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2016 Jeep Patriot Road Test and Review

Charles Krome
by Charles Krome
June 21, 2016
4 min. Reading Time
2016 Jeep Patriot

2016 Jeep Patriot

The 2016 Jeep Patriot has a notable, objective advantage for customers: It’s the least-expensive new crossover or SUV now available at dealerships. Perhaps not coincidentally, it also set an all-time sales record last year, when volume jumped ahead by 27 percent. Even as Jeep established a new benchmark for annual sales in 2015, it was the Patriot that saw the highest percentage increase in volume. Also helping matters is that the Patriot isn’t merely inexpensive. It’s an impressive value, with more cargo space than some more-expensive crossovers, a competitive range of amenities, and off-road capability that’s unbeatable in its class—after all, the Patriot is still a Jeep.

Pricing

As for how big a difference there is in MSRPs between the 2016 Jeep Patriot and its rivals, consider that the Patriot is priced from $17,695 and no other non-Jeep crossover comes in under $19,215. The next-generation Jeep Renegade stickers at $17,995, but it’s also a much smaller vehicle. In fact, that brings up an unexpected benefit of the Patriot’s old-school roots: Because it was designed before the current crop of smallest crossovers started setting a new standard for length, the Patriot has what today are considered subcompact pricing and nearly class-above, compact dimensions. It’s also worth pointing out that the Patriot’s fraternal twin, the Jeep Compass, comes with more standard equipment for $19,695.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

Trim Levels

The 2016 Jeep Patriot Sport leads off the lineup, and while it does showcase a low MSRP, the entry model may not be suitable for owners who don’t like high temperatures. That’s because it doesn’t have air conditioning; nor does it have power windows or locks. For those standard features, along with power-folding and heated exterior mirrors, 17-inch wheels and keyless entry, the Patriot provides a mid-range Latitude model.

Finally, although the Patriot really isn’t positioned as a premium vehicle, customers can enjoy another level of luxuries in the High Altitude edition. Heated, leather-trimmed front bucket seats, a power sunroof, and model-exclusive 17-inch wheels with painted pockets are all standard here, as are distinctive exterior accents.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

Power, Performance, and Efficiency

The 2016 Jeep Patriot may not be the most efficient new kid on the block, but it can touch 30 mpg with its standard powertrain. On the other hand, that setup does require a 5-speed manual transmission. If you don't mind shifting for yourself, that Patriot is rated at 23 mpg city / 30 mpg highway / 26 mpg combined with the manual gearbox and a standard 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine—good for 158 horsepower, 141 lb.-ft of torque and a tow rating of 2,000 lbs. True, that top towing limit requires an optional towing package, but many subcompact crossovers aren't rated for pulling at all. Also optional: an alternative 172-horsepower engine.

 Photo by Jeep

Photo by Jeep

Exterior Design and Lighting

With a length of 173.8 inches, the 2016 Jeep Patriot is at least 4 inches longer than all of the mainstream subcompact crossovers, including the Jeep Renegade, Honda HR-V and Chevy Trax, but stops short of the Compass by 1.3 inches. And though the Patriot and Compass are so close in length, there's no mistaking them on the road. Unlike the somewhat curvy exterior of the Compass, the Patriot relies on a more angular, upright look for an obvious family resemblance to the rugged Jeep Wrangler. It’s especially true at the front, where the Patriot and Wrangler share prominent grille bars and round headlights, the Patriot with standard halogen headlamps and front fog lights.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

Interior Design and Capacities

The 2016 Jeep Patriot also satisfies customer demand for maximum cargo space. Just compare it to subcompact rivals such as the Chevy Trax or Mazda CX-3. With all seats in use, there's 18.7 cubic feet of rear storage in the Trax, and a bare 12.4 in the CX-3; the rear cargo hold in the Patriot can hold 23 cubic feet of gear. The Patriot also leads those more expensive rivals for overall cargo capacity by more than 10 and 20 percent, respectively, with 53.5 cubic feet. Additionally, though the Patriot’s passenger space isn’t quite as modern as some of its non-Jeep competition, it can be roomier, with unmatched front and rear headroom measurements of 41 and 39.9 inches.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

Infotainment and Audio

As is the case in other areas, the 2016 Jeep Patriot makes up for what it's missing in the infotainment department by supplying some exclusive benefits of its own. So even if the Patriot doesn't have the latest in potentially driver-distracting smartphone technologies and the like, it does offer articulating audio speakers in the rear liftgate, from where they can be aimed outward for an open-air soundtrack at tailgate parties or when camping. Besides, the Patriot also keeps customers covered with the basics, including available navigation with a five-year subscription to SiriusXM Travel Link services. In the mix as well are premium audio enhanced by nine speakers from Boston Acoustics, voice recognition, and Bluetooth connectivity.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

Safety Ratings and Technology

Another similarity with the 2016 Jeep Patriot and Compass is that, despite both boasting a brand-counted "more than 30 safety and security features," neither can be ordered with today's typical driver-assistance technologies except for a rearview camera system. That said, the Patriot does meet or exceed all of the Federal Motor vehicle safety Standards and Regulations, and it's also earned "Good" grades, which are the highest available, in all IIHS Top Safety Pick crashworthiness tests except for the one for small front-overlap impacts. The Patriot has a 4 Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA, highlighted by a 5 star rating for side-crash protection.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

Other Cool Features

When it comes to cool features in a crossover/SUV, it doesn't get much cooler than the Freedom Drive II 4X4 hardware available for the 2016 Jeep Patriot. Delivering a healthy dose of Jeep's "Trail Rated" off-road capabilities, this setup starts with a continuously variable transmission engineered specifically for rock crawling, complete with a dedicated "low" mode and 19:1 crawl ratio, and matches that with 17-inch all-terrain tires, skid plates and tow hooks.

The Patriot also joins in with the rest of the Jeep roster in marking the brand’s 75th anniversary. For customers, that means a special appearance and content package that honors the Jeep’s military roots with a Recon Green exterior finish that’s accented by 17-inch Low Gloss Bronze wheels.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media

Final Thoughts

The 2016 Jeep Patriot is positioned as the “best priced SUV in America,” and while it is the least-expensive way to earn the Trail Rated badge from the brand, low pricing is far from the vehicle’s only attraction. It also makes for an ideal entry point to the Jeep family, since it serves up rugged styling, more cargo room for the money than similarly priced rivals, and just enough in the way of modern conveniences to keep its target audience happy.

 Photo by FCA Media

Photo by FCA Media


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