4. Jeep Cherokee XJ
The Jeep Cherokee XJ was originally intended to be a traditional full-size, body-on-frame SUV. Midway through development, engineers made a daring shift to a unibody, compact design. This move not only resulted in a lighter and more fuel-efficient SUV, but also pioneered the architecture now standard in crossovers. The XJ’s blend of ruggedness and practicality became a blueprint for the entire segment. MotorTrend