By Kelly Foss www.car-data.com JEEP PATRIOT The Patriot is somewhat of a departure from traditional Jeeps. The biggest difference is that it ’s a compact SUV that is car-based. Unlike the Wrangler and its other larger brethren, the Patriot has car-like attributes, is small and light, and gets really good fuel economy. The hot cars in today’s economic climate tend to be small SUV/CUV’s. The combination is irresistible. The Patriot has the traditional Jeep look and can do off-road Jeep trails when properly equipped, but for day-to-day life, it makes a lot of sense.   The Patriot is supplied with a 172 horsepower 2.4 liter four cylinder engine. It’s a dual overhead cam unit that has pleasant power. For even better economy, you can specify the smaller 2.0 liter engine. The Patriot has a highway fuel economy rating of 29 mpg, which is really good. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, but the magic is in the CVT. This is a gearless automatic transmission that provides the most satisfying driving experience plus the low gear ran ge if you opt for the off-road package. We drove the Patriot with the CVT 4x4 and the off-road package. The vehicle was very enjoyable to drive. The seating was comfortable, the car was very nimble and the ride compliant. It ’s an above average city car with a very large cargo area in the rear. Pull the shift lever into “low” and the little Patriot instantly transforms into a mountain goat, and its Jeep roots begin to emerge. In fact, the Jeep Patriot 4x4 was recognized by Texas Auto Writers Association for best-in-class capability in the compact SUV segment at the most recent TAWA Truck Rodeo. The 4x4 Patriot is good enough off-road that it qualified for Jeep’s “Trail Rated” appellation. It offers a Best-in-class 19:1 Low Gear Ratio, which in our tests, even with regular street tires, allowed the spunky little vehicle to go places that most sane owners would never take it. Its off-road package includes aggressive approach, departure and breakover angles, 9 inches of ground clearance and additional body sealing to support 19 inches of water-fording. Additional items such as 17-inch all-terrain tires, a full-size spare tire, skid plates, tow hooks and fog lamps maximize Jeep Patriot ’s off-road capability. The Jeep Patriot is available in three drive configurations: front-wheel drive, Freedom Drive I ™ (a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with lock mode) and Freedom Drive II ™ Off-Road Package (a full-time, active 4x4 system with best-in-class 19:1 Low Ratio that provides true Jeep 4x4 Trail Rated capability). Jeep Patriot is designed for customers who want four-wheel-drive capability or the year-round versatility, excellent fuel economy and an attractive price point. The Patriot is a fun and comfortable small vehicle that is capable of doing many things very well.

LINCOLN MKS Ford and Lincoln have been on a roll lately. As they fine-tune the Lincoln design language, customers are attracted by what they see. The MKS is an excellent example of what Lincoln is capable of. This is a very nice full size luxury sedan with all the expected accoutrements. To begin with, the styling of the MKS is striking. The vehicle looks the part and has great presence. The interior complements the exterior nicely and it feels as good as it looks. It is bright and spacious. There is generous space and the seating is very comfortable for fore and aft. Lincoln is also very forward thinking, providing both heated and cooled seats as standard equipment. Lincoln’s SYNC technology package has been getting rave reviews and justifiably so. It’s a particularly useful capability that benefits the driver and the passengers of the vehicle because they will actually be using it the majority of the time that they ’re in the vehicle. Exterior styling benefits onlookers. The interior is where the owners and passengers spend their time. The standard MKS is powered by a nice 3.7 liter V-6. The EcoBoost version of the MKS is what sets it apart from the competition. It transforms this proper looking boulevardier into a surprisingly powerful and sure footed vehicle. EcoBoost is a package built around a twin turbocharged 3.5 liter V-6 with 365 “smile-inducing” horsepower. It also includes an all-wheel-drive system tuned to control the power of the engine. The EcoBoost version of the MKS is the best of both worlds. When in proper luxury sedan mode, the deceivingly sedate MKS putters around with the best of them. A sharp stab to the gas pedal and the car rockets away like you ’d never expect a car like this could. It’s capable of going crazy speeds up twisting rainy mountain roads in complete tranquility. Picture this image in your mind: A luxury sedan moving very rapidly on a wet twisty road with the passengers serenely listening to Beethoven majestically playing through the TXH surround audio system, in the car ’s tomb-quiet cockpit. The EcoBoost version allows vivifying sure-footed performance in a proper luxury car. It really is a new interpretation of an American luxury sedan. Visit www.MyCarData.com for more information on these models.l