Mother Proof's view

Learning to drive in a Jeep was quite a treat, let me tell you. The manual transmission was temperamental and made learning how to drive a serious exercise in upper body strength and coordination. That old CJ7 was my nemesis on too many occasions, but it also holds loads of memories. That Jeep would deliver us safely to the ski slopes in the winter and then, in the summer, my dad would perilously risk the lives of his offspring by climbing craggy hills in the backcountry. As a kid, I was petrified of these trips. I am sure my dad got a real kick out of scaring the crap out my sister and me. With experience, I actually learned to love our four-wheel-drive excursions. I have seen some of the more remote parts of the west and for that, I can thank Jeep.

Fast forward to 2007, and Jeep has grown up. No longer are the days of just a few models to choose from. Now, Jeep has two separate themes running through their brand. The rugged Classic line includes the Jeep Commander, the Wrangler, and the Patriot. The Modern line includes the Compass, the Liberty, and the Grand Cherokee. That is quite a smorgasbord to choose from, allowing Jeep’s brand appeal to reach a customer base much more diverse than just guys like my dad, the Jeep enthusiast.

During my test drive of the 2007 Jeep Patriot, I have an opportunity to relive my youth and drive the Patriot off-road. It performs like a champ, and I feel much more secure with the capabilities of the Patriot than my father’s old CJ7, that’s for sure! The list of technological features is impressive and makes the off-roading experience enjoyable and exhilarating rather than terrifying. Even the novice off-roader can feel comfortable crawling the Patriot over rocks or down a steep ravine with what Jeep calls the Freedom Drive II Off Road Package (I am not making that up). This “Trail-Rated” model has a hill descent feature, traction control, and a low gear setting that allows me to creep along in the most treacherous spots. My adrenaline pumps after making it through a pretty mild off-road course in the desert of Arizona, as my kids would say “do it again Mama, do it again” – I could do this all day long.

Of course, I am not a total noob, I know that most folks won’t even place the tires of the Patriot on a dirt road let alone a two track trail. The Jeep Patriot holds its own on the mean streets of suburbia as well. The center console features a flip-out compartment that conveniently fits my cell phone or iPod. The stereo features an auxiliary MP3 player plug for my tunes. Speaking of all things podish, my favorite feature of the Patriot is a built in set of stereo speakers that flip down from the tailgate for an instant, groovalicious party! Imagine the acceleration of my popularity quotient when I pull up to summer BBQ’s, flip down the instant boombox and get this party started.

The Patriot’s standard seating surfaces are made of family friendly Yes-Essentials fabric that is stain- and odor-resistant. Ketchup, milk, red wine (only for testing the fabric, girl!) all clean up instantly. No stains and no smells, not even the ones that hit you weeks later, when the weather warms up. The rear seats have a 60/40 split and also feature a reclining back that makes installing car seats pretty easy.

The styling on the Jeep Patriot is bland, to say the least; it obviously follows its utilitarian roots (a design cue that I imagine is quite attractive to hard-core Jeep Freaks); Not a deal-breaker by any means, but if you like swank and swagger, the Patriot probably won’t be on your short list.

I see the Jeep Patriot fitting the needs of a smaller, younger, more adventurous family. The 25/29 fuel economy and a base price under 15k will please nearly all family budgets, while the utility and spirit will make families chant the jeep owner’s mantra… It’s a Jeep thing, you just wouldn’t understand.

*For more information on the Jeep Patriot and its safety features visit Cars.com.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS

LATCH Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times