2008 Jeep Patriot

Pros: Style, gas mileage, quiet ride, easy to drive, utility, lifetime power train warranty.
Cons: CVT transmission produces uneven power output, interior plastic could be higher quality.

Yikes! I hate it when a product is slammed by comparison to one idealized standard. No, the Patriot is not perfect, but it does very well in balancing out the door price, style, and practical utility. My 2008 FWD automatic Patriot with the 2.0 liter engine is getting 26-27 miles per gallon in a combination of highway and city driving. I find the front seats comfortable, and I prefer the highway ride to the Honda CRV. Autostick allows you to simulate shifting. You can buy a Patriot for the same amount of money you would pay for compact car-but with a better ride and more utility-depends on what you are looking for.

Pros: price, simplicity, ride, 4wd, fuel economy
Cons: engine noise, storage space in front cabin, dealer selection

I initially looked at the jeep because I wanted a 4wd vehicle with decent cargo room, easy on gas that would not set me back $30,000+. I test drove all of the small suvs on the market. I instantly decided on the jeep. For the money, this is the best in the class. It rides well, has the most cabin room and storage space. In fact, it has all of the attributes of a midsize or large suv. All for around $19,000. After reading the reviews here and the professional reviews, I opted for the manual transmission. It has great pick-up and no problems with power. Picking the manual made locating and test driving the jeep difficult, as many dealers think they will be hard to sell. For all of the complaints about the cheap materials on the inside, the reviewers are correct. But hey, I didn't think I was buying a BMW. The materials are nice,just not white table cloth. It is a great car for the money.