Both cars we drove had the 2.4-liter engine and we found it to be competent. Acceleration didn’t snap our necks, but there was enough for routine driving and safe highway passing. Refinement was short of whisper quiet, though at the same time it wasn’t overly thrashy. The five-speed manual transmission was a joy, with a quirky, bent shift lever that rested perfectly in relation to the center armrest, offering tight shifts matched by a light-effort clutch. The optional CVT, which we experienced off road and for the 50-mile drive home, was marked by smooth action at all speeds, yet caused the engine to rev constantly. That constant redline treatment was loud, annoying, and reduced what refinement the Patriot offered.