The all-new Patriot, Jeep's newest attempt at wooing the crossover market, shares underpinnings with the Compass and Caliber. When the Patriot was first revealed, comparisons with the classic Cherokee were inevitable. After all, at a glance, it would be easy to mistake the new model as a reintroduction of the old.
Cherokee fans may be surprised to learn that the compact Patriot actually has a longer wheelbase, is longer overall, and is taller than that model-but it's powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four, with 55 pound-feet less torque than the Cherokee's extinct inline-six. The four-seat model is available with front or all-wheel drive (it is technically Trail Rated and has a Freedom Drive system), and can tow up to 2000 pounds. - Allyson Harwood