2017 Jeep Patriot Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

After a decade of production, the Jeep Patriot hasn't seen much in the way of change. While some of its good features remain in place and received a few important upgrades (including the Freedom Drive II), the truth of the matter is that the Patriot needs an overhaul, and the 2017 Jeep Patriot did not give us that.

What's New for 2017?

There have not been any new changes to the 2017 Jeep Patriot, and the Patriot hasn't seen any notable changes in a while. Unfortunately, this leads to the vehicle seeming a bit dated even though it is a new model.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2017 Jeep Patriot – The Pros

1. Affordability

If price is a main factor for you, the 2017 Jeep Patriot is an affordable choice. It prices low for a compact SUV with an MSRP starting at about $18,000 for the base trim. The priciest trim (the High Altitude Edition) runs over $26,000, making this one of the most affordable new vehicles on the market.

2. Freedom Drive II's Off-road Capability

One of the 2017 Jeep Patriot's big selling-points is the Freedom Drive II's light off-road capabilities. This 4x4 system is an upgrade from the Freedom Drive I, incorporating a locking Off-Road mode with grade-sensing abilities, Hill Descent Control, and amping up the crawl ratio for rougher terrain.

3. Optional Flip-down Tailgate Speakers

An additional feature that tailgaters will love are the flip-down tailgate speakers on the Latitude Package. Two of the nine Boston Acoustic speakers flip down from the tailgate of the 2017 Jeep Patriot, adding better sound quality for your tailgating needs.

4. Multiple Trim Levels

The various trim levels are all pretty athletic, if not a little dated. The High Altitude Edition comes with either a CVT with front-wheel drive or 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission with four-wheel drive. Either trim is a good choice if you're looking for a ruggedly athletic vehicle you can take off-roading.

5. The 75th Anniversary Package

The 75th Anniversary Package provides a nice addition to the optional packages for the 2017 Jeep Patriot and is a good way of celebrating 75 years of production. This package includes mesh upholstery, a cargo cover, remote engine start, a sunroof, 17-inch bronze alloy wheels, and bronze exterior accents. It comes in either front- or four-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive has Dusk Sensing Headlamps and Auto Delay Off Headlamps, but the four-wheel drive has a nice leather steering wheel, so you can take your pick between these two different versions of the package.

6. Power Value Group Upgrades

The 2017 Jeep Patriot's Latitude and Sport trims come with Power Value Group upgrades, including power windows, locks, and mirrors. Other upgrades are the exterior trim and remote keyless entry.

7. Comfortable Front Seats

Although the interior looks dated, the front seats have not lost their comfort. The 2017 Jeep Patriot's front seats give great back support for those long and bumpy rides. The 75th Anniversary Edition trims come with a 6-way power driver seat that is height-adjustable, and both front seats are multi-level adjustable with leather upholstery. The driver's seat has manual adjustable lumbar support for additional comfort.

8.Easy-to-read Primary Gauges

The primary gauges on the 2017 Patriot are all straight-forward and easy to read in their large print, showing how Jeep has remained consistent in their no-nonsense approach to auto-making.

9. Safety Features

The 2017 Patriot has quite a few safety features, including six airbags throughout the cabin and crush zones that absorb and disperse of energy generated in the event of a collision.

10. Power Sunroof

If you opt for a 75th Anniversary Edition, High Altitude Edition, or Latitude, you can get a sunroof just for that little extra touch of luxury that we can all appreciate on warm, sunny days.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2017 Jeep Patriot – The Cons

1. Less-than-stellar Gas Mileage

Most of the 2017 Jeep Patriot trims get sub-par fuel economy for their class. The Sport and Latitudes will get you between 22 and 24 combined mpg. The High Altitude Edition gets somewhat better gas mileage with 23 city /30 highway mpg and 25 mpg combined.

2. Sluggish Performance

The 2017 Jeep Patriot trims that come with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine basically chug and get slow acceleration, going from 0 to 60 in a painful 10-plus seconds. Ride quality on urban streets is rather jagged and bumpy, and the suspension does not handle broken pavement well. The smaller engine also generates a substantial amount of noise, so don't expect a quiet ride.

3. Cabin Noise

The cabin noise is excessive. Jeeps are known for being noisy due to their CVTs generating engine rpms. There are ways to sound-proof the exterior of the Patriot, and the noise can take some getting used to.

4. Substandard Crash Test Ratings

The scariest drawback are the crash test ratings. While it has mostly received adequate ratings, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2017 Jeep Patriot a "Poor" rating on the small-overlap front-impact test. (The IIHA also rated the headlights as being "Poor.") The small-overlap crash showed very high risk for left leg injury on a driver due to the extensive intrusion of the instrument panel and door hinge pillar on the driver's door.

How it stacks up to the competition:

Patriot vs. 2017 Honda CR-V

Unlike the Patriot, Honda gave the 2017 CR-V a total face-lift. The turbo-charged engine has a lot of spunk and far outperforms the lackluster base engine on the Patriot. It also handles turns and absorbs shock much better than the Patriot. The interior is all-around more stylish and contemporary. The only catch is that, of course, you're going to pay a lot more for the comfort and performance the CR-V offers.

Patriot vs. 2017 Kia Sportage

Another top-seller in the compact SUV class is the Kia Sportage. Like the CR-V, Kia decided to do some major work on upgrading the 2017 Sportage. It gives a smoother, quieter ride than the Patriot. The Patriot, however, outperforms the Sportage in terms of fuel economy, and their base engines both under-perform compared to the CR-V.

Conclusion

All-around, the 2017 Jeep Patriot isn't an awful vehicle, but it is in dire need of an upgrade, which you can expect to see on the 2018 model. If you're dead-set on getting a new Patriot, it might be best to wait and see what Jeep rolls out with on the 2018 model.