Gearheads love a bit of nostalgia, and car brands know it. But nostalgia without capability is just a hollow marketing exercise. For decades, General Motors has watched from the sidelines as its fierce rivals – Ford and Stellantis – print money with body-on-frame midsize SUVs like the Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, respectively. While the Wrangler has enjoyed largely uncontested dominance for years, Ford’s revival of its legendary off-roader proved that buyers are desperate for retro-styled, highly capable machines. GM’s response so far? Slapping storied nameplates on mundane, unibody crossovers.
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