Patriot proudly flies the Jeep flag
By: Henrie Geyser
When it comes to icons, Jeep is right up there with all time greats such as legendary pelvis-gyrating rock star Elvis Presley, the mop-top Beatles from Liverpool and the growling Harley-Davidson bone-shakers so beloved by riders who generally sport more tassles than hair.
At the last count there were about 25 Jeep variants to choose from with names such as Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, Commander, Compass, Patriot and Wrangler wearing price tags varying between about R230,000 for the cocky baby Wrangler up to about R590,000 for the stonking Grand Cherokee SRT-8.
And as with Harley and Land Rover owners, you cannot win an argument with the equally blinkered and besotted Jeep owners.
To them their brands are icons of worship, so don't say anything nasty about them or the consequences could be dire.
So let me start off by saying I am writing this from a bunker in Hout Bay where I am protected 24/7 by Lebs' with baseball bats; that all my telephone numbers are unlisted; and that my email system has been specially computed to return all rude messages 1000-fold in mega folder sizes to their senders.
Not that I have anything too blatantly rude to say about the Jeep Patriot I recently spent some nature-bonding time with in the beautiful Overberg mountains.
Our chariot was the 2.0-litre CRD Limited, which is fitted with a turbo diesel and a six-speed manual transmission. Although it has a power output of 103kW and 310Nm, I found it rather sluggish and slow off the mark, unless one pedals real hard to get the revs up.
Jeep says it will do the hallmark 0-100km/h sprint in 11 seconds and get to a top speed of around 189km/h. It is also nice and gentle with the expensive juice, needing only 6.7-litres to travel 100 kilometres in the combined cycle.
Getting up to speed is a growly process, but this quietens down nicely once the oil-burning Patriot is up to cruising speed.
Like most not as tough as they look vehicles, the Patriot is much more at home on the tar than on tough terrain and it certainly has the inside space and comfort for a very pleasant ride.
The lay-out of the dials, gauges, levers and switches in the living-quarters is simple and although the finish is not all that classy, it all is fairly neatly and logically presented.
We were particularly impressed with its full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with a lockable centre coupling - easy, at a flick of a switch, it gives the Patriot a nice sure-footed feel, particularly during the heavy rainfalls and stormy conditions we experienced on our trip.
And there are lots of other nice features to be found in the Patriot, such as side-curtain air bags, ESP, Brake Traction Control, electronic roll mitigation, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, remote keyless entry (which did go into sulk mode every now and then), Radio/CD player, outdoor temperature display, fold-flat front passenger seat, standard 60/40 fold-flat and reclining rear seats, a removable and washable luggage floor, 12-volt power outlet, electric windows and mirrors, adjustable steering wheel (but tilt only), rear window defroster, a centre console sliding armrest, air conditioning, speed-sensitive power locks, deep-tinted sunscreen glass, passenger assist handles, interior dome and cargo lights including removable/rechargeable torch, speed control, fog lamps and even a compass!
It is also pleasing to note that in these days of expensive optional extras so beloved by the Snobbish German marques, the only optional extras available on Patriot are an electric sunroof and metallic paint.
The electronic nagger to warn against things such as the key left behind in the ignition, seat belts that have not been clicked in or a door that has not been closed properly is irritatingly and unnecessarily loud, particularly out in the bush… but then I suppose it should have a shrill, piercing tone to be heard above Madam Toffeenose-Jones of Constantia babbling loudly on her cellphone and the spoilt brats squabbling in the back seats.
By contrast, the hooter was apologetically weak which nearly resulted in an earlier-than-planned departure from this planet for an inebriated cyclist near Grabouw.
The Patriot is an easy car to drive, even when “road” conditions are rough and ready, and as long as progress is slow and sensible it will crawl over rocks and through dongas without too much sweat.
Not that too many Patriots will ever have to prove their toughness, because they are bought mainly to impress with their shiny, rugged good looks parked outside the clubhouse at the golf club or half up the pavement directly in front of Her Majesty's favourite coffee shop or beauty parlour.
Jeep's strongly retro appeal works for some and is a total turn-off for others. Personally I don't find it particularly appealing or appalling and other than for its lazy take-off and temperamental door locks, the Patriot is a good option in the compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment at a fairly competitive price of R274,900, which includes a three-year/100,000km warranty and full maintenance plan.
More by Henrie Geyser
More...ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Henrie Geyser has worked as a journalist in Cape Town, London and Windhoek for the Argus Company (now Independent Newspapers) and spent 12 years at The Cape Argus in Cape Town. He then owned and ran a public relations consultancy for 13 years. He joined the online publishing industry through iafrica.com, where he worked for five years as News Editor and Editor. He now freelances for a variety of print and online publications, on the subjects of cars, food and travel, among others; and is a member of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.
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