The 2009 Jeep Patriot compact SUV is available in base Sport and upmarket Limited trims. The price-leading Sport comes with wimpy-looking 16-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning and a CD/MP3 player with an auxiliary audio jack. Moving up to the more luxurious Limited nets 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, privacy glass, chrome exterior accents, leather trim, heated front seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat, reclining 60/40-split rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and optional uconnect GPS, a high-tech bundle that includes Bluetooth connectivity, a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic and 30 gigabytes of music storage, DVD playback on the LCD screen (when the vehicle is in Park) and voice-recognition capability. A 115-volt outlet, full power accessories, cruise control and remote keyless entry also come standard. Many of the Limited's features are available on the Sport as individual or packaged options.
Most Jeep Patriots are powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a CVT is optional. Buyers can choose from either front-wheel drive or one of two four-wheel-drive configurations -- light-duty Freedom Drive I or off-road-ready Freedom Drive II, the latter of which is available only with the CVT. Front-wheel-drive Sport models with the CVT can also be equipped with a 158-hp 2.0-liter four-banger.
EPA fuel economy estimates stand at 21 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined for Patriots equipped with the CVT and Freedom Drive I. Opting for Freedom Drive II drops those numbers to 20/22/21 mpg. Front-drive Patriots with the CVT and 2.4-liter engine are rated at 21/25/23 mpg, while the 2.0-liter engine improves fuel economy to 23/27/24.
The 2009 Jeep Patriot's 2.4-liter engine boasts a respectable 172 hp, but it still feels rather lethargic when you put your foot in it. Much of the blame here goes to the CVT, which takes its sweet time responding to significant throttle inputs. Moreover, once it figures out that you want maximum power, it holds the engine speed at redline, which sounds unpleasant enough that you'll think twice about flooring it in the future. Not surprisingly, the 2.0-liter engine is even less gratifying.
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