2008 Jeep Patriot

Jeep claims that the Patriot is the most capable compact SUV in its class when it comes to mud. Specify the Freedom Drive II off-road package and you get four-wheel drive (a front-wheel-drive Patriot is available), a CVT with a low ratio, heavy-duty engine cooling, skid plates, tow hooks, and a form of hill descent control. It's not Rubicon-ready, but the Patriot is actually pretty good off-road, which is all it needs to be.

The Jeep Patriot has been determined to be the best-bang-for-your-buck SUV, according to a cars.com statistic that combines the estimated sticker price of a new vehicle with the cost of fuel for the economy over eight years. The Jeep Compass and Kia Sportage round out second and third places, respectively.

Jeep Patriot is available in three drive configurations: front-wheel drive, Freedom Drive ITM (a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with lock mode) and the Freedom Drive IITM Off-Road Package (a full-time, active 4x4 system with low range that provides true Jeep 4x4 Trail Rated capability).

All Jeep Patriot models include standard brake traction control, driver-controlled three-mode ESP, Brake assist, Electronic Roll Mitigation and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with rough-road detection.

The Jeep Patriot is an all-new compact SUV with plenty of room inside, using a powerful and economical 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that gets an EPA-rated 25 city and 29 highway miles per gallon, with four-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission.

The Jeep Patriot is a terrific value, starting at $14,985 including freight, with two-wheel drive, manual doors and windows, and no air conditioning. More reasonably equipped, in 4WD, it's a couple thousand dollars more, but still relatively inexpensive.

The suspension is as good as the engine. We gave it a good test over a 20-mile stretch of dirt road: hard-packed, potholed, a layer of loose dust, lots of uphill and downhill curves. The Patriot was stable and confident. We drove fast, and used the brakes hard; the ABS frequently activated on the slippery dust, with the all-season (not all-terrain) tires. We aimed for some of the potholes, including a 50-foot-long row of little ones. The independent suspension eagerly ate them up. Along came a washboard surface, and the Patriot stayed true. We hit an elevated cattle crossing at 30 miles per hour and tensed for an impact that never came. The Dodge Nitro, a Patriot cousin and competitor, would have been hammered. The Patriot did a great job in these conditions.