like mini-vans. The Mazda came close - although it felt more like a small car, it was at least fun to drive, but the base AWD model was out of my league.
Lucky for me the local Jeep dealer ran my Credit with out my permission and said they could get me real good financing - I was not having much luck in that department. So I test drive the Patriot. I have decided the reviewers are biased idiots, because immediately I found what I was looking for! This dealer had some unscrupulous practices, so I used the financing info at another dealer and got a loaded FD1 that had everything I wanted except power leather seats for $5000 less than the striped down Mazda. I could not be more happy with the vehicle and even enjoy the CVT - well the autostick to be accurate. My car insurance even dropped $20/month.
My guess is the reviewers have a picture in thier heads and just cannot get past it. Their complaints: hard plastics in interiors, also in the competition for the most part. Noisy, underpowered engine, in all the fuel efficient competition - many were worse! Space in back is too small - the extra space in the Honda is all vertical and not useful. The seats lift forward before folding flat and the front passenger seat does not fold down. The Rav4 was the only one that really arranged to have more usable space and serving it was like driving a whiny mini-van.
I love the "out-dated" styling - the last complaint of reviewers. Our Partriots have visual roots that extend generations. And who seriously wants to drive around in a tennis shoe that has the profile of a worn bar of soap!
One last comment about the "noisy" engine. It is significantly quieter than my Liberty. I have actually tried starting it when running because I thought the engine died! Secondly, it's a Jeep. You are supposed to hear it!
I plan on getting one - 2014
I plan on getting one, a 2014. I've been driving Jeep/Chrysler products for the last 13 years. I was thinking about the new 'Cherokee' - but I'm not liking the look. The size of the Patriot is good for me, and it remains me of my 2000 Cherokee(my favorite Jeep).
I plan on getting one, a 2014. I've been driving Jeep/Chrysler products for the last 13 years. I was thinking about the new 'Cherokee' - but I'm not liking the look. The size of the Patriot is good for me, and it remains me of my 2000 Cherokee(my favorite Jeep).
Mine is really popular with me. Best vehicle I've ever owned. No issues at all in five years.
They're plenty popular around here, you can't take a drive without seeing a Pat. Then again you can't take even check your mail in this town without seeing some kind of Jeep. After nearly four years of having mine( with minimal issues *knock on wood*) I love it tremendously more than I did the day I got it. And I get compliments on it almost every day. So don't go thinking its unpopular because some corporate paid f*ckwad said so. Take the straight opinions of owners and beat of all go find out for yourself, the best thing you can do is to inform yourself.
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I love my Patriot.
My most recent cars were a 05 Mazda 3, 05 Chevy Colorado and a 2000 Toyota 4Runner. While the 4Runner was nice i like the ride better on the Pat, and I would never buy the new "Largemouth Bass" version that they are currently over charging for.
When researching new cars I test drove the new and old Escapes, CRVs, Kia, small Chevy SUVs and Hyundais .
While yes the gas mileage is disappointing the ride, looks and what I could get for a far less price made the Patriot the best option for me.
Where else can you get a fully capable 4x4 fully loaded "Limited" model for 25k brand new?
My most recent cars were a 05 Mazda 3, 05 Chevy Colorado and a 2000 Toyota 4Runner. While the 4Runner was nice i like the ride better on the Pat, and I would never buy the new "Largemouth Bass" version that they are currently over charging for.
When researching new cars I test drove the new and old Escapes, CRVs, Kia, small Chevy SUVs and Hyundais .
While yes the gas mileage is disappointing the ride, looks and what I could get for a far less price made the Patriot the best option for me.
Where else can you get a fully capable 4x4 fully loaded "Limited" model for 25k brand new?
When I first got mine, it was rare to see another one on the road. We had a meet just so we could see some other Patriots. Now, I see 5-10 every day on my commute. They are all over now.
How about this. List how many compact vehicles are listed as a suv/cuv. Patriot has been called this. Would you call a rav-4 or crv this. Crossover suv. Patriot is designed on a car platform so it's ride is nice for an suv/cuv. Basically a crossover with off road abilities. I am thinking but can't come up with a cuv/suv compact vehicle. Any ideas? There ya go. GL Jeep with future vehicles.
I test drove several vehicles and liked the Patriot/Compass best, except for the CVT. So I waited and drove the 2014 with the 6-speed and bought one (Compass) the same day. Also cancelled my Consumer Reports and told them why. Chrysler has been more reliable than other brands I've owned, and their local dealer has treated me right on service. Toyota, Honda have only one dealer in most areas, so you are at their mercy if you buy from them. Jeep should advertise the Pat/Compass more, many people don't know what they are. The car magazines bash them, but every owner I talked to said they were great. I told my wife I'm naming hers Rodney, after Dangerfield. I'm getting 29 mpg highway with only 2000 miles on it, expect that to get even better. I like the size, room, performance, utility (can haul kids, garden or building supplies, tow my boat), and the dashboard and controls are simple and efficient, unlike many other brands that I couldn't even figure how to tune the radio (Ford Focus among others). It is not a luxury car or sports car, but it really is a utility vehicle.
I started seeing more patriots in 2011 , west tn here, and memphis, more and now in 2013 see then more than ever so i think this speaks for itself
now the reason they have not been popular are because of the media not advertsing them and advertising the euro looking luxury cars that people dont question and simply buy because its on tv. In addition its had bad reviews a good bit esp the older model versions.
Who cares if people like it or not. The reason I like the patriot is
the look -ive always drove suv's and I guess I am conditioned to like the boxy look since ive had three so far, the mpg is far better than any suv ive had, price is lower than other cuv/suv's, has a backseat that folds down, and can handle its own off terrain. It seems to be the $best bang$ for the buck for an suv/cuv vehicle that I enjoy the look of.
now the reason they have not been popular are because of the media not advertsing them and advertising the euro looking luxury cars that people dont question and simply buy because its on tv. In addition its had bad reviews a good bit esp the older model versions.
Who cares if people like it or not. The reason I like the patriot is
the look -ive always drove suv's and I guess I am conditioned to like the boxy look since ive had three so far, the mpg is far better than any suv ive had, price is lower than other cuv/suv's, has a backseat that folds down, and can handle its own off terrain. It seems to be the $best bang$ for the buck for an suv/cuv vehicle that I enjoy the look of.
i actually love the boxy styling but with the round headlights and front bumper/grill is really nice. all of the "top of the line" suvs out there seem to be all egg shaped and with low ground clearance.
it looks like it can do off-road and it can....it has the measurements and enough power for light-medium off road in my fd1 5spd model.
it looks like it can do off-road and it can....it has the measurements and enough power for light-medium off road in my fd1 5spd model.
I needed the clearance, skid plates, and 4x4 to make my driveway. The patriot is one of a very few vehicles that can make my driveway in winter. And I needed decent MPG as I drove 25K miles a year.
Anyone who thinks they are not as capable as another vehicle, you're welcome to bring that other vehicle up to my place in the winter, and we'll see. there will be of course a small wager.
Anyone who thinks they are not as capable as another vehicle, you're welcome to bring that other vehicle up to my place in the winter, and we'll see. there will be of course a small wager.
I drove a 2010 Civic before the Patriot and the price difference between the two was pretty much negligible. The Jeep feels much more solid and is better equipped than that Civic could ever hope to be. When I changed jobs and needed a higher clearance vehicle, the Patriot was the first one I test drove. Nothing else I test drove after that seemed worth the money, especially when having to cough up thousands more for the same list of options *ahem* Nissan *ahem*
I wrote my thoughts about my choice to buy a Pat after reading all the slamming reviews and why I was lucky to even test driven one (even having been a long time Jeep/Dodge owner). Honestly I was just about in tears because I thought I was going to be stuck with a foreign made tennis shoe. There was one other thing that made me pull the plug and come home with my sweetheart jeep - you all! The testimonies written on this forum helped convince me I was making the right choice. So Thank you all!
The more I see it progress the more I'm not sure. I certainly have read through these before my purchase too, huge bias. I don't need to go to the moon on my vehicle. I need it to get through snow and up hills and the occasional off-roading experience etc. I think when you're comparing a Pat to a 35-50K USD market vehicle, the Patriot will remind you that you're getting what you pay for. I like the straight forward, simple vehicle with a great modern but true to jeep boxy feel, easy on the price tag. I love mine.
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