KEY POINTS:
Goodbye, Jeep Compass - you were ill-conceived, ugly and thoroughly underwhelming. Actually, our farewell is a little premature. The strangely angular Compass - Jeep's first "cross-over" model, designed primarily for on-road driving - is still on sale.
But it must be living on borrowed time with the arrival of the Patriot, which is identical under the skin but comes wrapped in distinctive and rather appealing styling that's recognisably "Jeep."
As opposed to the Compass, which is wrapped in styling from some other world that design sense forgot.
Whether Jeep is damaging its brand credibility by offering "soft-road" wagons that aren't really designed to delve into the rough stuff is a moot point. What does seem clear is that if you're buying a Jeep - even one for the supermarket run - you want it to look like a Jeep.
The Compass doesn't and it has sold dismally in New Zealand but sky-
high prices were also partly to blame.
Underneath and in the cabin, the Patriot is pure Compass. It's based on a platform co-developed between one-time partner Chrysler Group, which owns the Jeep brand, Mitsubishi and Hyundai. Our petrol-engined test car is powered by a version of the World engine from the same project, and matched to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
There's another big plus for the Patriot, and that's the price. The model was introduced around the same time that Mercedes-Benz divested itself of the Chrysler Group, and Chrysler Australia stepped in to take greater control of the brand in New Zealand.
The first thing the Aussies did was adopt a new Kiwi pricing strategy that put the Patriot right at the pointy end of the compact-crossover class for value. Just how cheap is it? Our Patriot 2.4 Limited is the top-specification version with all the bells and whistles, such as leather upholstery and a premium sound system.
Yet at $38,990, it undercuts the entry-level Honda CR-V (until recently, a value leader in this segment) by $1000. The Compass also benefits from the new pricing and sells for the same price model-for-model as the Patriot - but it might just be too little, too late for a crossover so lacking in styling direction.
Despite the carryover underpinnings from the Compass, the Patriot seems to have a more secure relationship with terra firma thanks to small changes in suspension tune.
The steering suffers from kickback in bumpy corners but is consistent and fairly quick at just 2.9 turns lock-to-lock, while the chassis is capable of carrying the car through corners at a pretty decent pace.
It's not sporty like the CR-V, but it's certainly nothing to complain about.
Performance is strong from the 2.4-litre petrol engine and it works well as an urban tool, but the harsh soundtrack and whiny gearless-CVT are annoying if you're determined to drive quickly. The CVT, which slides up and down the rev range in lieu of changing between set gear ratios, does have a pseudo-manual mode with six preset steps the driver can choose from, but overall it's rather unconvincing.
Even in manual mode, you can hear "slip" from the transmission as it reacts to changing engine speed.
The powertrain problem can be solved by stepping down into the base Patriot and opting for a manual gearbox (the three-pedal shifter is not offered with the petrol-Limited).
Or you can spend another $2000 and get the excellent diesel version, with a VW-sourced powerplant and six-speed manual transmission. At these prices, you can afford to.
On paper, the Patriot wants for little in cabin equipment - there's the leather, heated front seats, a nifty centre-console mount for your iPod and deep-tint side windows.
But as with so much mainstream American product, it's also clearly a car built down to a price. The interior architecture lacks flair, the plastics are brittle and marred by rough edges, and the steering wheel lacks telescopic adjustment. Comfort and convenience is a little below par, too - the front chairs lack support and rear-seat/cargo space is merely acceptable for the class.
The Patriot is not a groundbreaking model by any stretch of the imagination. But it looks good, is well-equipped and provides a decent driving experience. If the Jeep image appeals, at this price it'll be a pretty hard car to look past.
WE LIKE: Projects the right "Jeep" image, drives well and really cheap.
WE DON'T LIKE: The whiny transmission, average quality and poorly packaged.
THE FACTS
Basic price: $38,990.
Options fitted: None.
Price as tested: $38,990.
Warranty: 3 years/100,000 km.
POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE
Engine: 2360cc inline petrol four.
Power: 125kW at 6000rpm.
Torque: 220Nm at 4500rpm.
Transmission: Continuously variable Transmission (CVT) with six-step mode, on-demand four-wheel drive with switchable differential lock.
Performance: 0-100km/h in 12.0 seconds.
European Combined fuel consumption: 9.7 litres per 100km.
SAFETY
Active driver aids: Anti-lock braking with force distribution and brake assist, traction and stability control.
Passive restraints: Front, side and curtain airbags, five lap-sash seatbelts.
EuroNCAP adult occupant crash test rating: Not tested.
VITAL STATISTICS
Wheels and tyres: 17-inch alloy wheels, 225/45 tyres.
Length: 4408mm.
Height: 1667mm.
Width: 1785mm.
Wheelbase: 2635mm.
Kerb weight: 1570kg.
Boot volume: 334/1277 litres (seats up/down).
Fuel tank: 58 litres.
* THE RIVALS
Mitsubishi Outlander XLS
Price: $39,990.
Powertrain: 127kW/230Nm 2.4-litre petrol four, CVT with six-step mode, switchable front/four-wheel drive with differential lock, ADR fuel economy 9.3 litres/100km.
Same platform/powertrain as the Patriot, but so much more sexy. Good to drive and comes with the bonus of foldaway third-row seating.
Honda CR-V RVI
Price: $39,900.
Powertrain: 125kW/218Nm 2.4-litre petrol four, 5-speed automatic, on-demand four-wheel drive, ADR fuel economy 10.0 litres/100km.
Arguably the least competent of this class off-road, inescapably the best on-road. The low, lean CR-V is really a wagon in crossover clothes.
Nissan X-Trail ST
Price: $42,990.
Powertrain: 125kW/226Nm 2.5-litre petrol four, CVT with six-step mode, switchable front/four-wheel drive with differential lock, ADR fuel economy 9.3 litres/100km.
The brand new X-Trail scores with blokey image and outstanding build quality. The entry ST misses out on stability control, though.
