The Jeep Patriot went on sale in 2007 as a small affordable SUV for the masses. Initial sales figures were very positive for the model, and it went on to live for over 10 years. Now, more than three years after it went out of production, Jeep is still selling brand-new examples. Recent U.S. sales figures published by FCA highlight that one brand-new Patriot sold during Q3 of 2020, making it a brand-new, four-year-old vehicle. 

Why is Jeep selling new old Patriots?

The Jeep Patriot started life right as American buyers began their love affair with SUVs and crossovers. A look at CarSalesBase’s annual sales report shows that despite not receiving any significant updates, sales of the Patriot skyrocketed. In 2016, Jeep managed to sell 125,397 Patriots, a radical increase over 2009’s 31,432 figure. This success most likely meant that Jeep had to step up production to meet demand. In, 2017 sales dropped dramatically to 40,735 due to the model’s cancellation and the arrival of the all-new Compass. 

If Jeep was expecting to have one final big year before retiring the model, it most likely means that many Patriots were left over. While most of them probably hit the auctions, a couple of models have remained in dealerships throughout the years. In 2018, Jeep sold 621 Patriots, with 27 sold in 2019. As of writing, there is just one new Patriot left for sale for its original price of over $24,000. 

Why would anyone buy an old Jeep Patriot?

The SUV/crossover market is one of the fastest-growing in the United States, with new models popping up regularly, making it difficult to understand why anyone would opt for an older Jeep Patriot over a new model. A possible explanation could simply come down to its price. Given that it is a new vehicle, buyers can most likely purchase it while retaining the manufacturer’s warranty. A deep discount on an older model could present a viable way for a cash-strapped buyer to get into a brand-new vehicle. 

However, just because you find a cheap Jeep Patriot for sale doesn’t mean you should buy it. Consumer Reports gave the Patriot very low scores during its extensive testing, citing poor ownership satisfaction and significant reliability concerns. As mentioned earlier, the Patriot never received significant changes meaning that the low scores carried through all of the years tested. 

What should I buy instead?

If you are a die-hard fan of the brand, consider the Jeep Patriot’s replacement, the Compass. While the original Compass sold alongside the Patriot, the second generation model arrived in 2017 just as the Patriot got the ax. Unfortunately, the Compass is not without its flaws, ranking poorly during Consumer Reports’ testing. Overall, the Jeep Compass ranked 16 out of 21 compact SUVs evaluated.

For the best options outside of Jeep, turn to the segment-leading Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, and Honda CR-V, which all received positive reviews by Consumer Reports. All three of these compact SUVs have scored highly with owner satisfaction, mainly thanks to their competency on the road, fuel efficiency, and overall value.