Ford Explorer
Although the Jeep Grand Cherokee was responsible for bringing luxurious SUV’s into the mainstream, it was the Explorer that completely changed the game. There was something about the original Explorer that millions of consumers liked. The design was handsome and rugged at the same time, and that versatility made it the complete package (via Driving Line).
The Eddie Bauer trim gave the Explorer an upmarket feeling, and the fact that it was practical compared to the larger Bronco made it popular. The original Explorer was a bigger hit than even the folks at Ford expected. There’s no way we’d have the popularity of the SUV segment that we have today without the original Explorer.