Brand Loyal; Patriot caps off a Jeep porduct blitz.(News)

Byline: Roger Hart

If you walked into a Jeep dealership in 2004, there were just three models to choose from: Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Wrangler. Today that number has more than doubled with the addition of the Commander, the four-door Wrangler, the Compass and the latest entry, the Patriot.

Quantity does not mean quality, as our test of the Jeep Compass bore out (Lost, AW Nov. 27, 2006). For the most part, we like the Patriot-Jeep's entry-level five-door compact SUV-better than the more carlike Compass, which is also built off the Dodge Caliber platform. But the two share some major componentry, and therein lie most of our complaints.

The Patriot comes equipped with either a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 158 hp and 141 lb-ft of torque or a 2.4-liter four that develops 172 hp and 165 lb-ft. A five-speed manual is standard on the 2.4-liter engine, while a continuously variable transmission is standard on the 2.0-liter and optional on the 2.4. Patriots can be ordered in 2wd (driving the front wheels) or 4wd. There are two levels of 4wd: Freedom Drive I, a full-time, active 4wd system where the front wheels do most of the work until they lose traction; and Freedom Drive II, the Trail Rated version. This system includes hill-descent control and a low gear ratio helpful for off-roading.

Each system operates through an electronically controlled coupling attached to the rear axle. Torque is transmitted to the rear wheels via a two-stage clutch. The electronics calculate vehicle speed, turning radius and wheel slippage and transfer power based on the readings.

Trail Rated Patriots come fitted with 3.1-mm-thick engine and fuel-tank skid plates, a heavy-duty alternator, a higher-capacity cooling system and 17-inch tires allowing for 9 inches of ground clearance. They also come with the CVT and its stump-pulling 19:1 ratio as the only choice. Even though we went through and over some rugged backcountry in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Scottsdale, Arizona, we're not sure how many Patriot owners will buy the compact ute for its off-road prowess. No question, it has the street cred to go way beyond ...