Jeep Patriot May Become Chrysler's Hero

Jeep Patriot May Become Chrysler's Hero
by Mike Bartley
After a disappointing year in 2006, Chrysler is looking for its new auto models to bring them back to profitability. One of the newest releases for the automotive group is the Jeep Patriot. The compact SUV is released shortly after the launch of the bigger Compass.Although the Patriot is significantly smaller than the Compass and other Jeep vehicles, it is still recognizable as a Jeep. This is because of the imposing Jeep trademark grille. While smaller than the Compass, the Patriot is equipped with the same engine as the Compass. Aside from the similarity in the powerplant under the hood of the two Jeeps, they also share the same drivetrain system, body platform and suspension configurations.The Patriot is being marketed by the Chrysler Group as a vehicle with an SUV packaging and an interior flexibility while having the performance, handling, and fuel economy of a hatchback. Priced lower than the Compass, the Patriot is a good choice for auto buyers looking for crossover SUVs.The Patriot is offered with two engine choices. The first one is a 2.4-liter gasoline engine. This powerplant can produce as much as 168 horsepower - enough to give the compact SUV its requirement for power. The second engine offered with the Patriot is a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine. According to Jeep, this diesel engine can produce as much as 138 horsepower.These engines will be complemented by Jeep's all-wheel drive system. The said system automatically switches between two and four wheel drive to suit the terrain. If traction is needed on all wheels, the system will deliver power to all the wheels. When two wheels can provide traction for the vehicle, it automatically switches on the four-wheel drive system.According to Steve Gray, the marketing director for the Chrysler Group in the UK, the Patriot is an important addition to their lineup. "The Patriot is an important entry point model for us," says Gray. "Key players in the compact SUV segment have all recently introduced new models, the Honda CR-V, the Land Rover Freelander and the Toyota RAV4; they are all bigger and more expensive than the models they replace.""Their move up in size and price gives us an opportunity in the car derived SUV sector. The most obvious competitors now are the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Chevrolet Captiva and Suzuki Grand Vitara but SUV and hatchback crossover models such as the Volkswagen Golf Plus and Nissan Qashqai are also competitors," he added.According to Chrysler Group, the Patriot has between 1.5 to 19.4 percent better value than its competitors if disparity in specification is adjusted.Gray sings the Patriot praises by saying: "The Patriot is modern, but still styled as a traditional Jeep and we have not had this price range before in the Jeep brand. It is lighter and more fuel efficient. Modern electronics allow the vehicle to be driven in front wheel drive or four wheel drive automatically. The Patriot brings nippiness, agility and yet it is fuel efficient.""Customers for the Patriot will be classic Jeep buyers but a greater number, and our primary targets, are young families and second car users," added Gray.The Patriot's exterior look is also a strong selling point for it. Its rugged looks will be hard not to flaunt that owners might not be using their Jeep Bestop car cover frequently.