Jeep Patriot revisited

Gaining traction in a slippery car market is proving difficult for Jeep's junior models though help may be on the way.

It has revisited its Patriot "soft roader" wagon and now launches into Australia with neater sheet metal work, incremental upgrades to ride and handling and a far better look for the interior.

"It's an evolution of the model," he says of the Patriot that was launched quietly this month with pricing from $30,000.

"There's a lot going on with Jeep at the moment - it is celebrating its 70th anniversary - and the changes to the Patriot step it up a notch."

Patriot has been a diminishing asset of Jeep since it introduced it in 2007. Together with the Compass - with which it shared the platform and drivetrain - it marked the first time Jeep had produced a monocoque off-road wagon without a low-range gearbox.

Compass was later dropped from the Jeep range and despite keen pricing and equipment, Patriot sales lost traction. In 2010, for example, Great Wall's X240 SUV doubled the Patriot's sales.

New for 2011 is a sharper edge for the Patriot wagon.

It retains the more traditional square-cornered look to follow the styling of the Wrangler, with subtle changes this year including a new nose-and-tail exercise, new grille and higher ride height.

The suspension gets a hone and there's a bigger rear sway bar. The engine remains the Chrysler Group's 125kW/220Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol unit, shared with Hyundai and Mitsubishi, but there's no diesel.

"We haven't had a diesel in Patriot since 2008," says Bonthorne.

"But that's not to say we don't want it. There's just not one available to us at the moment."

Jeep claims the petrol Patriot's five-speed manual model gets an average of 8.4 litres/100km with 6.7 L/100km on the highway.

The Patriot also offers a CVT automatic for an extra $2000.

Standard equipment includes traction control, hill-descent and hill-start control and a 4WD Lock that at low speeds will maintain a 50/50 drive to the front and rear axles.

Safety equipment includes four airbags, electronic stability control, roll mitigation and an accident hazard system called EARS.

Its ABS brakes, and the stability control, are calibrated to sense and react to varying road surfaces to make them idea for offroad conditions.

Interior upgrades include soft-touch door panels, steering wheel controls for the radio and standard cruise control, and a new centre armrest.

The new Patriot comes in three trim levels - Sport (from $30,000), Limited (from $35,000) and a limited-build 70th Anniversary Edition that comes only as an auto for $37,500.

Options include a "safety and comfort" package that includes side airbags - taking the bag count to six - and heated front seats for $800 on the Sport and $550 on the Limited.