Imagine you're a car company executive. Your company has built its reputation on serious offroaders, but the writing's on the wall -- you have to get a piece of this softroader action. Not only for the sales it will generate but for the new customers and markets it brings to your brand.
Your platform and hard points are set -- shared with other companies' hatches and softroaders -- and you send your stylists away to come up with 'The Look.'
But they can't make the hard decision and they come back with two cars: one that introduces a newer, 'softer' look; the other almost a caricature of past product -- penned as if it's been put in the dryer and shrunk. The former will probably gain you new customers, the other will ensure you retain those whose hearts and minds you already influence.
So which one do you build? In the case of Jeep… Both!
Enter the subject of this launch drive, the second road-oriented Jeep softroader and sistership to Compass, the 'seriously Jeep' Patriot.
In Jeep parlance the Patriot is Jeep 'Classic' to the Compass' Jeep 'Modern'. Classic translates as more traditional styling -- harder edges, a more upright windscreen and seven-slot grille, a clamshell bonnet and signature round headlamps.
Looking like a cross between an old-style Cherokee and a pumped up Subaru Forester, the Patriot debuted in the USA earlier this year. Now it's our turn, with international markets including Australia getting their first drive of the softroader in Oregon on the US West Coast last week.
For this tester it was very much a case of déjà vu. To state the obvious, the Patriot sounds, feels and performs just like its 'twin under the panels,' the Compass. Indeed, save for the sheet metal and 'top hat', the two are all but identical -- same mechanicals, same interior execution (even down the 'compass point' details on the instruments), H-points (seating positions), critical dimensions and so on.
In fact, the main differentiating USP (unique selling proposition) between the Compass and Patriot -- the availability of an optional 'Trail Rated' offroad pack on the latter -- is not offered outside the USA. Not yet anyway (see below).
The Carsales Network reviewed the Compass at its launch back in March. Rather than regurgitate chapter and verse in this First Drive of the Patriot, we suggest interested parties should click here to learn more about the Compass. Do a find/change on the model name and read away -- the cars really are identical in terms of performance.
Back then we were pleasantly surprised with the softroader's overall manners across a range of roads in Tassie's wild west. We were particularly taken with the turbodiesel/six-speed manual version.
Using that same 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve powerplant, the turbodiesel was (not surprisingly) also the pick of the Patriots -- this time across a range of roads in Oregon's wild west.
Not only is the VW-sourced turbodiesel frugal -- Jeep claims 6.7lt/100km (0.2lt thirstier than the Compass thanks to that more upright 'Classic' styling) -- but the 103kW powerplant's 310Nm of torque gives the wee Jeep the sort of muscular midrange you'd normal attribute to a medium-sized petrol six.
As is the case with the Compass, the 125kW petrol 2.4-litre 'World Engine' is adequate rather than inspiring. The engine is refined and features variable valve timing for a salt lake flat power curve but it's close to 30 per cent less torquey than its diesel equivalent and it shows.
It showed on the steep fire trails we traversed in the tall timbered Oregonian mountains where the oiler would happily lug up quite steep sections in third gear. The petrol needed second, more throttle and more revs. On the open road, the TDI was quiet and delivered flexible overtaking urge.
It also showed its mettle on the expansive sand dune test area Jeep laid on for the Patriot launch. Here among the ATVs, sand rails and motocross bikes, with the sole pre-prep being dropping the tyres to around 16psi and the Jeep's Freedom Drive I all-wheel drive system in Lock mode, the Patriot proved quite capable.
Yes, we got it stuck -- by deliberately doing all the wrong things with four onboard on a steep, deep sand section -- but equally we managed to extract ourselves without too much fuss. Adventurous Patriot/Compass drivers take note, however: you need to 'extinguish' the traction control each and every time you restart the car -- a pain when you stall a couple of times while trying to unbog yourself.
In this going again the diesel proved to be the pick, even deep power-sapping sand found it hard to pull it 'off the pipe.'
Both wheel travel and clearance are always going to be the limiting factor on softroaders and the Patriot is no exception -- it'll arrive Down Under in exactly the same trim as the Compass. And it's here where we think Jeep may have missed the boat with the new entrant.
As noted above, US buyers can opt for a 'Trail Rated' version of the Patriot. And we reckon that could be just the thing the doctor ordered locally -- not only in terms of differentiating Patriot from Compass, but also in attracting new blood to the Jeep brand.
Priced as a modest $US750 upgrade, the Offroad Pack delivers a (slightly) harder edge to the softroader.
Only available on the petrol/CVT combination, the option pack features revised (lower) gearing for the CVT transmission, more aggressive and higher-profile tyres and a handy 25-30mm suspension lift. Also included in the upgrade are beefier lower rear control arms, full underbody protection, tow hooks and upgrades to the Patriot's transmission cooler, radiator and alternator.
Jeep says around 10 per cent of US Patriot buyers are opting for the offroad pack which also includes recalibrated software for the Freedom Drive I all-wheel drive system as well as Hill Start and Hill Descent functions. We reckon it could account for a much higher percentage Down Under -- especially as the most capable of the current crop of compact softroaders, Nissan's X-TRAIL, is about to arrive in a new version that isn't so… err.. compact.
For the time being, when the Patriot arrives in August, Aussie buyers will only be able to choose from Sport or Limited versions -- a la Compass.
The Sport boasts body colour grille and fascia and can be picked thanks to black door handles and roof rails. Power windows and mirrors, aircon, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels (with full-size steel spare for Oz), front and rear foglamps and keyless entry and alarm are all expected to be standard on the Oz spec car.
We're picking Jeep Australia will also include it's 'Yes Essentials' stain and mildew resistant cloth for seat facings as per the Compass. And if the Compass is anything to go by, the Limited will likely add leather heated seats, better audio and perhaps 18-inch wheels and tyres.
Safety features such as ESP and the above mentioned traction control and front and curtain airbags will be included on both models.
The full specifications and pricing of each version are yet to be confirmed but Jeep Australia staffers say, spec-for-spec, the Patriot will undercut the Compass by between $1000-1200.
