2007 Jeep Patriot First Drive

2007 Jeep Patriot – First Drive: Like so many irrefutable facts we learn early in life – a glowing stove burner does bad things to skin, chunky milk doesn’t taste good – Jeeps are meant to go off road. Or so we thought. Last year, the brand unveiled the all-new Compass, a crossover that, no matter how it was equipped, wasn’t worthy of the brand’s off-road worthy Trail Rated badge. Then along came the Patriot, a boxier, more rugged looking crossover based on the same platform that, when equipped with a Freedom-Drive II off-road package, is worthy of that esteemed moniker, and thus, makes this little rig a legit Jeep. Finally, everything’s right with the world again.