Jeep Overview

Jeep, the off road brand of the Chrysler Group was acquired by them in 1987. The history of Jeep started when the Willys-Oveland company built the first Jeep in the year 1941 during the World War. The civilian version of the Jeep was built in 1945 and is considered to be the oldest off roader brand in existence. Jeep has been the inspiration for many manufacturers like the Land Rover, which is the second oldest 4 wheel drive brand. Jeep currently sells the Patriot, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Compass and Liberty models. The trademark for the brand name ‘Jeep’ was acquired in 1943, but the generic term ‘jeep’ (lowercase only) has been used by vehicles that are inspired by Jeep and are for rough terrains. Jeep had to go through a tough time in the past few years and was in bankruptcy, but the company managed to emerge out of bankruptcy in June 2009.
Jeep Patriot
The 2013 Jeep Patriot haws that iconic Jeep design and delivers the best 4×4 capability of its class. There has been a change in the powertrain that powers the 2014 Jeep Patriot while the price has remained unchanged. There is also an advanced six speed automatic and this transmission has been specifically designed for fuel efficiency and also to improve performance. The entry level model however will only feature a five speed manual transmission. The overall interior quality has been revamped and the true Jeep interior styling has found its way back into the 2014 model. One of the concerns in the design however is the low roof and reduced glass area which can make the driver feel like he is boxed in.
Kelley Blue Book’s award for Jeep Patriot
Kelley Blue Book has awarded the 2013 Jeep Patriot with the “5 year Cost to Own” award in the compact SUV and Crossover segment.
The ratings are based on the costs that owners will have to buy for the five years after purchase of the vehicle
As per the experts on the KBB website, Jeep’s Patriot is the most value oriented vehicle that offers a taste of a lifestyle that is adventurous.
The Freedom Drive II option that is present in the Patriot is something that offers some off road capabilities if you plan to go an adventure leaving the pavement behind.
The Patriot is the best priced 4×4 currently in the USA and add the fact that it has minimal overall ownership cost is great news for the customers.
Issues with Jeep Patriot
There was a major issue with sunroof on the 2008 Jeep Patriot where water used to leak into the cabin because of the problems with the sunroof. But off late, there have been no significant issue that have been reported with the Jeep Patriot and that is why the sales of Jeep Patriot is on the rise in America. Having been able to override the bankruptcy Jeep is making its mark again in the compact SUV and crossover market in USA.

The 61.8 percent increase in Jeep sales in Europe is credited to its strengthened dealer network resulting from its integration with the Fiat Group. It is predicted that if the trend continues,

Jeep brand can become the best import brand in Europe.
The Jeep brand’s current production models are the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep Liberty, the Jeep Patriot and the Jeep Compass. Sales for 2011 were 122,460 for the Jeep Wrangler, 127,744 for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, 66,684 for the Jeep Liberty, 47,700 for the Jeep Compass and 54,647 for the Jeep Patriot.
The Jeep Compass and the Patriot did not perform as well in the market. Both model’s sales for the first six months registered minus 15% and 4% respectively over the same period in the previous year. The 2012 Compass is priced at MSRP $19,295 to $26,205 depending on the options, with the local dealer deciding the final price. The Jeep Patriot is considered by reviewers as one of the most car-like off-road SUVs, and it is ranked 20th out of 21 among the list of “Affordable Compact SUVs” with a MSRP of $15,995-$25,330, again depending on the options and the local dealer determining the final price.