Introduction

The 2017 Jeep Patriot might be dated, but it still offers good value. It's a far better vehicle than the original Patriot. It might not be equipped as well as some of its rivals, but it's a sensible package with real Jeep character and enough civility to be a good family vehicle. 

The Patriot compares with mainstream crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, and smaller models like the Subaru Crosstrek, Nissan Juke, or Mazda CX-5. 

It doesn't look much like the Jeep Compass, which Jeep markets as a more premium model, but beneath its sheetmetal the Patriot is basically the same, with a lower price and available stripped-down. 

The Patriot will be redesigned for 2018, so for 2017 it's unchanged. Base engine is a 2.0-liter four cylinder making 158 horsepower and using a standard 5-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This engine only comes with front-wheel drive, which sort of defeats the purpose of a Jeep. If that's all you want, there are better crossovers. 

The other engine is a 2.4-liter four cylinder making 172 hp with that 5-speed gearbox or a 6-speed automatic. It comes with all-wheel drive. 

The Patriot performs well in some crash tests, but scores a Poor rating from the IIHS in the small-overlap frontal crash test. 

The 2.0-liter engine with 5-speed gearbox and front-wheel drive delivers an EPA rating of 23/30 miles per gallon City/Highway, or 26 mpg Combined. With the 2.4 liter, 6-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, mileage drops to 20/26/22 miles per gallon City/Highway/Combined. 

Lineup

The 2017 Jeep Patriot Sport ($17,895) comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, manually operated windows and door locks. All-wheel drive is available ($19,895). 

Patriot Latitude ($22,395) and Latitude 4WD ($25,695) upgrade with power locks and windows and upgraded seating and tires. The High Altitude Edition ($1045) is a package for the Latitude with leather-trimmed seats, special interior and exterior trim and other features. 

Walkaround

The Patriot is boxy, trim and bold. 

Interior

Even in the range-topping High Altitude with all the interior features including leather upholstery, the Patriot cabin feels like it's about durability, not luxury. 

The interior is useful, with rear seatbacks that easily flip forward to yield good cargo space. There's decent room in front, but not much rear space for passengers to stretch out. Climbing in and out is very easy thanks to the high roof that also gives ample headroom front and rear. But there's a boxed-in feeling, because the seating position is low, the dash high, and roof pillars thick. 

Driving Impression

There's a Freedom Drive II package for buyers who take their Patriot offroad. It includes higher ground clearance, hill descent control, skid plates, tow hooks, and unfortunately the CVT, whose uncouth demeanor makes the Patriot less drivable on the road. It feels like a big rubber band, the fat Achilles heel of many CVTs. 

The good news is that the available 6-speed automatic transmission works exceptionally well on the highway. 

Summary

It's all about the price with the Patriot. We can't say it does much of anything better than its more modern competitors, but if you can get one for thousands of dollars less, it might work just fine for you. However if you go with the 2.4-liter engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, as you should, it might wipe out the price advantage. 

Sam Moses contributed to this report.