Patriot vs Liberty? I'm missing the difference.

Flying J · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 1:36 pm

So I was briefly looking at the specs between the Patriot and Liberty. I wonder if Jeep is going to phase out the Liberty. I'm not seeing the big difference between the two (except the Liberty is more capable!)

Arn't they going to be competing with each other for market share? I know Patriot's have a smaller engine, etc, but the trade off is better MPG. I guess I'm just missing what makes them really distinct in the product line - but I admit I don't know a lot about the Patriot.

-Vic

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 1:40 pm

Well, add in the independent rear suspension, which is a deal breaker for me.

I think it is meant to be sort of a mini-commander, whereas the liberty is an escape/equinox/rav4 competitor (obviously much better that those 3).

We'll have to see how it plays out.

MikeD0106 · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 1:45 pm

I was told by someone at a dealership that they were planning to phase out the KJ in '07 or possibly '08. Don't know how factual that is.

ShadE · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 2:01 pm

MikeD0106 wrote:

I was told by someone at a dealership that they were planning to phase out the KJ in '07 or possibly '08. Don't know how factual that is.

I've heard the same. I can see why too with the patriot for the mallers and the 4dr wrangler for the 4x4 enthusiest.

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 3:55 pm

I find that hard to believe since the Dodge Nitro is being built upon the next generation patform that the '08+ Liberty will share.

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 5:04 pm

At the NY Auto show-the jeep guy was telling me it was basically to continue to feed market that liked the Liberty but complained about the gas mileage. It comes front wheel drive standard with a 4 banger. IIRC the "off road" option didnt even have transfer case with 4 LO, just went into 4WD.

shadow · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 5:15 pm

Had this same conversation today...

On one hand I hope they are not discontinuing... I just bought one and would hate to see the market drop out... larger market means more and lower priced accessories...
On the other hand , if they are I am darn glad I bought one this year! heh heh

I wouldn't have wanted to buy a Patriot... *shudder* :shock:

NetJunkie · **Joined:** Tue May 09, 2006 1:45 pm **Posts:** 78

The KJ is getting a re-design in '08. Word is they are going to make it larger. I don't want larger.

MoladoGuy · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2006 7:20 pm

The KJ is going to be redesigned in 08'. The company I work for is currently building all door trim panels through 07 for the Liberty. They now have prototype machines in the plant to test how well the 08 door will build. I have not seen the door yet, but I have seen the 08 WK doors (with leather armrests, etc...) as we also build the door trim panels for the WK and XK.

InCommando · **Posted:** Sun May 14, 2006 3:34 pm

Most market cycles result in a vehicle growing larger. The KJ will get bigger, and get the bigger V6 going into the Nitro as well. The Nitro & Liberty will be the same size from what I have read.

The KJ & Patriot are very different in areas other than size. The Patriot is a Dodge Caliber with a different body. Even the Caliber is available in AWD. 2wd Patriots ( & the third triplet, the Compass) are front-wheel drive in 2wd versions. Think of the Compass as a Jeep Imprezza and the Patriot as a Jeep Forester and you are on the right track.

nickmv · **Posted:** Sun May 14, 2006 6:40 pm

ya know, there was a thread a while back talking about putting a V8 into the KJ, and that someone had talked to a DC engineer who said they had been playing around with it and had successfully transplanted one. However, they also mentioned that it was unlikely because a V8 KJ would take away from the grand market. Maybe this might be more of a reality if it's true that the new KJ is gonna be larger? I'm not talking Hemi, but a 4.7L would be quite interesting.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sun May 14, 2006 6:58 pm

i have tossed around the idea quite a bit. I went so far as to go in to my service deparment after hours to examine the two engines (both were in an unopened crate). They use the same motor mounts. The width is the same. The length is 4-5 inches longer (i lost my notebook with the measurement on it). Get a WJ 4.7 harness, a 4.7 from a wrecked WJ bolt it in. If you have the 45rfe transmission-don't worry, Dodge throws that bad boy behind the hemi and it should bolt right up.

Having friends that work for a Jeep dealer come in handy...Just wait till I get my next Jeep...

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Sun May 14, 2006 11:54 pm

Rumors were flowing a while ago that a guy in the Poconos area of PA had dropped an older 318 V8 into his KJ. Have never seen this vehicle on heard rumors of its existence.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Mon May 15, 2006 1:23 am

the 318 would be a difficult swap...it's heavier then the 4.7, larger in every exterior dimension (except maybe height, can't remember). Plus the wiring would be a royal PITA as no vehicle with the 318 had similar wiring (the WJ 4.7 harness is real close to the KJ 3.7). The 4.7 is a much better engine then the old 318. Better power to weight ratio, better mileage, smoother at idle. The 318 does have more after market support and will accept a supercharger or turbo easier. I believe the 4.7 has the same problem as the 3.7 with the ring lands being to high for forced induction. That can be fixed with a bottom rebuild using better pistons but it may fail smog if your state does that. The 4.7 would be a California legal swap (the donor engine would need to come from a newer vehicle, the 318 was phased out in '02 or '03). The 4.7 just makes a whole lot more sense. I would not be surprised to see a 4.7 KJ get better mileage then a 3.7 (Dakota 4.7s are better then 3.7s but part of that is transmission.

A sweet setup would be the 4.7 with the 545rfe tranny. The tranny will bolt right in (just borrow a CRD crossmember). With heavier CRD springs you could have a KJ that will be torquey and probably get 18 mpg.

bobafett22 · **Posted:** Mon May 15, 2006 4:48 am

If they are doing a kj redesign in 08 all I want is more HP and Torque and a little more ground clearance...then the libby would mop the floor with the xterra

mb818 · **Posted:** Mon May 15, 2006 8:47 am

hope they redesigned the stupid lower ball joint design.. hmm front end of a 2 ton vehicle supported entirely on 2 crappy sealed ball joints... wise move... :roll:

mb818

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon May 15, 2006 3:04 pm

The KA (Nitro) will launch this September as a 2007 small SUV for the Dodge line up. At that point we can all compare the size differences between the KJ and the next KK (2008 Jeep Liberty). At that point we will also know about powertrain choices for our next Liberty. Personally seeing some of the S1 mules from the KA running around on the streets, I can say that I am impressesed with the growth in size and shape for the next generation Liberty. They are not much bigger, but look much nicer. I haven't been close enough to see how much ground clearnance the Dodge versions come with but it looks similar to my '02 pe-lowered Liberty.

I think I have also seen a SRT KA mule driving around once or twice. I can't comfirm it because both times they were just glances as the prototypes were driving by. I will start carrying around a camera for the next "just in case" chance I get.

Edit: The Patriot is based off of the Caliber / Compass platform. That vehicle is built in Belvidere Illinios (sorry about the spelling) The engine in the Patriot is FWD and will have an AWD feature. I am unsure if Jeep will give it a "trail rated" badge or not. The compass will not get a badge, but the patriot looks a little more rugged so Jeep might try to sell the image.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Wed May 24, 2006 5:41 pm

What's that? Oh, a Trail Rated Badge. Low Range too.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Thu May 25, 2006 12:13 pm

We should all get together and build the KJ that we want as a team. And compete with Jeep desighners.
We can call it the L.O.S.T KJ desighn team.
We could build it to the way we think it should be and look.

LOL
just a thought out there from me....

matthiesen · **Posted:** Thu May 25, 2006 4:21 pm

Can someone do that photoshop magic and place a Jeep grill on a picture of the Nitro? Might be close to the 2008 Liberty.

Patriot vs Liberty? I'm missing the difference.

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