Buying Outlook Updated on January 3, 2012 by our Vehicle Experts
- 2012 Jeep Patriots are in good supply
- Sales of outgoing 2011s are being helped by generous manufacturer incentives

| Vehicle | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Jeep Patriot | $16,457 | $24,979 |
| Jeep Compass | $15,995 | $26,050 |
| Jeep Liberty | $21,107 | $28,973 |
| Ford Escape | $19,406 | $32,945 |
| Average | $18,241 | $28,237 |



| Vehicle | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Jeep Patriot | $276 | $419 |
| Jeep Compass | $268 | $437 |
| Jeep Liberty | $354 | $486 |
| Ford Escape | $326 | $553 |
| Average | $306 | $474 |
Based On: 10% down, 4.5% APR, 60 months


Great Deals 
PROS
CONS
For 2011, Jeep Patriot has been significantly updated. The 2011 Patriot features fresh styling, upgraded suspension and steering, new interior materials, and a revised model lineup. The updates make the 2011 Jeep Patriot a noteworthy improvement over the 2010 model.
The four-door Patriot has plenty of room inside. There's adult-size headroom and legroom for rear-seat passengers. The 60/40-split rear seat folds flat, and a flat-folding front passenger seat is optional; with all the seats flat, you can slide an eight-foot kayak inside, for example.
Two four-cylinder engines are offered The larger of the two, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, makes 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg City, 28 mpg Highway with the manual transmission, and is standard equipment. It delivers good power; put the pedal down while cruising uphill at 75 miles per hour and it will accelerate. The smaller engine is 2.0 liters, makes 158 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque and is EPA-rated at 23/29 mpg with the manual transmission. The optional Continuously Variable Transaxle works well and we found the Auto Stick manual-shift feature useful.
We found the Patriot light and nimble on twisty roads and when maneuvering around town. Turn-in is sharp. The body is well isolated from the wheels: You can hear the tires hitting the expansion strips on the freeway, but you can't feel it. The independent suspension works well. During a long day of driving on patchy two-lanes, hard-packed dirt roads, sandy off-road trails, shallow rivers and deep gullies, it delivered steadiness and comfort in every abusive situation.
The Patriot is available with front-wheel drive or a choice of two all-wheel-drive systems, one that Jeep qualifies as Trail Rated. Those who like to go off the pavement (or tow more than 1000 pounds) should choose the Trail-Rated Freedom II AWD system. This uses gearing about 20-percent lower than the other models for steeper climbs and descents, but if you mistake it for a 4WD with a low-range transfer case like a Wrangler or Grand Cherokee you'll soon find yourself well and truly stuck.
| % Chosen by Shoppers | Average MSRP | Average CarsDirect Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 2012 Sport 4dr 4x4 | 27% | $19,403 | $18,711 |
| 2 2012 Latitude 4dr 4x4 | 25% | $24,002 | $22,805 |
| 3 2012 Sport 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 21% | $17,658 | $17,035 |
| 4 2012 Limited 4dr 4x4 | 12% | $26,830 | $25,520 |
| 5 2012 Latitude 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 10% | $21,531 | $20,430 |
| 6 2012 Limited 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 4% | $24,835 | $23,386 |
The prices above are averages across all regions — Build and price your own Jeep Patriot now »
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