Based on the concept first introduced at the 2005 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, the 2007 Patriot is Jeep’s second attempt at the compact SUV category, after the Compass. The Patriot is a more traditional 4-door Jeep wagon, while the Compass is intended as a sporty "hot hatch" crossover like the Toyota Matrix. The Dodge Caliber on the other hand is a combination of these two segments.
Official Press Release: Most Capable Vehicle in its Class
Jeep Patriot is available in three drivetrain configurations. In addition to the standard front-wheel-drive system, Jeep Patriot also is available with Freedom Drive I and the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package.
Freedom Drive I is an available full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with Lock mode designed to give drivers year-round assurance, as well as the ability to handle rough weather and low-traction conditions. This active four-wheel-drive system is recommended for daily use, including driving in snow and rain. Freedom Drive I features a lockable center coupling, giving drivers the ability to put the Jeep Patriot in four-wheel-drive Lock mode to handle deeper snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces.
The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is an available four-wheel-drive system that makes the Jeep Patriot a Trail Rated 4x4, creating the most capable vehicle in the crowded compact SUV class. The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package includes a second-generation continuously variable transaxle with a low range (CVT2L) that engages when the off-road mode is activated, 17-inch all-terrain tires and aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire, air-filtration system, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps and seat height adjuster. The available Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is recommended for true off-road situations that include steep grades, wheel lift and rock or log climbing.
Jeep Utility From the Inside and Out
Jeep Patriot’s flexible interior gives buyers the capability to do more in terms of seating friends and storing gear. A command-of-the-road seating position gives drivers an added feeling of control. Jeep Patriot has 39.6 inches of rear seat leg room, 54.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat and 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the front passenger seat back and rear seats folded flat, giving plenty of room for an 8-foot ladder, skis or two-by-fours from the lumber yard.
World-class Engineering
Patriot features a standard 2.4-liter World Engine that produces 172-horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. This 2.4-liter World Engine has dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT) on both intake and exhaust camshafts, which helps optimize the torque curve at all speeds and produces more power, better fuel economy and smoother, quieter operation than engines without dual VVT.
Jeep Patriot also features a standard five-speed manual transaxle and an available CVT. The Patriot’s CVT2 is a second-generation CVT that Chrysler Group engineers calibrated for pleasing engine response and precise ratio control.
A 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine, paired with a six-speed manual transaxle, will be available for Jeep Patriot in key diesel markets outside North America.
2007 Jeep Patriot Production
Production of the 2007 Jeep Patriot begins in the third quarter of 2006 at the newly refurbished Belvidere Assembly Plant. The new 172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine that powers the Patriot is built in the state-of-the-art Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance Assembly (GEMA) assembly plant in Dundee, Mich.
