ESSENCE OF JEEPNESS NEW PATRIOT IS COMFY, EASY TO DRIVE, HANDY ON BOTH CITY AND COUNTRY TREKS.Byline: GREGORY J. WILCOX Staff Writer Driving a Jeep is like growing up in any small town. Everywhere you go, there's a familiar face. Go anywhere around Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. in a Jeep and you'll see that familiar grille grille, in architecture, a system of bars, usually of decorative metalwork, forming an openwork barrier or enclosure. In its usual materials of wrought iron or bronze, it has been favored for decorative treatment in all periods. on a regular basis -- a testament to the brand's popularity and the fact that this division of DaimlerChrysler is doing something right. And there is no disputing that sport utility vehicles This page lists sports utility vehicles currently in production (as of April 2007), as well as past models. The list includes crossover SUVs, Mini SUVs, Compact SUVs and other similar vehicles. like the Jeep are popular. (Most of my neighbors have two SUVs parked in their driveways or in front of their houses.) "Which one of the neighbors did you let park in the driveway?" my wife wondered when she looked out the front window and spotted the metallic light khaki-colored Patriot. "This is cool," she added while climbing into the passenger seat for the first time. The Patriot is the newest member of the Jeep family and it delivers the essence of Jeepness at an entry-level price point. "This all-new compact sport utility vehicle delivers fun, freedom, utility and best-in-class Jeep 4x4 capability," gushed the owner Web site, jeephorizons.com. This model, first introduced in concept at the 2005 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, is equally adept at handling urban chores or exploring the boonies boon·ies pl.n. Slang Rural country or a jungle. [Shortening and alteration of boondocks.] . Jeephorizons.com likes the fact that the 2007 model features the looks and various interior configurations of an SUV with the price, fuel economy, performance and handling of a small car or truck. But the Patriot is not diminutive di·min·u·tive adj. 1. Extremely small in size; tiny. See Synonyms at small. 2. Grammar Of or being a suffix that indicates smallness or, by semantic extension, qualities such as youth, familiarity, affection, or by any means, and safety features include side air bags and an electronic stability program. The interior is roomy and comfortable and all the gauges are easy to read. The center-console armrest slides forward and back, so finding a comfortable position is easy. A neat feature is that the top of the armrest flips up and becomes a cell-phone holder, which allows the driver to keep both hands on the wheel. The Patriot is similar in appearance to the Cherokee, which was discontinued in 2001. This was my first experience with an SUV, and the Patriot, with a five- speed manual transmission, proved easy to operate. The stick shift pokes up and out of the dash but still is within easy reach. Visibility is good all around. The 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine churns out 172 horsepower horsepower, unit of power in the English system of units. It is equal to 33,000 foot-pounds per minute or 550 foot-pounds per second or approximately 746 watts. at 6,000 rpms, which provides enough zip for both city and freeway driving. Off-road options are available, too. It is equipped with the Freedom Drive II option, which provides more off-road capabilities. This gives the driver added traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation and water fording for various types of terrain. And with a base price of $14,425, the Patriot is an attractive first-car option for someone yearning for the flexibility of an SUV. greg.wilcox(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3743 JEEP PATRIOT Overview The Jeep Patriot (MK) is a compact SUV introduced in early 2007 for the 2007 model year by the Jeep marque of DaimlerChrysler. It debuted publicly in April 2006 at the New York Auto Show. TOP SPEED: 120 mph ENGINE: 2.4 liter DOCH TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual SUSPENSION: 4-wheel independent with stabilizer stabilizer: see airplane. BRAKES: 4-wheel disc FUEL ECONOMY: 26 mpg city, 30 mpg highway PRICE: $14,425 base, $17,615 as tested TRIVIA: The Patriot is also the name of a vehicle in Rockstar Games's hit video game series Grand Theft Auto. Russian car manufacturer UAZ UAZ University of Arizona UAZ Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas UAZ Ulianovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (Russian auto manufacturer) UAZ Ulyanovskyi Avtomobilnyi Zavod also has a 4x4 offroad vehicle named the Patriot. And the UAZ product line has roots in the original WWII-era Jeep that was supplied by the U.S. to the former USSR USSR: see Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. . THE MANUAL SAYS: Read 233 pages before starting and operating your vehicle. THE WIFE SAYS: "Which one of the neighbors did you let park in the driveway?" my wife wondered when she looked out the front window and spotted the light khaki khaki (kăk`ē, kä`kē) [Hindi,=dust-colored], closely twilled cloth of linen or cotton, dyed a dust color. It was first used (1848) for uniforms for the English regiment of Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden in India and later became the metallic colored Patriot. Source: Daily News research COMING NEXT WEEK: Ford's Edge Crossover CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) The new Jeep Patriot is a good entry-level sport utility vehicle at a reasonable price, with good pickup. It's equally at home in the city or slogging through the boonies. Greg Wilcox/Daily News Box: JEEP PATRIOT (see text) |
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