I agree with you on the Jeep GC. Your description would equally desribe the Toyota 4Runner.
I don't love the new 4Runner either. That centre stack with oddly shaped HVAC controls bugs me, but it looks a tad better than GC and at least there's a bit more room in it.
The Pathfinder is much more appealing to me in execution.
I think the Fit really takes the cake for me. Really nicely executed. I realize it has a much smaller engine, but I'd rather have small (smartly packaged I can actually fit into) and well-done than a larger piece of gar-bage. No doubt in my mind these will sell well though.
Blah...blah...blah...
The HEMI *is* the best part!
Maybe we should start another topic for GC/4runner/Path... so we wouldn't disgress too much from the subject of this topic. I had a '98GC, have a '02 GC (Overland) and will not touch the new GC mainly because of the subpar interior and lack of interior space which is a step down from my '02. 4Runner has much better materials but its 2nd row is actually way worse than GC. Path interior materials are no better than GC and no V8 so thumb down.
Back to the Caliber, the rear design shows what the Malibu Maxx could have been and should have been. Chrysler designers did a much better job. Lets not forget this vehicle is replacing the NEON and what an improvement it is. Its unique characteristics will appeal to many new customers. It is a fresh new vehicle.
But tuning a R/T with a CVT trans is a big no-no. So yes Chrysler is obviously not pursuing this crowd, for now anyway. Who knows, maybe one day we'll see a SRT Caliber?