8. Nissan Patrol
Today, most US customers recognize Nissan Patrol as Armada, a big and heavy luxury SUV often in two-wheel-drive configuration, but long ago, the Patrol was a serious off-road vehicle, intended for heavy-duty use with mechanics to cope with toughest terrains.
Designed as a competitor to the FJ 40 Land Cruiser, the Patrol has grown and matured by the early `80s into a modern SUV with global appeal. Nissan redesigned its chassis and engines, as well as the interior and introduced the third generation of Patrol in 1980. It was a boxy SUV but with lots of interior room, tough mechanical components and undeniable off-road capabilities.