Jeep Patriot

The Patriot, lightly updated for 2011, remained a mediocre vehicle overall. Handling is unimpressive and even the up-level engine that comes with all-wheel-drive versions feels sluggish and sounds noisy. The seats are second-rate and it's hard to find a good driving position. To its credit, the Patriot has an absorbent ride, well-suppressed road noise and mostly simple controls. But that's not enough to compensate for its flaws.