SUVs are currently the hottest segment, and there is even a tendency to catch up with sedans. Because the SUV has a higher utilization of space in the car, and it can go badly and go to more places that cars can't go. Therefore, various manufacturers have also begun to focus on SUVs. But do you know when various automakers launched SUVs?
In this article, we will list the time when each manufacturer first launched an SUV in chronological order to see when they were born.
Chevrolet Suburban in 1935
It is famous for the world's first SUV. It was introduced in 1935 and has been passed down for 12 generations. However, when the car was first developed, there was some ambiguity about the positioning. That's because the first Suburban looked more like a minivan than an SUV.
Since suburban's appearance in the 1960s, it has come closer to a full-fledged SUV form. It is possible to travel on a variety of terrains by increasing ground clearance, and a four-wheel drive system is also installed. With the addition of trunk space, the current Suburban is the largest of all-size SUVs, sharing a platform architecture with Cadillac Careyd.
1945 Jeep CJ-2A
It is a model that truly established the concept of an SUV, born in the Second World War, and is known for its freedom to ride the battlefield. After that, it was produced for private use and as a means of transportation for farmers and other workers.
From 1945 to 1948, more than 200,000 units were sold and very popular. It also influenced the birth of Land Rover in the UK, and even today the word "jeep" is used as a synonym for SUVs.
Land Rover Series 1 in 1948
Influenced by Jeep, the Series 1 was developed as a four-wheel drive car under the Rover brand, rather than the Land Rover. It is characterized by the manufacture of multi-purpose vehicles, including agriculture. Known for its ruggedness and rugged road drivability, it was also used in Britain and other British colonies.
Like jeeps, it is also used for military purposes. The Series 1 was later sold under the name Land Rover Defender and remains Land Rover's leading off-road vehicle to this day.
1951 Nissan Touring
It is considered one of the oldest SUVs in the world after the Jeep and Land Rover. Japan also saw Willis's military success, so it began to imitate the production of Tule, which is sold not only in North America, but also in many countries around the world, including Europe and the Middle East, and still maintains its reputation.
Tule started out as a mid-size SUV, but after the third generation, the heavyweight has evolved to a full-size SUV. Currently, Patrol is sold in Oceania, the Middle East, and Western Europe, while in North America, under armada' name, it has been subdivided into the Infinity version of the QX80.
Toyota Land Cruiser 1954
The history of the Land Cruiser is related to the Korean War. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the U.S. government asked Toyota to produce about 100 Willis Jeeps, and Toyota developed the Jeep BJ for military tactical vehicles. Mass production began in 1953, and Toyota wanted to give it a new name, and eventually decided to name it a Land Cruiser.
For now, the Land Cruiser is still Toyota's off-road exclusive model, starting with a 1967 SUV called the Land Cruiser 55, which has been sold for six generations as Toyota's top SUV.
Ford Bronco in 1965
The Ford Bronco was developed for baby boomers with a booming U.S. economy. They created two cool and affordable cars that appeal to younger consumers: the Mustang Sports Car and the Bronco. Bronco, which has no competitors other than the Jeep CJ-5, has a successful sales record with its sleek design and practicality. Inspired by this, there have been many competing models such as the Chevrolet Blazer and Jeep Cherokee.
The Bronco, which was discontinued in 1996, has been revived by Ford in recent years and has once again been successful in the U.S. market as a model to compete with the Jeep Wrangler.
Mercedes-Benz G-Wage in 1979
Like the Jeep, it is a model for military vehicles. It was developed at the request of the Iranian dynasty and has since been used as a military vehicle in France, Argentina and other countries. Although it has grown to its current third generation since its introduction in 1979, it still maintains its original traditions, such as beveled design, body frame and installation of three differential locks.
Due to its powerful performance and unique angular design, the G-Class has a large fan base. At present, the G-class has been transformed into a very expensive luxury car, and even the price increase can not be bought.
1981 Isuzu Trooper
It was developed by Isuzu and later became famous for its use by car companies around the world. For example, south Korea's SsangYong Automobile developed the first generation of Colando after the introduction. In addition, it has been produced by several manufacturers such as Acura, Chevrolet, Subaru, Honda, Opel, Vauxhall and Horton. It's an SUV that's more loved by automakers. It was discontinued in 2006 after the second generation.
1981 Mitsubishi Pajero
Pajero's development is also related to Jeep. After Nissan and Toyota, Mitsubishi has been licensed to produce Jeep models since 1952. Later, over time, in the 1980s, it was decided to develop a model to replace the Jeep, and the result was the development of the Pajero. After his appearance in 1981, he competed in the 1984 Dakar Rally and finished third.
Lamborghini LM002 in 1986
Lamborghini has also served the military, and in order to obtain orders from the military, Lamborghini has also developed SUVs and pickups.
Developed under the name Project Cheetah, Lamborghini produced a finished model of the LM002 with the LM001 and LMA002. However, it was not adopted by the military, so about 300 units were produced and sold for civilian use. Although initially considered a failure, the Urus has now been reborn as a model that has played an important role in the history of lamborghini SUVs.
1993 Kia Lion Run
The Kia Sportage is seen as the world's first urban SUV. Initially developed with Ford, but defaulted due to Ford's unreasonable demands, Kia developed itself and launched it into the global market. Starting from kia lion run, many urban SUVs have been born one after another. Examples include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape.
1995 HONDA CR-V
Honda's compact SUV. Developed on a Civic-based basis, it has a strong consumer base in the North American market. Because of its ease of use, it has a large number of users and fans around the world. With the advent of the 11th generation Civic, the 6th generation CR-V is also about to debut. As the size increases, a 7-seater model will also be added.
1997 Subaru Foresters
While Sportage and CR-V paved the way for urban SUVs, Subaru Forrester created a new type of urban crossover. Although it is an SUV with a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine and a symmetrical four-wheel drive system, it has similar handling performance to a sedan. It's wider than the impreza, so it's space-efficient, and thanks to its high ground clearance and four-wheel system, it can even drive on bumpy roads.
Lincoln Navigator in 1997
The Lincoln Navigator was the pioneer of full-size SUVs, and inspired by the fact that European brands such as Range Rover dominated the luxury SUV market, Ford was determined to develop a more luxurious SUV, which was developed on the basis of the Ford Expedition. A year later, Cadillac also launched Keled, and the current navigator has developed to the fourth generation.
1998 Cadillac Kered
It comes standard with luxury SUVs. Since its introduction in 1998, it has led the market for full-size SUVs in a unique way. It was originally an SUV version of a full-size pickup truck, and the original model did not get a good response from the market. Since then, the second-generation model has gradually become a full-size SUV recognized by users through further improvements. It competes with a variety of models such as the Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX, Infiniti QX80, etc., but their sales must add up to match those of The Careyd.
1999 BMW X5
It is an urban SUV completed by the introduction of Land Rover technology after the merger of BMW and Rover Group. In order to emphasize the essence of BMW's handling, the results of the X5 LM model and the Nürburgring track shocked many people at the time. BMW calls it the SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle), meaning it's a well-run SUV, not a typical SUV.
Starting with the BMW X5, high-end and luxury brands also seriously participated in the SUV market, and later there was a Mercedes-Benz ML-class, and the Audi Q7 was further behind.