As it turns out, the death of the Patriot has been greatly exaggerated. In defiance of popular industry belief, production of the compact crossover continues for 2015. Enough buyers, it seems, are still attracted to the Patriot's low price and Jeep family resemblance.
What's New for 2015
Except for slight equipment revisions, the Patriot is unchanged.
Choosing Your Jeep Patriot
The Patriot starts out with a 2-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower, matched to five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The available 2.4-liter provides 172 horsepower, which is more typical for this class. The bigger engine is required with the Patriot's Freedom Drive I, a conventional all-wheel drive system, and Freedom Drive II, which is designed for light off-road duty. Mandatory with Freedom Drive II is a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is also available on certain other configurations.
The Patriot's trim levels cover a broad swath of territory, from bare-bones basic to suitably plush:
Before you get too excited about the Patriot's surprisingly low base price, remember that you have to pay extra for things like air conditioning and power windows. Unless your only concern is price, springing for the Limited makes the most sense in our view. It delivers some important mechanical and comfort upgrades without asking for much in return.