In 2010, I was in the market for my first new car - a luxury I've never been able to obtain in life up until that point. I live in a rural area next to a suburban sprawl, located outside of Washington DC. I needed something rugged to get me through the harsh winters and dirt roads where I live, but something small and economical enough to allow me to commute in and near DC on a regular basis. I should also state I'm in a band, so hauling band equipment was also a consideration. After test driving a multitude of sporty SUVs and off-road capable vehicles, I decided on the Jeep Patriot. First of all, I appreciate the Jeep look quite a bit so they had me from an aesthetics point of view. However, my decision wasn't solely based on looks. The Patriot has 4 wheel drive yet doesn't have a monster engine, satisfying my needs as a commuter and someone who lives in a rural area. The inside is spacious for my large frame and can seat 5 people comfortably. It also had some features I wasn't necessarily looking for but ended up liking, like heated seats. Granted, there are some features I'm not so keen on, in retrospect. First, the towing capacity is a meager 1000 pounds. Looks like I'm not buying a camper anytime soon. It also has no pick up, versus some of the competition like a CRV. Despite these minor gripes, though, I'm still very happy with my purchase and would recommend the Patriot to a potential buyer.

I use the Jeep Patriot primarily as a work vehicle. It is a decent car and gets the job done but it is very basic and doesn't have many great features. It has been reliable and has require minimal maintenance after 150,000 miles. The biggest head ache is with the CVT Transmission. On long trips the transmission overheat light comes on and the transmission will fail to work as I have to pull over to let the car cool. This has been a problem with this transmission and is very frustrating. I have taken it in to the dealer and they basically just say, "yeah that happens". It does not feel safe on long trips. For driving around town it is a good car and has ample space, so I would recommend for such uses but going on long trips I would hesitate, especially if you will be going up any hills or steep grades, the rpms need to be kept under 3,000 or else the transmission acts up. I have a family of four and we fit fine in it but it cannot fit a fifth person(adult) with two child seats in the back.