Should You Take the 2017 Jeep Patriot Off Road?

With a host of off-road options, the 2017 Jeep Patriot is great for moderately difficult terrain—but 4x4 fanatics will want something a little gutsier.
Written by Matt Nightingale
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2017
Jeep Patriot
is a very affordable way to hit the trails. It’s decent for moderate off-roading, but serious 4x4 thrill-seekers will want to take a pass.
An off-road-worthy vehicle can open a lot of doors. When you don’t have to stick to paved roads, you can find adventure almost anywhere!. Soon you’ll be hitting the trails and discovering parts of the world you never knew existed. 
But while a lot of SUVs seem trail-ready, looks can be deceiving. That’s why
car insurance
broker and
comparison app
and off-road enthusiast
Jerry
has shone the spotlight on the 2017 Jeep Patriot. In this article, we’ll dig deep and find out how off-road-ready the Patriot really is.
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Can the 2017 Jeep Patriot go off-road?

Big time! Jeep has become synonymous with off-roading, and the Jeep Patriot was no exception. The Patriot’s lack of modern tech may have factored into Jeep’s decision to discontinue the Patriot after 2017. But from a design standpoint, it hits many of the key notes for a good off-road vehicle.
The Jeep Patriot offered special off-road features such as Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, skid plates, and tow hooks, so it was definitely designed with the off-road in mind. And at a starting price of $19,035, the Patriot was a very affordable alternative to the off-road king, the
Jeep Wrangler
. According to
Kelley Blue Book
, a 2017 Jeep Patriot can be had now at a price in around the $16,400 range.
Let’s take a look at how the Jeep Patriot ranks on some of the key specs when it comes to off-roading.

Ground clearance

Ground clearance is important for off-road vehicles. Essentially, ground clearance is the measurement between the ground and the undercarriage of your vehicle. This lets you know how big of a mystery object you can safely pass over without causing damage to your Jeep.
The Patriot had a ground clearance of 8.1 inches. Experts typically recommend a minimum ground clearance of 6.6 inches before you consider taking your vehicle off manicured city streets, so the Patriot checks this box easily. 
The recommended clearance for overland treks is 8.6 inches, and the recommended clearance for 4x4 rock crawling jaunts is 10.8 inches. The Patriot’s base model settings don’t quite cut the mustard here. However, Patriots outfitted with the Freedom Drive II drivetrain—more on that later—were gifted an extra inch of clearance, bringing them to 9.1 inches. That’s plenty of ground clearance for handling rough terrain, although it’s not quite enough for rock crawling.

Torque

Another key component for an off-road worthy vehicle is good torque. Torque is the vehicle’s ability to move its wheels. Off-roaders are especially interested in low-end torque—the vehicle’s ability to move its wheels at low and no speed. The Patriot’s torque was measured at 165 pound-feet at 4400 rpm, which falls short compared to the Jeep Wrangler’s 260 @ 4800 rpm.

Tires

The Jeep Patriot came standard with all-season performance tires, which aren’t ideal for off-roading. Fortunately, it’s easy to purchase and install tires, so that won’t stop your Patriot from going off the beaten path.
All-terrain tires have a more robust sidewall and a beefier tread making them a much better choice for off-roading. The downside is that they tend to wear out faster than all-seasons, and so you may notice an increase in your tire expenses.

Drivetrain

The Jeep Patriot was made available with an off-road-minded 4-wheel drive system called Freedom Drive II, which offered a 19:1 crawl ratio, heavy-duty cooling, skid plates, and disc antilock brakes. That’s fine for intermediate trails and gravel roads, but if you’re looking to do some serious rock crawling, you’ll want a crawl ratio of at least 50:1.

Angles

An often overlooked off-road spec is the vehicle’s approach and departure angles: 
  • Approach angle is the maximum angle at which the vehicle can climb a ramp without scraping its front end on the ramp. 
  • Departure angle is the maximum angle at which the vehicle can depart a ramp without its rear end scraping the ramp. 
The base model Jeep Patriot has approach and departure angles of 26.4 and 28.5 respectively. Adding ground clearance will increase these angles, so a Patriot with a Freedom Drive II drivetrain will have better approach and departure angles thanks to the added inch of clearance.
Off-road rating: Rough and Ready
We’ve scrutinized the 2017 Jeep Patriot using Jerry’s ultra-scientific DIRT rating system, detailed below:
Rating
Meaning
Description
D
Don’t Try It
Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I
In a Pinch
Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R
Rough and Ready
Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T
Trail Boss
True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain
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The 2017 Jeep Patriot receives an R rating. While it is armed with several great off-road features, the Patriot’s drive train is what separates it from off-road heavy hitters like the
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
. So, the Patriot is great for camping and fishing excursions, but 4x4 enthusiasts with rock crawling aspirations will likely be disappointed.

The best off-road alternatives to the 2017 Jeep Patriot

If you want a minimalist SUV crossover at a really great price, the 2017 Jeep Patriot is an easy choice. But for drivers who want more modern conveniences, or for adventure-seekers who need a little more off-road oomph, the 2017 Jeep Patriot may not be the right choice. Here are some great alternatives that are sure to have what you’re looking for.
Alternative
Model
Price
Description
Best affordable alternative
2018 Nissan Versa Note
$15,600
The 2018 Nissan Versa Note is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. With an EPA rating of 31/39 mpg city/highway, you’ll save tons at the pump.
Best eco alternative
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
$20,395
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and available plug-in hybrid for the environmentally conscious. The hybrid models have level three fast charging capabilities and an electric range of 22 miles.
Best alternative for serious off-roading
2017 Mitsubishi Outlander
$23,495
The Mitsubishi Outlander is available with all-wheel drive and a 3.0-liter 224 hp V-6 engine that puts out 215 lb-ft of torque. Add a lift kit for extra ground clearance and you have yourself a serious off-road warrior.
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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

One of the problems with owning an off-road vehicle is that they’re often more expensive to insure. Off-roading increases the chances of accidents, and insurance companies tend to raise car insurance rates to offset the inevitable. But, just because you like to go off the beaten path doesn’t mean you should have to pay more for insurance.
That’s where
Jerry
comes in.
Jerry is an app that finds all the best car insurance rates available to you for the type of coverage you need. You can choose between quotes from some of the top insurance providers in the country, and switch to a better insurance policy right in the app. It’s that easy.
And once you’ve switched to a better rate, Jerry doesn’t just sit around. No, when it’s time to renew, Jerry shows you all the best rates available to you again, so you’ll always have the best possible deal on car insurance.
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