Patriot in the Market
There's a lot to like about the Patriot. Even after you adjust the price to add the missing basic features — air conditioning, power windows, locks and side mirrors, etc. — it's pretty reasonably priced. As for its place in the market, this brand with ostensible SUV credibility is coming to this segment awfully late. At least a newfound interest in fuel economy is in its favor, particularly for a capable off-roader, most of which are heavy-duty and inefficient. That the Patriot can't tackle the toughest trails is irrelevant; knowing that one could go off-road has been more than enough to satisfy many an SUV buyer over the years. Authenticity — real or inferred — sells.
I was baffled that Jeep was building two models so similar in size and price off this platform. As it turns out, it's a good thing they did. The Compass itself is baffling enough. Before either came out, industry analysts and other random smarty pantses pondered if a lighter-duty model with Jeep's first-ever application of front-wheel drive would hurt the brand. The answer is no. A poorly executed model — of any configuration — would. Now at least buyers have an alternative.
See also:
Memo
To switch to the voice recorder mode, say “Memo”. In
this mode, you may say the following commands:
• “New Memo” (to record a new memo) — During the
recording, you may press the Voic ...
Radio Operation And Mobile Phones
Under certain conditions, the mobile phone being on in
your vehicle can cause erratic or noisy performance from
your radio. This condition may be lessened or eliminated
by relocating the mobile ...
Axle Lock (Tru–Lok ) — Rubicon Models
The AXLE LOCK switch is located on the instrument panel (to the left of the steering
column).
Axle Lock Switch
This feature will only activate when the following conditions are met:
• Key in ...