The 2016 Jeep Patriot Latitude Trail Rated 4×4 compact SUV – like the Trail Rated Compass we tested a few weeks ago (see link below) – is every bit as off-road capable as any other Jeep in their lineup. The Trail Rated badge on its side says it is so.
Yes, the Patriot is on an older platform, more utilitarian than luxurious inside, still short a few of the latest whistles and bells found on some others and is being retired after 2017. But for 2016, as a Trail Rated Patriot, it is a fully capable Jeep with all of the required Rubicon Trail heritage Jeep DNA for off-road adventure and daily driving.
The 2016 Jeep Patriot lineup allows a Jeep buyer several ways to configure their traditionally styled, compact Jeep SUV the way they want. The Patriot offers multiple power plant options plus available 4WD drive and certified off-road drivetrains along with popular convenience and technology feature packages and options across all models. Pricing begins at just $17,795 for a basic Sport 2WD model, with the more capable Latitude 2WD at $22,195 and tops out with the amenity-rich High Altitude 2WD at $24,775.
And, as we recently found in testing a 2016 Jeep Latitude Trail Rated 4×4, you won’t break the bank fitting out a Patriot model you select to be a certified Trail Rated Jeep. You can do it for under $30,000.
Trail Rated
First a word or two about Trail Rated and how it certifies that the Jeep Patriot, with that badge, is all Jeep -an off-road capable, mud-slinging, sand throwing, water fording, rock climbing, and go anywhere adventure compact SUV that can also comfortably carry you and your family all round town.
To get that certification, the 2016 Patriot Trail Rated 4×4 must pass a specific set of off-road challenges found on the 17-mile Rubicon Trail including Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation and Ground Clearance.
Engineered to beat the Rubicon, the Patriot 4×4 with the CVT2L Freedom Drive II transaxle has an approach angle of 29.0 degrees, break over angle of 23.7 degrees and departure angle of 33.9 degrees with a ground clearance of 9.1-inches and full length skid plates ‘just in case’.
The powertrain and drivetrain components are sealed along with the cabin to enable fording water over 19-inches deep. Maneuverability on tight and narrow trails is accomplished with its track under 60-inches and tight turn radius of 17.8 feet. Obstacles along the trail are mitigated with wheel articulation (travel) of 6.6-inches front and 7.8-inches rear.
Necessary trail traction is delivered by the CVT2L electronic continuously variable transmission with full-time Freedom Drive II 4×4 and Hill Descent Control featuring a distinctive brake traction differential that applies brake pressure (similar to a locking differential) to initiate extra traction when needed and a 19:1 Crawl Ratio
2016 Jeep Patriot Latitude Trail Rated 4×4
For us, to be able to buy a Trail Rated Jeep Patriot 4×4 just the way we would want it – for $30,000 or less – would put it high on our adventuring and daily driving SUV shopping list. To test that assumption, we asked Jeep to send us a Trail Rated Patriot 4×4 for a weeklong ride and drive. We were not disappointed.
Our test Jeep Patriot Latitude Trail Rated 4×4 came in a rich True Blue Pearl Coat exterior and a nicely matched Dark Slate Gray/Light Pebble Beige interior with deluxe mesh cloth heated low-back reclining bucket seating and 60/40 flat-folding reclining rear seats.
The traditional exterior styling of the 2016 Patriot makes it appealing to many Jeep buyers who have come to identify the style as evidence of the brand capability. Some Jeep models with newer styling (Cherokee and Renegade) have experienced some kickback from traditional Jeep enthusiasts. Keying from that traditional styling, Patriot is clean and functional all-around with our Patriot featuring 17-inch polished aluminum wheels mounted with P215/60R17 BSW All-season Touring Tires, Black Side Roof Rails, Halogen Headlamps, Fog Lamps and Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass.
Under the hood, our Patriot Latitude 4×4 was powered by the 2.4L DOHC I-4 engine delivering a very adequate 172 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is delivered to the road (or trail) via the CVT2L automatic transmission with Freedom Drive II active full-time 4WD and selectable locking feature with Off-road Mode that includes grade sensing Hill Descent Control and 19:1 crawl ratio.
It was also equipped with Hill Start Assist, Electronic Stability Control and Roll Mitigation, Automatic Headlamps, Speed Control, Brake Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring, Keyless Entry, Remote USB Port, 12-volt and 115-Volt Auxiliary Power Outlets and Driver Seat Height Adjustment.
On the inside, our Latitude included a Full-length Console with storage, Air Conditioning, Tilt and Telescoping Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel with Audio Controls, Illuminated Cupholders, Dome and Reading Lamps, Luxury Floor Mats and flat floor cargo storage with 23 cubic feet behind the second row and 53.5 cubic feet with the rear seats flat. Bonus storage is available by folding the front passenger seat flat making the total storage available 63.4 cubic feet. You can haul up to five people plus a whole lot of adventure gear easily in a Patriot.
Packages and Options Included
To make our test Latitude a Trail Rated Jeep, it was equipped with:
- Freedom-Drive II Off Road Group and Off-road Crawl ($800) to make it Trail Rated included Brake Lock Differential, Hill Descent Control, Full-size Spare Tire, Transmission/Engine Oil Pan/Fuel Tank Skid Plates, Tow Hooks front and rear, Engine Oil Cooler and Trailer Tow Wiring Setup.
Other options included the upgraded Uconnect Media Center 430N ($1,435) with its larger 6.6-inch touchscreen, full-range radio with 40GB hard drive, Sirius Travel Link and Garmin Navigation and the ParkView Rear Backup Camera ($200) that also added Remote Start.
As tested and including delivery and prep, our 2016 Jeep Latitude Patriot Trail Rated 4×4 priced at $28,825.
Tweaking our Patriot a bit more
Since we were still a bit shy of that $30,000, we think adding the Sun and Sound / Premium Sound Group option ($1,350) with Power Sun Roof with Express Open/Close and Sliding Sunshade plus the Boston Acoustics Sound System with 368-watts of power, nine-speakers including subwoofer and two Flip-down Liftgate Speakers – would to give us plenty of quality sound and sun when outdoor adventuring – or just around town.
We would also have changed out (at no cost) the P225/60R17 All-season tires for a set of the Goodyear Wrangler GTA 03 P215/65R17 OWL All-terrain tires for added off-road traction.
Out the door and off the lot for $30,175 – our kind of price for our kind of Jeep adventure.
Patriot Lineup
The full Patriot lineup includes the base Patriot Sport 2WD (MSRP $17,595), Sport SE 2WD ($19,740), a special 75th Anniversary Edition ($20,795), the Latitude 2WD ($22,195) and the amenity rich High Altitude 2WD ($24,775). All models are available in 4WD configurations for additional cost depending on the drivetrains available and selected.
The standard engine for the 2WD drive models is a 2.0L I-4 DOHC engine producing 158 horsepower with 141 lb.-ft. of torque. The 4WD models are equipped with the 2.4L DOHC engine that produces 172 horsepower with 165 lb.-ft. of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard for both engines. A six-speed automatic transmission is optional on the 2.4L engine while a CVT2 continuously variable transmission is optional on the 2.0L engine.
To make a Patriot Trail Rated requires the CVT2L (low range) continuously variable transmission Freedom Drive II transaxle on a Patriot 4WD powered by the 2.4L engine.
Build your own Patriot before they are gone
Sadly, as we noted, Patriot has served Jeep owners ably for years, but will be going away after 2017 – to be replaced with an, as yet, undefined new SUV. So, if you want a compact Jeep that delivers a full-range of Jeep capability and are not ‘quite sure’ (for whatever reason) about the Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Renegade – or whatever a Patriot replacement SUV may be – you still have the traditional and reliable all-Jeep choice, the 2016 Patriot.
Go to the 2016 Jeep ‘Build & Price’ webpage and select the model and price point you are interested in and start building a Patriot your way.
