Imagine a world without SUVs on every corner. Today, these versatile giants dominate the roads, offering style, space, and comfort that drivers love. But where did it all begin? How did the SUV evolve from a niche vehicle to a global sensation?
The story of the SUV goes back further than you might think, marked by innovation and adventure. Join us as we explore the history of the Sports Utility Vehicle and the iconic models that brought us into the age of the SUV.
Willys Jeep Station Wagon
Introduced just after World War II, the Willys Station Wagon combined the rugged mechanics of a military Jeep with a wagon body, reasonable comfort, and practicality. This innovative blend, along with optional all-wheel drive, laid the foundation for future SUVs. Its popularity and global export marked Jeep’s transition from military to civilian off-road vehicles.
Jeepster Commando
Introduced in 1966, the Jeepster Commando was an early SUV with upscale features, powerful engines, and a more comfortable interior. It addressed criticisms that the CJ5 was too rugged and uncomfortable. With a new name and a longer list of options, the Jeepster Commando competed fiercely with the International Scout and Ford Bronco for the title of the best compact SUV.
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet entered the compact SUV market in 1969 with the Blazer, setting new class standards. Built on a shortened truck chassis, it featured a rugged all-wheel-drive system, powerful V8 engines, and numerous options, making it an instant hit. The Blazer and its GMC counterparts became popular off-road models and remain highly sought-after classic SUVs.
Ford Bronco
Ford took the Scout’s concept and improved it with the 1966 Bronco. Built on a compact chassis with various features, including a Roadster option, the Bronco was an instant success and stayed in production for 30 years. It was an affordable, dependable compact SUV available with powerful V8 engines. Some argue the Bronco created the off-road community in the US and had a notable racing career. Its influence is undeniable, making it no surprise that Ford resurrected the Bronco for the 2021 model year.
International Travelall
Seeing potential in sturdy, all-wheel-drive station wagons, International introduced the Travelall in the early ’50s. However, it was the third generation (1961-1969) that truly evolved into an SUV. This massive 5-door wagon could seat six passengers, offered ample space, and was built on a tough pickup truck chassis with various optional engines. Though more expensive, the Travelall was dependable and favored by construction workers and remote services for its all-terrain capability and quality.
Jeep Wagoneer
Many car historians consider the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer the first true SUV. Jeep designed the Wagoneer to blend the practicality of a station wagon, the comfort of a family sedan, and the ruggedness of Jeep’s off-road capabilities. This combination was a hit, earning the Wagoneer a cult following and sustaining Jeep for decades. Remarkably, the last of the original Wagoneer (or Grand Wagoneer) models rolled off the line in 1990, after nearly three decades on the market.
Chevrolet Suburban Task Force
The Suburban nameplate has been around since the late ’30s, always serving as a people carrier on a truck chassis. In the ’50s, the Suburban became a precursor to the SUV with the “Task Force” generation. It introduced a new body style, more comfort and features, an optional V8 engine, and all-wheel drive. This made it a true SUV, capable of carrying six passengers, offering massive trunk space, and handling various terrains. It closely resembles today’s modern Suburban.
Land Rover Series I Wagon
The Land Rover debuted in 1948 as an innovative, all-aluminum body off-road model with incredible capabilities. However, in the late 50s, the Series I got a five-door wagon body and offered some comfort. Primarily a military vehicle, the Series I Wagon was used as a dependable workhorse worldwide. Still, the popularity of this body style and the constant evolution of the form influenced Land Rover’s engineers and designers. Over the years, the Series I evolved into Series II, III, and Defender models and remained a tough but loveable SUV.
Range Rover
Introduced in 1970, the Range Rover was the first luxury SUV ever made. It combined the off-road capabilities of the Land Rover models with a plush interior, a modern but timeless design, and a 3.5-liter Rover V8 engine. It was an instant hit used equally as a luxury cruiser for jumping the sand dunes. The Range Rover proved very influential as a model and is still in production over half a century later. The original models remained in demand by collectors as bona fide classic cars.
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota was a brand name in the emerging SUV market when it introduced the 4Runner in the mid-80s. The idea was brilliant: Offer a smaller, more colorful, and easier-to-use model compared to full-size Land Cruisers and FJs and attract younger, more active buyers who will appreciate the capability and coolness of this model. It worked perfectly, creating an SUV legend that is still going strong and influencing numerous other brands to do the same, creating a solid market.
Jeep Cherokee XJ
Just as the Jeep invented the SUV class in 1963 with the Wagoneer, it did it again in the early 80s with the Cherokee XJ. It was a modern-looking, very practical, efficient, and capable SUV that resonated perfectly with the 80s suburban families and was an ideal family hauler with plenty of features and versions. It redefined the essence of what the modern SUV should be and became very successful, selling millions. Also, it didn’t compromise its off-road heritage and was still more than capable on the trail: a true modern classic and one of the main reasons for today’s SUV popularity.
Lamborghini LM002
You might think that high-performance SUVs are the 21st-century thing, but you’re mistaken. As contradictory as it is, combining stellar performance with off-road capabilities was invented in the mid-80s when Lamborghini introduced the insane LM002. Powered by a V12 engine from a Countach supercar, the LM002 was a luxury off-road monster with a plush interior, a small truck bed, and crazy performance. It was also extremely expensive, and Pirelli made a tire just for it since no other commercial tire could handle the power and requirements. Even though it was produced in just 301 examples, its legacy lives on in modern Lamborghini Urus.
International Scout
Before the International Scout, the compact SUV market didn’t exist, aside from the very small Jeep CJ5. Recognizing the potential among weekend campers and hunters, International introduced the Scout in 1961. It was a success due to its modern design, dependable mechanics, removable roof, and options for a cabin and truck bed. The Scout was influential, sparking a revolution in compact, fun SUVs and proving off-road models didn’t have to be bare-bones like the Jeep.
Mercedes G-Class
The story of the Mercedes G-Class mirrors the evolution of the SUV. Launched in 1979 as a repurposed military vehicle, it offered minimal comfort but excellent off-road capability. Over the years, it transformed into a luxury SUV with oversized wheels and twin-turbo V8 engines, becoming a status symbol surpassing the S-Class sedan. Despite its glamorous image, the G-Class remains a capable off-road vehicle and an SUV legend.
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
The Land Cruiser debuted in the early 50s as a no-frills, off-road rig for various purposes. But, the FJ40 model put Toyota on the SUV map when it was released in the early ’60s. This highly dependable, easy-to-use, off-road-capable model was sold in numerous versions and became famous worldwide. It could be a two- or four-door version, as a pickup or station wagon, with multiple options and engines. The versatility, signature qualities, and Toyota build quality promoted this model and kept the Toyota on the SUV path towards the current models.
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