Love them or hate them, SUVs are a huge part of the current automotive landscape and will be for a long time. Yet there was a time when SUVs were more interesting, and some older SUVs have become classics over time.
We have compiled this list of some of the best vintage SUVs we wish could return right now. Some are discontinued models, while others are older versions of current SUVs that were better than their successors.
Original Range Rover
The original Range Rover is a far cry from today’s model. While it was still significant when it first appeared in the 1970s, the current Range Rover has grown beyond its dimensions. The first Range Rover changed the public’s mindset about what an SUV could be. An SUV could now be luxurious and comfortable, not rugged and Spartan.
The irony is that Land Rover never wanted the Range Rover to be a luxury object, but that is what it became. The original Range Rover had coil springs, all-around disc brakes, a lightweight but powerful V8 licensed from Buick, and permanent four-wheel drive to make it a class leader. This significant change in Land Rover’s direction allowed the company to become the SUV giant it is today.
Lamborghini LM002
Way before Lamborghini produced the Urus, the Italian supercar manufacturer gave us the LM002. While it wasn’t a massive sales success, it was a significant change in direction for Lamborghini. The LM002 rose from the ashes of the Cheetah and LM001 projects, and its sharp, aggressive lines are a world away from the giant SUVs we know today.
Lamborghini produced just 301 LM002s, making them exceptionally rare, and all of them had a 5.2-liter L503 V12 producing 444 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. If you wanted even more power, you could opt for the LM002 with the 7.2-liter L804 marine V12, an engine used in many class 1 offshore powerboats. This V12 would produce 612 hp, a massive jump over the 5.2-liter L503.
AM General Hummer H1
AM General’s most famous product is the Humvee, the rugged, troop-carrying military vehicle that has become an off-roading icon. However, AM General also produced the Hummer H1, a street-legal version of the Humvee and an SUV that captured the public’s imagination.
The Hummer H1 was available as a four-door convertible, hardtop wagon, cool Slantback wagon, or pickup called the Recruit. Under the hood was a 6.2-liter V8 engine, used in military versions; however, the engine was somewhat underpowered. AM General upgraded the H1s in 1996 with a 5.7-liter V-8, a normally aspirated 6.5-liter diesel, or a 6.5-liter turbo-diesel, which produced 195 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. The 2006 Alpha H1s had a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel with 520 lb-ft of torque.
1966–1977 Early Ford Bronco
The return of the Ford Bronco in 2020 was eagerly anticipated. However, the original version of the SUV still deserves some attention. The original Bronco came when off-roading was a serious hobby in the mid-1960s, and Ford made it more serious by offering the Bronco with V8 power.
Ford upgraded the Bronco heading into the 1970s, and in 1971, it added the Dana 44 front axle and the Ford 9-inch rear axle as standard. First-generation Broncos came with either a 4.7-liter or 4.9-liter Ford small block V8, but two versions of the Ford straight-six were also available for those wanting a bit less power.
International Harvester Scout
It might not have the same legacy as the original Ford Bronco, but the International Scout is a very attractive SUV on the used car market. The Scout debuted in 1961 as a durable, go-anywhere SUV that could do virtually anything its owners requested. Its compact size also meant it was practical for daily driving.
The first Scout debuted in 1960, with a second version coming in 1965. That year, the Scout 800 had many engines available, from the Comanche inline-four to a 4.4-liter 266 ci V8 engine. For a brief period, a turbocharged inline-four version, the 152-T, was also briefly available, producing 111 hp.
1969–1991 Chevrolet Blazer
The Chevrolet Blazer is now a mainstay of Bowtie’s range, but people look at the original Blazer from the 1960s onwards the most fondly. It was the archrival to the Ford Bronco, but with Chevrolet basing it on a full-size pickup truck, the original Blazer was also more significant than its Ford rival.
Some of the best early Blazers used the massive 350 ci V8 engine, and in the second-generation model from 1973 onwards, you could have an inline-six, an optional 400-cubic-inch V-8, or the 6.2-liter diesel V-8. Chevrolet added modern tech, such as fuel injection and shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, to the Blazer in the late 1980s. By 1995, Chevrolet had phased out the Blazer, but it returned as a mid-size crossover in 2019.
1999–2005 Ford Excursion
Now, we are onto something that you could call a modern classic. But when it was first launched, it was controversial. The size and fuel economy of the Excursion came under intense criticism; however, that hid some of the strong points of this giant Ford SUV. The high payload rating and eight-person capacity meant it was incredibly practical. The Excursion could tow up to 11,000 lbs; without folding the seats, there was 48 cu-ft of cargo space.
Ford made the Excursion available with four powertrains: the 255-hp 5.4-liter V8 and the 310-hp 6.8-liter V8. The Excursion also had a 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbocharged diesel and a 6.0-liter diesel engine.
Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser is an off-roading legend, and arguably the best generation is the FJ40. Toyota produced the FJ40 from 1960 to 1984, and this basic, rugged, and tough SUV helped to establish the Japanese manufacturer as a household name.
It proved a very capable SUV on all terrains, and the FJ40 Land Cruiser was also incredibly reliable. Thanks to the durability and strength Toyota built the FJ40 to, it’s not unheard of for these to last for someone’s entire lifetime. A variety of engines ensured there was something for everyone with the FJ40.
1982-1991 Mitsubishi Montero
While Mitsubishi might be a shadow of its former self in 2024, the Japanese manufacturer has produced some excellent SUVs. The Montero, also marketed as the Pajero and Shogun, first made its way to North America in 1983 as a rival to the J70 generation of the Toyota Land Cruiser.
The boxy two-door SUV proved itself instantly with brilliant off-road capabilities, and despite its relatively compact size, the cabin was spacious and comfortable. Mitsubishi had also pushed the boat out and made it somewhat luxurious. A range of inline-four and V6 engines were available, including some diesel options, and Mitsubishi expanded the range by offering the Montero as a three and five-door.
1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ
Like many modern SUVs, the Jeep Cherokee has become a monster, but in 1984, when Jeep introduced the Cherokee XJ, the SUV was a quirky and unusual beast. Jeep shook things up with unibody construction, moving away from the traditional body-on-frame construction.
A wide array of four-wheel drive systems catered to both on- and off-road usage. The availability of a four-door body versus the two-door competition helped to make it a real hit. So popular was the Cherokee XJ that Chrysler kept selling it alongside the Grand Cherokee, the intended replacement for the original XJ.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series
After the success of the Land Cruiser FJ40, Toyota replaced it with the J70 series. The J70 never made it to US shores despite its introduction in 1984. As you would expect, the J70 inherited all of its predecessor’s off-road pedigree and reliability, with some updates to make it more suitable as an everyday vehicle.
The J70 was heavily redesigned from the J40, with a longer wheelbase and a new body enlarging the SUV. The Land Cruiser also became more angular, and Toyota introduced a pickup version in 1999 known as the 79 Series.
1976–1986 Jeep CJ-7
The Jeep CJ-7 is the forerunner to the Wrangler we know and love today. In the 1970s, rivals were piling the pressure on Jeep to offer a more extended version of the Jeep SJ, and in the late 1970s, Jeep engineers got to work. They stretched the wheelbase of the CJ by 10 inches and thus created the CJ-7.
The changes to the chassis made it more spacious, improved the handling, and made the CJ-7 much more stable. It meant drivers could comfortably take friends and family, plus their gear, on some off-roading adventures. The CJ-7 debuted Jeep’s new Quadra-Trac four-wheel drive system, and there was also the option to have the 304 ci V8 engine under the hood.
1993–1997 Land Rover Defender 90/110
The name Land Rover Defender resonates with off-roading enthusiasts around the world. The 90/110 are two excellent versions of the classic Defender, and the 110 model is scarce in the United States; just 500 were brought over in 1993. Under the hood is Land Rover’s 3.9-liter V8, producing 180 hp, so while they weren’t quick, they were competent on any off-road trail.
The Defender had a 110-inch wheelbase, explaining its name, and it could comfortably seat nine passengers. The Defender 90, imported in greater numbers than the 110, made its way to the United States in 1994. With 32-inch off-road tires, it could take on nearly any terrain.
