Q: Is the Jeep Patriot a good and safe car?
A: no Highs: Transmission, unique interior features. Lows: Acceleration, engine noise, driving position, visibility, front-seat comfort, fit and finish. Jeep's second small SUV is based on the Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber, but with a more upright body and more interior space. It uses the same 2.0- and 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engines found in the Caliber, which we found slow and noisy. We got 20 mpg overall with the 2.4-liter engine. Ride and handling are acceptable but not impressive. Interior fit and finish is subpar. Front- and all-wheel-drive versions are available. The Patriot is not designed for serious off-roading but is capable for the occasional trail excursion. An optional off-road package has a hill-descent system and an extra-low gear in the CVT. Five-speed manual and CVT transmissions are offered. ConsumerReports owner reviews: Not the most powerful vehicle in the world. Transmission searches looking for a way to maintain speed. Had a electrical problem that left us stranded at an ATM. The vehicle would not shift out of park. But they did not put in the manual that there is an override on the side of the shift console under a small removable plastic cap. Armrests are very hard and uncomfortable on long road trips. Small gas tank, 4th gear is pretty much worthless as the ratio is too close to 5th leading to poor acceleration and a lot of 5-3 downshifts in traffic. No assist to open the hood which can be a problem. The hood is very heavy. Also the gas milage does not reach the EPA estimate. Instead of 22 in the city look for 19 mpg all around. the center console and the door arm rests are very hard and uncomfortable to your elbows. It is surprising that Jeeps do not come with FOG LIGHTS as standard equipment it will cost almost $400 to have a dealer put them in. The cup holders in front are in a bad location. Cheap interior finishes of hard plastic. Supplemental front side airbags are hard to find. Manufacturer could have made them standard as they are worth the price ($250) and in my opinion safety features should never be an option. Recommended Alternatives Hyundai Tucson Honda CR-V