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Silvio Calabi: Jeep's Patriot earns respect Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Feb. 2, 2015 @ 7:10 am By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Feb. 2, 2015 @ 7:10 am » Social News These days, little old Jeep is a powerhouse division of FCA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles — a company based in the Netherlands, headquartered in London, and listed on the Milan and New York stock exchanges — and sits at the boardroom table with the likes of Ferrari and Maserati. Contrary to the dark predictions of those who remember Fiat’s previous foray into the American market, which ended badly in 1984, the takeover by the Italian giant has been nothing but positive. In year one of FCA’s announced five-year plan — 2014, that is — Jeep sales rose almost 45 percent. Who could have imagined this? For the first time ever, more than a million Jeeps rolled out of dealerships all over the globe. Many factors played a hand, and one of the biggest was an array of vehicles and prices now broad enough to appeal to all sorts of customers. Can’t swing the posh Grand Cherokee? The war-surplus Wrangler is too tractor-like, the new Cherokee too civilized, the Compass too twee, and the baby Renegade looks like a bathtub toy? (The Liberty is gone, for now.) Not to worry — we got yer Jeep right here: the homegrown, four-door Patriot. It’s not expensive and it ain’t fancy; it is small-family-size, and it will clamber over rocks and through snow (the 4×4 versions, anyway). Furthermore, with a starting price of $16,695 plus $995 destination charge, a front-wheel-drive Patriot Sport with a five-speed manual gearbox looks to be the least expensive SUV-type vehicle in the USA. To clinch the deal, even your astigmatic auntie will recognize the Patriot’s bulldog grille and rugged profile as a Jeep’s. Alongside the Sport for 2015 are three more trim levels: Altitude, Latitude and . . . no, not Longitude, but High Altitude, all with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. FWD Patriots have 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines rated for 158 horsepower and 141 lb-ft of torque. AWD Patriots have 2-4-liter Fours good for 172 horsepower and 161 torques. Some models can be ordered with six-speed automatic transmissions, and two 4WD systems are available: Freedom Drive I is basically all-wheel drive that can be locked into a 50/50 front/rear torque split; it’s available with either the manual or automatic transmissions in the Patriot Sport and with the automatic in the upper trim levels. The second system, Freedom Drive II 4WD, comes with a continuously variable transmission, a low speed range, and hill ascent and descent control, and Patriots with FDII get knobbier tires and a full-size spare, skid plates, and front and rear tow hooks. The Patriot’s stubby nose and tail provide steep approach and departure angles, so it can get its wheels up onto (and then away from) obstacles without hanging up on its bodywork. The 2015 Patriot we’ve been driving is a well-equipped upper-end Latitude 4×4 with Freedom Drive II. It listed at $25,290 and it had a further $3,325 worth of options, which included remote start, Sirius XM radio and Uconnect Voice Command with Bluetooth. We could complain about its humdrum performance, the vacuum-cleaner whine of its engine and transmission, and its lackluster character, but then we’d be missing the point. This is a jen-u-wine Trail Rated Jeep 4×4, and it costs thousands of dollars less than other Jeep wagons (even ones with fabric tops). If we go outside the Jeep tent, we’ll find plenty of compact SUVs that deliver more value for nearly 29 grand — but the average price paid for a Patriot last year was only in the high teens, and at that de-contented level the vehicle makes a lot of sense. We should also point out that since its debut, in 2007, the Patriot has been steadily, if gradually, improved inside and out. Last year, for example, the six-speed automatic transmission appeared, along with side-impact airbags for the front seats. For 2015, along with some trim changes, Garmin satnav is now available on the Latitude model; and the new High Altitude package includes the Patriot’s first leather seats, power sunroof and power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Patriot more than held up its end during Jeep’s charge to the top in last year’s sales stats, and there’s no reason to suspect that it won’t continue to do the same in 2015. Likes - Freedom II 4WD - Classic Jeep profile - Decent value at lower prices Dislikes - Sluggish performance - CV transmission - Poor value at higher prices Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Feb. 2, 2015 @ 7:10 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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