Road Test
Jeep Patriot 2.0 CRD Sport
Test date 15 August 2007
Price as tested £17,495
For Good to drive, economical engine, solid construction, good off-road
AgainstExcessively macho styling, cheap-feeling cabin, poor performance
After conspicuously missing out on the boom in soft-roaders that has redefined the SUV segment in the past few years, Jeep is now making amends with the new Patriot.
Don’t be misled by the bluff, old-fashioned Jeep design cues. Behind the slat grille and round headlamps, this is a thoroughly modern, road-biased SUV, with Jeep making great claims for both its fuel economy and road manners.
The historically low pound/dollar exchange rate has allowed Jeep to send the Patriot into battle with some very competitive pricing. The basic 2.4-litre petrol lists at just £15,995 with manual gearbox and decent standard equipment, substantially undercutting all major rivals – and also Jeep’s other soft-roader, the supposedly sportier Compass.
Most Patriot buyers in the UK are likely to opt for the less powerful but more economical 2.0-litre CRD diesel that we’re testing here. In entry-level Sport trim it comes with a bargain £16,995 price tag and undercuts all its major rivals by a substantial margin.
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