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Forefathers Of SUV Segment – Vehicles That Established The Trend

Vukasin Herbez December 21, 2024

We are confident that you know just how popular SUVs are nowadays. Almost all cars on the streets are SUVs of some kind, with standard sedans and station wagons nearly extinct. But how did SUVs gain such popularity? For decades, they were just a niche vehicle, rugged and low-optioned. Here is how the SUV class started and influenced today’s car market.

Toyota 4Runner

The 4Runner came in time to battle with the second generations of the Bronco and the K5. While it obviously couldn’t compete with the two due to its lack of V8 power, it gained recognition due to its ruggedness and durability. Even without the V8 under the hood, the 4Runner was an excellent SUV for the period. It was competent in off-road conditions—better all-terrain capabilities than its big-engine counterpart.

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Jeep Willys

Willys M38 Jeep 7 — Photo Credit: Pinterest

Off-road vehicles were born out of necessity, and the legendary Jeep Willys is the best example. Conceived just before the Second World War as a light military vehicle capable of going over any terrain, durable enough to withstand bullets and explosions, and durable to survive harsh conditions, Jeep turned out to be one of the weapons that won the biggest war in history. The unique concept of a rugged, compact, and competent off-road machine evolved into the Jeep brand, the biggest producer of off-road vehicles and SUVs and a true legend of the segment.

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Chevrolet Suburban

During the ’50s and ’60s, the Suburban moved to a truck platform and benefited from advanced construction, rigid suspension, and a long list of engines and options. At the same time, Chevrolet started introducing the all-wheel drive option for its truck line, and the Suburban could also be ordered with an AWD drivetrain. This was the moment when the Suburban became an off-road model. The all-wheel drive option proved popular during later generations and became an almost mandatory option for the famous and long-serving 7th generation, which was introduced in 1973 and discontinued in 1991.

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Range Rover

Most car historians agree that Range Rover started the modern SUV class with a unique blend of off-road capabilities, elegant design, and luxury appointments. After this model, more and more manufacturers decided to try to sell comfortable off-road vehicles, and that is how we got the SUV craze sweeping through the industry. Range Rover was simply an answer to the customers who needed a capable car but not a Spartan off-roader the Defender was.

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Suzuki Samurai

The Samurai sold in the States from 1985 to 1989 before its career was brutally interrupted by a harsh Consumer Reports article stating that the Samurai was a small death trap on wheels. The article explained that this little SUV was prone to roll-overs, which had been the cause of many accidents, some even with fatal outcomes.

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Ford Bronco

Everything started in the mid-’60s when Ford realized the market for compact and off-road capable SUVs was emerging. The Bronco was very compact, which helped it be very maneuverable on and off the road, making this Ford quite capable when the asphalt stops. The small dimensions mean that the interior was cramped, but the buyers loved it nonetheless, and the sales numbers went through the roof. Second and third generations were even more successful but more prominent and comfortable vehicles with a longer list of options and better equipment.

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Jeep Commando

Jeepster Commando 1600x900 — Photo Credit: Pinterest

The Jeepster Commando is a forgotten Jeep model they produced between 1966 and 1973. It was an upscale version of those pure off-road models that featured removable hardtops and a small truck bed behind the front seats. It was a practical model that drivers could use for cruising, carrying smaller items, and going off-road.

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Dodge Ramcharger

The success of the Blazer and the Bronco inspired Dodge to offer its own off-road model, which was based on a shortened truck chassis and a closed body style. The new model, Ramcharger, was introduced in 1974, along with the Plymouth Trailduster. The second generation was introduced in 1981 and discontinued in 1994, and it was an update of the original design. This means that Ramchargers are pretty standard and affordable, so you should easily find decent examples.

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International Scout

International Harvester Scout 800 — Photo Credit: International

International Scout was a small and very usable off-road SUV with choices of engines ranging from 2.5-liter straight four to 4.4-liter V8. Also, it came with a removable hard top, which meant that every Scout was also a convertible with a fold-down windshield. The first models were basic and used by nature lovers, hunters, and forest patrols. Still, the second generation introduced a more luxurious Scout with more options, better engines, and exterior trim.

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Chevrolet Blazer

Chevrolet K5 Blazer 7 012600000d100903 — Photo Credit: Mecum

In 1969, Chevrolet was caught off guard by the success of Ford Bronco, Jeep CJ, and International Harvester Scout. The market wanted small, good-looking, and capable off-road SUVs, and Chevrolet didn’t have any in its model lineup. Something had to be done, and Chevrolet engineers thought of a brilliant idea. Why don’t they use the existing pickup truck, mount the interior and roof, and call it the Blazer or GMC Jimmy? The Blazer was so popular that the second generation stayed in production from 1973 to 1991 with minimal modifications.

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Toyota Land Cruiser J60

Introduced in 1980 and discontinued in 1989, the J60 was sold all over the world and very popular in America. It combined the ruggedness of the classic FJ40 with a durable 4.2-liter inline six-engine and a more significant, more comfortable body. The combination proved influential, and J60 is now the focus of collectors worldwide.

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Jeep Cherokee XJ

Used 1996 Jeep Cherokee 4dr Spoert — Photo Credit: Car Domain

Introduced in 1984, Cherokee (XJ generation) was an enormous success for Jeep. With its boxy yet elegant looks, great build quality, and many usable features, the second-generation Cherokee was the SUV of the ’80s and a globally successful model. Despite being a modern and comfortable vehicle, the Cherokee XJ retained all Jeep characteristics, such as rugged mechanics, a dependable AWD drive train, and good engines, which helped it claim the title of one of the best SUVs of all time.

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Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 40

The car that made the Land Cruiser nameplate world-famous entered the automotive market in 1960 as a purely practical short-wheelbase off-roader. During the production run, the J40 had dozens of iterations. Some of them were particularly valuable due to unmatched off-road performance, and they gathered cult status among mud-loving enthusiasts. The J40 can offer phenomenal off-road performance and experience, but be sure to find a four-wheel drive model to squeeze the most out of this car, although these models will come with a higher price tag.

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Jeep Wagoneer

At first, the Wagoneer was available as a two-door or four-door SUV or a two-door panel truck. As the model progressed, it became available with more and more luxurious features, one of which was wooden side panels. Numerous inline six and V8 engines powered the Wagoneer. It had both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. The most coveted models came from the 1987 to 1991 Chrysler era when the car went through a series of upgrades. With air conditioning, high-quality audio, comfortable power seats, chrome, and optional woodwork, the Wagoneer was a well-equipped car.

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Jeep Willys Wagon

After the war, there were lots of used Jeep Willys military vehicles that proved their worth on battlefields all over the world. However, post-war buyers wanted something a bit more civilized and with a closed body. Those cars used Jeep’s rugged mechanics and chassis construction but offered a bit more comfort, usability, and features. Using proven four- and six-cylinder drivetrains, the Willys Overland Jeep came in a pickup, station wagon, or panel wagon version.

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Land Rover Defender

Many car enthusiasts write off British cars as quirky, rusty, prone, and problematic; honestly, some of them are like that. Several British vehicles are durable, dependable, and legendary in their ruggedness. One of those machines is the epic Land Rover Defender. Over time, this model changed the design and the names, but it never changed the original concept and character, and you will be amazed to find out that over 70% of all Land Rovers built are still on the roads all over the planet.

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