In its earlier days, Jeep focused on creating SUVs that made up for their lack of style with great off-road abilities. The 2016 Patriot harks back to these days with its simple, boxy look, toned-down interior, and Trail Rated capabilities with its optional Freedom Drive II system.
Pricing and Equipment
The Jeep Patriot continues to be one of the lowest-priced compact crossovers on the market. For 2016, the Patriot Sport at just $17,295. Standard features are decent for that low starting price, as they include:
- Cruise control
- Roof rails
- Fog lights
- Tilt steering wheel
For buyers looking for more in terms of features, there are four other trims: Altitude, Latitude, High Altitude, and Limited.
Performance Pros
Despite its small stature, the Patriot is actually a pretty decent off-road vehicle. Add in the Freedom Drive II system, and it even earns a Trail Rated badge. It's also highly maneuverable and gets up to 30 mph highway with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive.
Performance Cons
There's a lot we don't like about the Patriot's performance. The two biggest culprits are a base engine with only 158 horsepower, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that's required if you want the Freedom Drive II system.
Interior Pros
- The Patriot's cabin provides lots of utility with plenty of cargo room and ample space in the rear seat.
- There are also plenty of premium features in higher trim levels.
Interior Cons
- We think the cabin's utilitarian design is fairly bland.
- The fact that a crossover does not come standard with air conditioning in 2016 blows out minds.
The Most Pleasant Surprise
Most small crossovers do not have the greatest off-road capabilities, but the Patriot isn't like most small crossovers. In out experience, this small people-hauler is quite capable with the Freedom Drive II system, which includes a low range and additional skid plates.
The Least Pleasant Surprise
For such a small crossover, fuel economy is abysmal with four-wheel drive and the CVT. The EPA rates this version of the Patriot at 20 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. These are performance-car numbers, not compact crossover numbers.
The Bottom Line
As a small crossover with decent off-road capabilities, the Patriot fits a rather narrow niche. If you can get past the crummy fuel economy and utilitarian interior design, it can offer good value.
