2009 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4 vs. 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited?

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hurricanesteve31

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Hey guys,

I'm in the market to get a SUV and I've narrowed it down to these two: the Patriot Limited 4x4 and the Forester 2.5XT Limited. I've looked at many other smaller SUV's, and most of them look like minivans. These two are the ones that I feel suit my outdoor personality the best.

Now, I have always loved SUV's having owned 2 of them in previous years (both Jeeps: Cherokee, and 5.9L Grand Cherokee) and I now want something that is decent on gas as well as having a great interior.

The Patriot is very good on gas at 21/24mpg with a manual transmission. The Forester is also good on gas at 19/24mpg with an automatic tranny. BUT mileage is not the most important thing to me.

I have always been a Jeep lover, but the Forester, having been named the 2009 Motor Trend SUV of the year, has also grabbed my attention. The 2009 Mazda CX-9 was the Car and Driver SUV of the year, but it looks way too much like a raised minivan, so that's out of the question.

The trims of both SUV's have 4x4/AWD and are fully loaded with GPS, leather seats, etc.


So....which one should I choose?

Jeep Patriot or Subaru Forester



Thanks for your opinions in advance,

Steven
 
~Given that you have previously owned Jeeps, I will assume that you understand the feel of the car. Yep, there is no denying that apart from poor gas emissions, the Cherokee performs admirably both on-road, and off-road.

~The Patriot is more of an on-road car, it hass been advertised to be a fully capable off-roader. But it really is a deceiving image. The truth is, the Patriot is the perfect car for picnics, where you venture into the woods, or a grass-land, park the car, and enjoy a noon-day meal.
~when I test drove the patriot, i noticed the chunky gear changes, insufficient power on steep hills, and poor brakes. The overall feel is solid, but not as well built as an old-school Cherokee.

~The Forester is the chosen winner of Car&Driver, but I personally thought it's overated. Sure, it has all the standard features, and drives like a truck. The important thing is that, the Forester is quite pricey when you look at the overall amount. With that aside, the car is great fun to drive, relatively reliable and requires little maintainance. I recently drove an 2008 Forester for half-an hour in the snow, and it performed the way it should, lots of solid traction and grip.

~The Verdict? The Patriot may disappoint you given that you have driven two Cherokee before, but it is moderately priced with great solid chassis. The Forester is the more desirable choice, mainly because it drives more comfortabl on the road when not venturing off-road.
~Test drive both cars first, but I would highly recommend the Forester if you are up to paying a bit more over the Patriot.

~hope this helps ^^
 
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