Opinions, 2015 Jeep Patriot.

[Astro14]

I just turned in a Patriot rental car from Hertz here in Denver.

I did not like it.

It's cheap in every sense of the word. It has a decent, if a bit bouncy, ride. The driver position for me was uncomfortable because of the non-adjustable wheel (tilt only). If I were shorter, then it might be OK. The seats are thinly padded and flat, but not terrible. I've seen worse on the seats.

The engine is coarse and quite weak. They do the typical cheap car throttle mapping so that you get about 75% of the engine's power in the first 25% of throttle pedal movement. Beyond that, there is more noise, but very little forward thrust. It's hard to merge onto a highway with such an underpowered car mated to a transmission that always seems to pick the wrong gear.

Mine was an attractive red color, and it's cute looking (not my style but not bad looking) but I could never own one. It just doesn't drive well (4 banger and six speed).

If you're looking for max interior volume at minimum cost, and you like the looks, it might be for you, but I sure didn't like driving it.

 

[doitmyself]

JTK,

The Patriot is an entry level, budget vehicle. You get what you pay for. Since the 2011+ refresh, you don't see the problems of the early generations if you visit jeeppatriot.com. Ball joints and sun roof leaks plagued the early models.

IMO, the CVT is poorly programmed in the Patriot. JATCO has had issues (visit Nisan forums)and they never garnered the "approval" that Subaru and Honda seem to with their new CVT's. The current 6 speed is not a 61TE. It is a Powertech 6F24 (Hyundai) that has been in use for several years in various other vehicles.

Are you sure you need 4wd? The 2wd. Patriot is very snow worthy with a good set of tires, just like most front wheel drives. In 2wd, you are $17- $19 k, tax, title, out the door.

The engine is very reliable, but unrefined. Chrysler bought out the rights to the GEMA engine and made a few improvements (per my MOPAR dealer mechanic friend). Google GEMA engine problems and there are zero hits. Try that with Subaru and others. The 2.4L is adequate for power,but certainly won't interest driving enthusiasts.

The review sites hate the outdated Patriot. Owner's reviews are quite good, for those that chose an econobox for what it is. I think the value is in the base model. Once you start adding frills, you can probably get basic models of the CRV,RAV4, or Forester for similar pricing. After 6 years or so, the extra cost of these brands probably evens out, if you consider resale value, etc.. Although, 5 year cost of ownership on several sites (KBB, etc.) puts the Patriot as one of the lowest.

Patriot enthusiasts like the traditional Jeep styling vs. the jelly bean, look alike versions of today's CUV's. It's a Jeep thing.

In spite of how it looks, visibility seems a bit difficult for short people. The belt line is very high. The placement of the seats, pillars, large hood, etc. makes it a bit difficult to see (compared to my old Caravan with superb visibility). I haven't driven the other CUV's to compare.

25 to 30 mpg seems average for the 2wd. version.

The Patriot is what it is. Cheap transportation that has a small amount of utilitarian function (not nearly as functional as a mini van.). I have driven 5 year old US Forest Service owned Patriots that seem to be holding up well, considering they probably get treated like rentals.

 

[JTK]

I do appreciate the feedback on this. Like said, cheap and enty level aside, it's still quite an upgrade compared to the Vibe IMO. Regardless , I have to get mom out car shopping. Based on past experience, I have a feeling Jeep will have the better deal in terms of trade in allowance. That's the major player in this. I know selling outright is the better option, but it's not going to happen in this case.

 

[VNTS]

the new patriots dont have the CVT, it is a 6spd auto.

Let your mother go test drive and price a few cars in that class and let her decide.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
the new patriots dont have the CVT, it is a 6spd auto.

Let your mother go test drive and price a few cars in that class and let her decide.


The trail rated FDII version still comes with the CVT in order to achieve the required lower "gearing". It has about a dozen different features compared to the FDI version and gets lower mpg. The FDII is about as capable of a unibody off road vehicle as there is. I believe they have a trail rated version of the new Renegade also. And, so I don't get any "guff", Trail Rated is a Jeep marketing term that just indicates it is set up to take substantially more off road rigors compared to conventional vehicles. Nothing magic.

 

[JTK]

Correct, if I'm reading the Jeep website correctly, the 2.0L can have the 5spd manual or CVT still. I browsed through a good 50 of them at my closest Jeep dealer's lot and did not see a single Patriot Sport with the $16795 MSRP. The cheapest sticker I saw was just over $22K and this was a 4x4 w/ roll-up windows. Not sure if it had A/C or not. They can be had w/out air.

 

[doitmyself]

That 16K MSRP does not include destination and is REALLY a base version. You occasionally see dealers offering one of these for about $13 -14K as a loss leader to get customers in the door and talk them into more.

I did a quick New York dealer inventory search off the Jeep site and found the cheapest with 2.4L (recommended), air cond., and 6 speed auto for:

2wd - $20,800
4wd - $22,600

There is at least a $2k incentive now (I think). With my skills

, I think I could buy each at $18,800/$20,600 out the door (tax, title, etc. included).

These would have crank up windows, basic radio, 16 inch steel wheels.....very few frills beyond the standard cruise control, tinted windows, traction control,.......

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I almost bought one of these. The owners manual for 2010 or 2011 (can't remember if it was a leftover 2010 or a 2011) said to change the timing belt at 90000 miles or thereabouts. I didn't want a timing belt vehicle.

Turns out, it was just a generic "hey do this" and there is no timing belt on the Mitsu/Hyundai engine!

 

[mtndew_dad]

Originally Posted By: stumpypete
My daughter-in-law bought one new last year and I was concerned about Jeep reliability but as I recall was pleasantly surprised to learn it's rated by CR as one of the most reliable Jeeps they make. She had a TPMS warning light issue that corrected itself after awhile and other than that has had no problems. It's a decent enough car to drive and she bought it for the reason you mention. She wanted a new, affordable 4wd and because they are coming to the end of their production life the Jeep folks were very aggressive on pricing and generous on her trade-in.


Being the most reliable Jeep sets the bar fairly low, no?

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
.. The current 6 speed is not a 61TE. It is a Powertech 6F24 (Hyundai) that has been in use for several years in various other vehicles.


Thanks for that! I saw one of your posts on this from some time back as well.

I know they're marketed as filled for life, but do they have a drain plug on the bottom of the case like some Hyundai ATs do/did?

I have no issues with Hyundai ATs. I actually liked the F4A51 4spd in my 2008 Santa Fe AWD.. Mostly 'cause it had a drain plug and a dipstick.

Between my schedule and mom's, we still haven't had a chance to car shop.

I've had some internet conversations with a local Toyota store and a Mitsubishi store. Neither would talk price over the interwebs, or quote even a ball-park range on the trade in. Really annoying. I bought a brand new Nissan Sentra back in 2001, trading in a 1993 Sentra. Did the whole thing over the innertube, only having to stop in to finalize and sign the paperwork.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I think a lot of dealerships hesitate to put anything in writing anymore. They know it makes it easy for folks to sit back and play one against the other from their living room in their pajamas.

My dad bought his 2000 F-550 over email. The one he wanted was from Centurion with a pickup bed with the required spacer. This package was pretty much available to any Ford dealer. He emailed around to dealers (and there were a lot in the Northern VA area) with the price he was willing to pay and he bought it from the single dealer who wrote him back who'd accept his price.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
.. The current 6 speed is not a 61TE. It is a Powertech 6F24 (Hyundai) that has been in use for several years in various other vehicles.




I've had some internet conversations with a local Toyota store and a Mitsubishi store. Neither would talk price over the interwebs, or quote even a ball-park range on the trade in. Really annoying. I bought a brand new Nissan Sentra back in 2001, trading in a 1993 Sentra. Did the whole thing over the innertube, only having to stop in to finalize and sign the paperwork.


Sounds like you need to broaden your scope, say 50 or 100 miles.

The dealerships that will not quote you price over the net (yet are still using it to generate leads anyway) are generally the ones that you do not want to deal with anyway. The only thing they want to do is get you in the door and beat you down.

I don't play their game. If they don't quote a price as the result of my initial Email, we don't deal. Bought my last 5 vehicles via Email with a closing phone call. Only time that I walk in the door is to sign paperwork, pay and drive off.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo

I don't play their game. If they don't quote a price as the result of my initial Email, we don't deal. Bought my last 5 vehicles via Email with a closing phone call. Only time that I walk in the door is to sign paperwork, pay and drive off.


Did you have a trade in all 5 times?

I hear you, but I have a trade-in to deal with and an ornery mom who'd likely not cotton to the 50-100mi away thing.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: mtndew_dad
Originally Posted By: stumpypete
My daughter-in-law bought one new last year and I was concerned about Jeep reliability but as I recall was pleasantly surprised to learn it's rated by CR as one of the most reliable Jeeps they make. She had a TPMS warning light issue that corrected itself after awhile and other than that has had no problems. It's a decent enough car to drive and she bought it for the reason you mention. She wanted a new, affordable 4wd and because they are coming to the end of their production life the Jeep folks were very aggressive on pricing and generous on her trade-in.


Being the most reliable Jeep sets the bar fairly low, no?


Maybe, maybe not. Subaru has a much higher bar, but if you dig very shallow, you find quite a few serious engine issues over the years, including the current FB25 oil consumption problem. What if you were one of the ones affected by the recent Honda VCM debacle? How about Toyota's recent rash of recalls?

If you judge a complete brand you might miss a "silk purse" within the group of sow's ears. The Patriot is certainly no silk purse, but even the ball joints and/or sunroof leaks of the first generation are much easier to deal with than a serious engine problem.

I had excellent luck with three short wheelbase, 4cyl. Caravans over several decades. They were reliable and had low cost of ownership in spite of mediocre magazine reviews. I think driving habits and vehicle care can influence reliability to a certain extent. The Patriot is an entry level, econo box CUV. If it meets ones needs,.......

To each, their own. Chrysler certainly has a storied past with it's multiple ownership. But, every brand has skeletons in their closets. Que sera sera (thank you Doris).

To JTK, your trade in and distance requirements might mean you will not achieve the best deal. Convenience sometimes costs money. That's o.k. too.

Best of luck. Make sure you don't get stuck with that "no good deed goes unpunished" situation.

 

[Shrubitup]

Reliability score of well below average.

http://tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/Jeep.html

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Shrubitup
Reliability score of well below average.

http://tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/Jeep.html


Based on a sample of 497 vehicles with an average of 96,000 miles? Probably all first generation, pre 2011 refresh, built by a company going through bankruptcy.

That would be like judging the current Honda Odyssey based on mid-2000's models that had epidemic transmission failures.

Data has to be scrutinized very carefully for relevance and accuracy. The Honda CRV has well above average reliability(but no record for its new CVT tranny). So if that vehicle makes sense for the buyer(cost,style,function), then by all means it seems to be the clear choice (Rav4 = average and Forester = below average).

 

[Shrubitup]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Originally Posted By: Shrubitup
Reliability score of well below average.

http://tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/Jeep.html


Based on a sample of 497 vehicles with an average of 96,000 miles? Probably all first generation, pre 2011 refresh, built by a company going through bankruptcy.



It's a data point and conducted by a university vice some ad-driven internet hack site. Yes, their data set is lacking in late model cars unfortunately.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Shrubitup
It's a data point and conducted by a university vice some ad-driven internet hack site. Yes, their data set is lacking in late model cars unfortunately.


University researchers are driven by access to grant money and requirements to get published. Even peer reviewed scientific research (which I don't believe your source is)can have agendas and slip through the cracks. My point: the term University does not automatically = research reliability.

The flaw that I see with that particular reliability site is " based on reliability data collected from trade-in vehicles" and "centered on powertrain(engine/transmission)issues, and the distribution of vehicles based on mileage".

Can you imagine the bias' associated with collecting information from ONLY trade in vehicles?? The "best" vehicles that are kept long term and sold privately or junked are not included in the data.

You are correct, it is a data point. But, remember the old research adage "garbage in = garbage out".

It's been fun having a friendly spar with you, but I don't wish to continue this off topic for the OP. Also, I am not a fanboy of any brand, especially Chrysler. I can find fault with any brand and come up with quotes of "last brand x I'll ever buy" for all of them. One can only research whats available, hope to hedge your bets, and plunk down your money.

Take care.

 

[SteveSRT8]

^^^Excellent posts about analyzing the data and how it was gathered.

Junk IMO. Too small of a sample and extremely tilted due to it being only trade ins...

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
^^^Excellent posts about analyzing the data and how it was gathered.

Junk IMO. Too small of a sample and extremely tilted due to it being only trade ins...

The link is comparing the Patriot only to other trade-ins though, and a few hundred samples would be enough to have lots of confidence in the comparison if there was no bias in the sampling.
That said, the later Patriots were right on the average for all trade ins, so a 2010 or 11 would be a decent buy, with a bad reputation, but average defects.