Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Jeep

We know what you're thinking: You'd love to buy a new Jeep, but only if it were more... black. Fortunately, dear friend, the Chrysler division has answered your prayers with a raft of special editions called Altitude.

The name was selected by online poll, and the vehicles were previewed by a series of "production-intent" concepts at successive auto shows. Now approved for production, the Altitude range includes a Grand Cherokee, a Compass and a Patriot, all distinguished by their blacked-out trim inside, out and upside down.

Check 'em out in the trio of galleries with the high-res shots we snapped for your viewing pleasure here on the show floor in New York.

Continue reading Jeep climbs to higher Altitude with murdered-out specials

Jeep climbs to higher Altitude with murdered-out specials originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: SUV, Jeep, Design/Style

If you were in Houston back in January for the car show there, you may have seen a murdered-out Grand Cherokee there which Jeep dubbed a "production-intent concept." The most iconic of Chrysler brands then rolled into Geneva with a similar GC with more of a Storm Trooper look, joined by a blacked-out Compass. These, too, were called "production-intent concepts" - a name that wasn't all that dynamic. So Jeep opened a contest called "Name My Ride," and the handle chosen was "Altitude." Now Jeep is putting the Altitude into its product catalog for the Grand Cherokee, Compass and the Patriot, too.

Like the concepts, the production Altitude special editions are characterized by their blacked-out approach. For the Grand Cherokee, that means a black grille surround, black headlamp trim, black liftgate light bar, blacked-out 20-inch alloys and a black interior, complemented by "platinum chrome" on the lower fascia and the mesh grille. For the Compass, the Altitude edition blacks out the grille, headlamp bezels, roof rails, step pad and 18-inch alloys (as well as the interior), whole the Patriot Altitude gets black 17-inch alloys and cabin but trades in most of the rest for chrome and polished steel.

If this all strikes you as just too dark, each model is available in other colors for the bodywork, in which case the black trim provides the contrast. They all come packed with optional extras as well, with prices starting at $20,240 for the Patriot Altitude edition, $22,190 for the Compass Altitude and $35,595 for the Grand Cherokee Altitude. Like what you see? Check 'em out in the high-res image gallery and the full press release after the jump.

Continue reading Jeep blacks out with crowdsourced Altitude edition Grand Cherokee, Compass and Patriot

Jeep blacks out with crowdsourced Altitude edition Grand Cherokee, Compass and Patriot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Garage’s last stint in a 2009 Jeep Compass left us a bit cold, so when Jeep announced a revised 2011 Compass, we were curious to see how the changes would affect their smaller-sized soft-roader. Our friends at Chrysler were quick to respond not only with the revised Compass, but also provided us with the Patriot as well. Since 2007, Jeep has offered buyers a curious choice of entry level small SUV’s based on the same mechanicals-the cute Compass, and more traditionally styled Patriot.

With Chrysler in serious trouble and seeking a US Government bailout, I figured the slow-selling Compass would be a goner, but I was wrong. Instead, Jeep let go of the Compass’ soft styling in favor of a miniaturized version of the all-new Grand Cherokee. With the Compass, Jeep is still chasing the younger, urban buyer it has sought from the original. The look is definitely more upscale and sophisticated than the outgoing model, but whether buyers will respond with their wallets remains to be seen.

The Patriot, on the other hand, has enjoyed a far easier time finding a market. Last year, Jeep sold 2-1/2 Patriots for each Compass. For 2011, the Patriot receives a mild exterior makeover, but the traditional Jeep look is still fully accounted for, but in an updated form that should be well-received. Intrestingly. I showed both the Compass and Patriot to a relative who owns a Patriot himself. Even with the Compass’ new skin, he still favored the Patriot, citing “It looks more like a Jeep.” While my time with the Compass never generated any sort of response on its looks, the “Jeep-ness” of the Patriot won approval, even from a CR-V owner.

The drivetrain of the Compass/Patriot is carryover, which means a 2.4L inline four rated at 172hp, coupled to a CVT transmission. This was a weak point before and continues to be so. At cruising speeds, the car is quiet and composed, but on acceleration the engine is a bit short on refinement, acceleration is described as leisurely at best, and the transmission only seems to hamper and suck out the power of the engine. For 2011 Jeep recalibrated the steering and suspension. I drove both the Compass and Patriot for long trips, and found the ride comfort relatively comfortable.

Another substantial weakness of the Compass/Patriot was its interior, and improvements were made here as well. Backlit buttons and soft touch materials bring the cars more in line with the competition, but work remains to be done. The cabins are improved over past models, but Jeep is a long way off of standing toe to toe with their rivals. That said, Jeep continues to offer a straightforward a set up that is easy to understand at a glance.

Jeep provided The Garage with two top-spec models-The Compass Limited 4×4, and the Patriot Latitude X 4×4. We already know these two cars are mechanically identical, but they were also optioned out about the same-leather, heated seats, satellite radio and GPS navigation. Our Compass came with an MSRP of $29,380, while our Patriot rang in at $27,575. So, the Patriot wears 17″ wheels in place of the Compass’ 18′s, but I still cannot make sense of the price difference. Given the choice, I’d put my money on the Patriot, which is what buyers already are doing.

Jeep clearly understands they are lagging in a hotly contested market, and the changes made for 2011 are band-aids just to remain afloat. Frankly, with the all-new Grand Cherokee and rumors of an all-new Liberty for 2012, it is impressive that Jeep had the allocations to improve its smaller offerings. These improvements show Jeep remains committed to this market, and here at The Garage we look forward to keep you up to date with future progress.

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Jeep, Off-Road

After a rather long product winter, 2011 is shaping up to be a big year for Jeep. Obviously, the biggest news from Chrysler's off-road brand has been the introduction of the 2011 Grand Cherokee, and after driving the new all-roader (twice), we've learned that the automaker is still fully capable of delivering competitive, well-rounded products. But beyond the Grand Cherokee, Chrysler has made tweaks to both its Jeep Wrangler and Patriot for the 2011 model year, and we spent some time this morning at the Pentastar's Technical Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, to see what all the fuss is about.

Looking at both the Wrangler and Patriot from the outside, you won't immediately notice the new changes these vehicles receive for 2011. The Patriot receives a slight styling update - a cleaner front end with repositioned fog lamps is up front, body cladding has been added to the sides and a new rear bumper is found out back. The Wrangler has even less in the way of exterior visual updates, save the new body-colored hardtop available on the Sahara trim level.

What really impresses us, though, is the larger attention to detail in both of these vehicles. On the Wrangler, for example, little kitschy add-ons like an off-loading Jeep integrated into the windshield outline (pictured right) or the seven-slat grille design for the sun-blocker behind the rear-view mirror. Little things like this are only part of the story, though - the new interiors that both of these vehicles receive are seriously worthy of your consideration.

Wranglers get an updated dash with softer, rounder shapes, and although hard plastics are still used throughout, it fits with the SUV's bad-to-the-bone attitude. Still, new improvements for 2011 include the addition of optional leather seating and Jeep's new corporate steering wheel.

The Patriot, on the other hand, gets a full host of updates, with soft-touch materials used throughout the cabin. Chrysler says that specific touch points have been enhanced in the Patriot to rid the interior of cheap-feeling buttons and knobs, and the new seats (both leather and cloth) are really comfortable. It's a huge, much-needed leap forward for the Patriot, and it makes it much more competitive against vehicles like the Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape.

Similar updates will make their way onto the unloved Jeep Compass, which will launch closer to the end of the year. In the meantime, click through our galleries below to see live shots of the 2011 Wrangler and Patriot live from Chrysler's design dome.




Photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

In-Person: 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Patriot add refinement, panache originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visit the "View All Vehicles" section of Jeep's website and select the "$17,000 to $21,000" price range, it displays no vehicles, subtly admitting the Compass and Patriot are too cheap and inconsequential to be considered. (Thanks Robert!) More »

Filed under: Crossover, Chrysler, Jeep, Reviews

The year was 2006, and Chrysler was fresh off the successful launch of the gangsta 300 and the oddly well-received Dodge Charger. The future looked bright for the Pentastar, with a plethora of new products set to arrive for the 2007 model year. The Chrysler Sebring and Aspen, the Dodge Caliber and Nitro and the Jeep Compass and Patriot were all primed to turn the car-buying world on-end. Or not. The Aspen is now history, the Sebring and Nitro have been abject failures, and the Caliber, Compass and Patriot, all of which share the same platform, haven't come close to meeting expectations.

But one vehicle almost had a shot: the Patriot. Despite mudding Jeep's crystal-clear brand DNA by adding a front-wheel drive soft-roader to the mix, the Patriot's all-four cylinder lineup and better-than-advertised fuel economy arrived just as gas prices rocketed into the stratosphere. So why did it flop? That's a novel unto itself, but the key culprits included poor interior materials and questionable build quality that conspired with a lackluster ad campaign and the overarching sense that Chrysler was teetering on the brink.

But in spite of all of that, the crew from Auburn Hills didn't leave the Patriot for dead. They upgraded the interior, made a host of hardware changes and reworked the rugged little crossover to be more competitive for 2010. We were keen to sample the fruits of their labors, so we picked up a fully-loaded 2010 Jeep Patriot Limited to see if the sum of its upgrades have made this front-drive stepchild a viable alternative in a crowded field of small crossovers.



Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Jeep Patriot deserves a second look

Review: 2010 Jeep Patriot deserves a second look originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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