When it comes to SUVs, the Chrysler Corporation's Jeep brand is easily the most iconic of all the marques in this segment of the marketplace. In fact, the imaginations of most people conjure an image of a Jeep when the phrase SUV is employed in conversation. Over the years, there have been a number of vehicles introduced by the brand. All have shared one primary quality, the ability to go anywhere at any time, regardless of the conditions along the way.
This heritage goes all the way back to World War II and the rugged general purpose (or GP) vehicles developed for the American Armed Forces. Lightweight, rugged, and capable of traversing a broad variety of terrain, the GP (or Jeep) vehicle endeared itself to an entire generation. Remarkably, that affection has endured and been passed down to and through subsequent generations.
And, while today's Jeep Wrangler is the most direct descendent of that first GP vehicle, the Jeep Patriot, while capturing many of the qualities of its forebear, provides a useful bridge from the past to the future of SUVs. As more and more drivers have begun to embrace the crossover concept, the Jeep Patriot provides much of the capability of the Jeep Wrangler, without imposing the penalties that single purpose vehicle requires.
Additionally, the Jeep Patriot’s look reflects its heritage, while its comfort and stability embrace modern realities. Introduced in 2006 at the New York Auto Show as a 2007 model, the Jeep Patriot is still in its first generation of production
