I owned one of these beasts, a blue ‘75 model, for three years in the 2000s. It was indeed longer than a contemporary stretch limo (I parked next to a Lincoln Town Car limo in a parking lot once), as wide as a ‘70s Chevy C-10 (I owned a ‘75 C-10 at the same time, in a weird coincidence, both vehicles had the same size…

Wrong.

1. Kia Soul: You’re not wrong on any account. It’s ugly on the outside, but so good from the driver’s seat and from an “everyday use” perspective that I don’t care, I’d drive one.

Someone ate a lot of paint chips growing up.

If you buy one of those misbegotten bastards, pay extra attention to the notoriously weak front suspension. Check your balljoints more often than you change the oil and you'll probably be fine, don't, and you'll be in for a nasty surprise with little or no warning.

Everything you said is why I own a 4Runner.

These were definitely MEH.

These weren’t bad, and really weren’t all that “meh”. They just hit the market at the worst possible time for a new full-sized V8 SUV with zero name recognition.

I have to disagree.

As a former Chrysler dealership technician, no, it's not redeemable. I remember when the Caliber was about to launch and we were all thinking Chrysler would never unleash something worse than the Neon on the world. Chrysler's response? "Hold my beer."

That's not true, Google it. They are gaming the system, but that's not how the EPA test is performed; it's far more fucked than that.

I beleive it.

BMW going FWD, where they’ll have to compete against the best Camry ever, a damned good Accord, and an ever-improving Hyundai Sonata/Kia Optima, is patently stupid. It didn’t work out for Mercedes, and I doubt it will work for them.

4th Gear:

When I turned 16, 17 years ago, I started out with an old Chevy pickup. It was nothing but pickups and 2-door cars (except for a co-owned Saturn when gas was $4+ per gallon and I had a big-block Thunderbird and my dad 3/4-ton Suburban). Every single one was a domestic, and that was never going to change. SUVs were for…

So Chevrolet is taking Hyundai’s approach and making it their own.

I had a long reply typed up, citing sources (with links), from The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and even a few quotes from different industry insiders.

I hope they don't sell a single one.

Well, the UAW killed GM and Chrysler, requiring bailouts to continue operating. Seems like neither is good thing.

Toyota Hilux diesel crew cab.