A plush new interior and smoother ride are among the highlights of the 2010 Jeep Patriot that has just gone on sale in New Zealand.Priced from just $35,990, the new Jeep Patriot is among the most competitive compact SUVs on the market and now it's better than ever.
The classic Jeep exterior styling remains largely unchanged, but inside the Patriot has a completely new look.
The interior is now finished in Dark Slate Grey and the fabric upholstery on the Sport model benefits from Stain Repel technology to ensure it retains its appearance - the Limited model gets leather trim - and the cargo area on both models is now fully carpeted Also new is the stylish dashboard, centre stack and instrument panel, door trim panels and centre console with split lid for added storage space.
The all-new dashboard features a matte, smoother look while the new centre stack gets chrome accents to brighten the new round air vents, shift bezel, door spears and cluster rings.
To reduce noise and to give the latest Jeep Patriot a quieter ride, the engine compartment and interior floor insulation has been improved. Tuning improvements to the engine exhaust also have been made, resulting in a sportier exhaust note. Suspension tuning has been revised, giving the Jeep Patriot a more comfortable, smoother ride. Electronic Stability Programme, which now includes Electronic Roll Mitigation and six airbags are standard across the range.
"The new Jeep Patriot is an exceptional vehicle and we have managed to incorporate all the changes without increasing the price," says Todd Groves, Chrysler Divisional Manager for Sime Darby Automobiles New Zealand Limited, which distributes Jeep in this market.
Among the clever and unique interior features in the Jeep Patriot are:
• Premium sound system two articulating speakers packaged in the tailgate; when the tailgate is open, the speakers can swing down to face rearward and play music to augment outdoor activities
• Dual purpose, self-recharging removable cargo lamp mounted in the headliner above the cargo area, which can be removed to serve as a flashlight
• Sliding centre armrest with 76 millimetres of travel to accommodate a variety of drivers in comfort
• Fold-flat front passenger seat that creates a table-like surface for added versatility
• 17-inch alloy wheels on all models
• Heated front seats and deep tint windows on all Patriot models
Under the bonnet is a 2.4-litre petrol engine matched to a second generation CVT automatic transmission that combines power and flexibility with excellent fuel economy. The transmission has been re-calibrated to provide improved shifting and allow the driver to manually select six gears.
And, because it's a Jeep, the new 2010 Patriot has a four-wheel-drive system that offers superior performance when the going gets tough.
The Freedom Drive on-demand system engages four-wheel drive when it's needed on or off-road and features an Electronically Controlled Coupling (ECC) attached to the rear differential. Lighter, more precise and easier to calibrate, the ECC controls the amount of torque going to the rear wheels by means of an electronic control module and a two-stage clutch, ensuring the best traction in any situation.
The whole system is specifically designed to work seamlessly with the car's various safety systems, the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) and Brake Traction Control (Brake Lock Differential) system. Electronic Roll Mitigation also assists the vehicle from getting into a situation that could cause roll-over.
Whereas some four-wheel drive systems concentrate on off-road performance or simply improving traction, Freedom Drive also improves the car's on-road handling. Between 40 and 100km/h, the system is designed to improve the car's stability in corners, applying torque to the rear wheels to help the car turn more easily and reduce any understeer.
Unlike other systems, however, Freedom Drive doesn't only come into action when there's front-to-rear slippage. Instead, sensors recognise when extra traction will be needed and the system automatically transfers torque to the rear wheels. When this isn't the case - cruising on the highway, for example - the car runs in front-wheel-drive only, minimising any losses through friction and inertia, and therefore improving fuel economy.
In addition, for the ultimate versatility, at speeds up to 15km/h, the driver can also engage an off-road mode at the flick of a switch. This activates the enhanced off-road features of the system and the ECC ensures that the torque is split evenly between the front and rear wheels, giving the best traction in very tough conditions such as snow, mud or off the beaten track.
Also standard on all models is a version of the ABS system designed specifically for off-road use. This takes advantage of the fact that, on loose surfaces such as gravel, sand and mud, braking distances are shorter if a car's wheels have a certain degree of lock up, ploughing through the surface and building up a ‘wedge' in front of the wheels, which helps to slow the car. With conventional ABS, the wheels would not lock up, so the wedge could not form, and stopping distances would be longer.
A plush new interior and smoother ride are among the highlights of the 2010 Jeep Patriot that has just gone on sale in New Zealand.
