2008 Sport/Utility of the Year Contenders

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. However, that's where the similarity ends.

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 an always overworked 2.4-liter inline-four, with 55 pound-feet less torque than the Cherokee's extinct inline-six. The four is noisy-multiple testers compared the din with that of a blender-and hard acceleration brought engine speed to a screaming 6000 rpm (near redline). Despite being the lightest SUV in the test, its 0-to-60 time was second worst, beating only the Liberty to the finish line. And it's Trail Rated, but its Freedom Drive all-wheel-drive system was nanny-controlled and seemed to do more to hinder off-roading than make it easier.

On the up side, most judges agree that, of the vehicles that share this platform, this Patriot is the best to date. An unrefined engine, utilitarian/cheap interior, and less-than-smooth ride, which certainly don't work in cars, serve as a nostalgic reminder of SUVs past here-just without the same capability. However, the Patriot corners decently, testers found rear-seat legroom is better than expected, and it can hold a fair amount of gear for its size. There's also the price element, and our topline Patriot runs a hair under $24,000. That might be a good price, but cheap materials and lack of power don't make it a good value.

That's the problem with the Patriot. Even though it looks like a Jeep, what has always defined Jeeps is their functionality. There's nothing about this model that backs up that definition of the brand and its 50-year-plus reputation. This crossover to the Jeep lineup is akin to an Elvis impersonator: Just because he's in a white jumpsuit doesn't make him Elvis. Just because the Patriot has a seven-slot grille doesn't make it the real thing.