Patriotic Jeep one for the boys

So, it’s time to nail my colors to the mast: I like four-wheel-drives. I also eat baby squirrels, and burn Amazonian rainforests in my spare time. OK, so the last two weren’t exactly true, but I do increasingly find myself contemplating murder every time a self-appointed eco-vigilante blames climate change on 4x4s.Ignoring the cost, size and fuel consumption of sports utility vehicles (or SUVs, as we must now call them – I am old enough to remember when they were simply called Jeep, Land Rover or What’s that?) – the four wheel drive system is an amazing piece of work; and one which can actually save lives. It is, as a result of what it has to do (ie, feed power to all four wheels), heavier than a traditional two-wheel drive system. That means that any 4x4 vehicle will automatically be heavier than the same coachwork and chassis equipped with front- or rear-wheel drive.
But it is also markedly safer in adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain or snow.
A long time ago, in another life, in another country, I owned a 4x4. And before the more sanctimonious of you start accusing me of serial planet-boiling, let me add that I lived on a farm at the time, which sort of made four-wheel- drive essential.
Because of import quotas, it was a relatively unusual car: the Toyota Tercel was basically the estate (wagon) version of the Starlet, with the addition of 4x, a slightly stiffened suspension, and increased ground clearance.
One winter, driving in snow (of course, this being the UK, there was no such thing as winter tires; we used the same rubber all year round), I noticed cars around me struggling while I sailed happily on. On a whim, I decided to take the Tercel out of four-wheel-drive, to see how bad it really was. I very quickly put it back in.

Elevated

So, four-wheel-drive works; and where would mountain rescue services, or, indeed, the emergency services in general, be without the ability to go off-road, up hill and down dale?
SUVs themselves have other advantages, not least of which is the elevated seating position. Kids can be kept entertained by actually being able to see over hedges, and down into ordinary cars. And, naturally, that means the driver also has a much-improved view of the road.
 And then there is all round safety. Would you rather see your partner and children driving around in an old Fiat 127, or an SUV? Thought so. That, of course, still leaves the problem of fuel consumption.
If you only ever do the school run or a shopping trip out to Budaörs, or are a singleton without children or a simply immense dog (and I am talking 60 kilo wolf-killer here, not the latest fashion accessory lapdog), then you really have no business owning one of these.
Once upon a time, SUVs were intended to fit a purpose: the original Jeep and Land Rover were developed first as military vehicles, before being spun-off for civilian use. Then they became fashionable. So it’s actually your fault the planet is going to a hot place (or, rather, becoming a hot place) in a hand basket.
And since most manufacturers don’t equip their load lugging estates with a four-wheel-drive option, if you want space and safety, you need an SUV. All of which means that, if we could find a low-consumption model, the eco-evangelists would have to shut up, wouldn’t they?
Welcome, then, to the most unlikely of saviours: Jeep. Yes folks, its both American and the maker of SUVs. In terms of the urban cycle, that makes it the very devil incarnate.
Except that Jeep has got in touch with its tree hugging inner eco-warrior. Disturbingly, this first manifested itself with the Compass. In search of newer, greener customers, it produced a car not only described to me by a Jeep salesman as having a “more feminine shape,” but one that was specifically aimed at women.
And it followed the distaff Compass with its male sibling, the all boy Patriot. Essentially, it targets the spear side of the same demographic: younger people without the money, ranch or lifestyle to warrant a Grand Cheeroke, and who would only begin to think about a Jeep if they could space out visits to the filling station.
Patriot, starting with its (to European ears) faintly ridiculous name, is all about the machismo. Tamás Csontos, the Jeep sales manager for Pappas Auto Magyarország Kft, told me he and his colleagues refer to it as the “mini Commander.” If you have ever seen that model, you will know exactly what he means.
It really is the anti-Compass. With the exception of the round headlights, and the wheels, of course, there isn’t a curve to be seen on the exterior of the Patriot.
It doesn’t seem so much cut through the air, as bludgeon its way forward. Which makes the fuel economy returns even more impressive.
Our car had the same engine as the Compass we tested last year (a 140 break horse power 1968cc diesel unit), and proved just as parsimonious. I was averaging 8.1 liters of fuel per 100km covered, until a particularly nasty Budapest traffic jam brought me to a standstill, made me two hours late for an appointment and pushed consumption up to 8.5.

Sips diesel

This isn’t actually a Jeep engine at all. It doesn’t even come from mother company Chrysler, or erstwhile step father Daimler, but from VW. Which goes some way to explaining why it sips diesel like the barrel price of crude might actually have some impact on the weight of your wallet.
The car comes in two trim levels in Hungary, CRD (which has a price list of Ft6.9m, about $44,000), and CRD Limited (Ft7,499,999, or $44,700), and has the one engine only, coupled with a six-speed manual box.
Jeeps are supposed to get off-road, in the way BMWs go fast. Unlike many small SUVs (and, technically, that is what the Patriot is classified as), the American vehicle wouldn’t embarrass you on a wet, greasy, grassy hill slope.
Indeed, Jeep claims class-leading off-roading ability for the Patriot. (There is a two-wheel drive version available in the States, though I can see no point to it what-so-ever).
Even with ordinary summer tires fitted, the level of grip was impressive. Fitting proper off- road rubber, and buying the uprated 4x4 system, would enable you to take this car to some silly places. But it would also hit the fuel consumption, and I don’t really think that is what this vehicle is about. Serious off-roaders would choose a different kind of Jeep in the first place.
Inside, practicality replaces luxury. My Hungarian brother-in-law complained that the interior was made of cheap plastic, but I think he missed the point. It certainly isn’t leather, but it is durable. If you are going to take this off-road, or just fill it with children, then the plastic covering will last much longer.
Driver and passenger head- and leg-room was fine (even my six foot plus wife was catered for), although the trunk space, partly as a result, isn’t huge.
But, I like the package. Given the size of our family (and, in particular, dogs), it wouldn’t suit us as a sole vehicle. But as a second car it makes a lot of sense. Now might also be a good time to buy. Pappas Auto has been offering very good deals recently, with up to 15% off in some cases, to clear last year’s stock, so do ask around.