10 Classics SUVs That Are Still Loved By Enthusiasts Today

SUVs are among the best-selling vehicle categories in the world, but very few cars inspire the type of fanatical love that these classic SUVs evoke.

SUVs have come a long way. Built from the mid-20th century, they started as proper off-roaders, boasting rugged boxy bodies built on a body-on-frame platform with 4x4 drivetrains. In the last century, SUV have evolved to become more modern, with high-performance and sporty on-road manners and lots of luxury. It's no surprise that, today, SUVs are among the best-selling vehicle categories in the world. Almost every mainstream or luxury brand has an SUV model in its vehicle lineup, with even brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin investing in the SUV niche.

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The demand for classic SUVs has increased in tandem with the demand for modern SUVs and crossovers for everyday drivers. As used cars, classic SUVs such as the Ford Bronco, Land Cruiser, and Jeep Wagoneer continue to soar in popularity. We’ve reached a point where their resale prices are quickly nearing six figures.

Whether it's raw capability, solid build quality, or the ability to go over any terrain, these 10 classic SUVs are still loved by enthusiasts today who can't seem to get enough of them.

The Land Cruiser was Toyota's first attempt at building an SUV for the global market. Much like the Land Rover Defender, the FJ Land Cruiser has been traveling the furthest and deepest parts of the world since 1951, and the FJ40, produced from 1960 to 1984, is as basic as it gets.

The FJ40 is arguably the model that established Toyota as a household name. It is not only a capable SUV, but it's also incredibly reliable, boasting robust internals that have stood the test of time. Under the hood, the FJ40 came with various gasoline and diesel engines. Competing in the collectible car market with other classic SUVs on this list, the FJ40 today costs an average of $35,716, with other examples going for over $200,000.

The Jeep Cherokee XJ was a game-changer. Off-road enthusiasts and families alike welcomed it with enthusiasm when it was made available to the public in 1984. Revolutionary in luxury and refinement, the four-door Grand Wagoneer was distinguished by an opulent interior, prominent chrome accents and distinctive wood-grain paneling.

Powering the Grand Wagoneer was a choice of six or eight-cylinder power plants until 1986, when the potent 5.9-liter V8 became the exclusive engine option. For enthusiasts, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer XJ is a timeless classic as it's attainable and easy to modify. The later low-mileage examples have become highly collectible today, with some costing more than their original sticker price.

When the first-generation Mitsubishi Montero – marketed as the Pajero or Shogun in other markets – made it to North America in 1983, it was a novelty meant to rival the J70 Land Cruiser. It was a boxy two-door 4x4 SUV with exceptional off-road abilities and a spacious, somewhat luxurious cabin.

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To match its off-road credentials, Mitsubishi offered a range of gasoline and diesel inline-four and V6 engines. You could also get the Montero in a three or five-door body style. Mitsubishi introduced a short-lived rebadged version of the Montero in 1987 called the Dodge Raider. Although highly desirable, the Montero is one of the most affordable classic SUVs, averaging $9,000 on the used car market.

The Land Rover Defender is arguably the all-time greatest and most popular classic SUV. The Defender nameplate traces its roots back to the late 1940s, following the end of WWII. Today, you'll literally find the Land Rover 90 and 110 in almost every corner of the world and still going strong, more than three decades since their introduction in 1983.

What makes the Defender so iconic is the fact that it went unchanged for decades. Land Rover recently revived the classic Defender, only this time as a luxury and capable SUV that pays homage to the original. Today, a classic Defender 90 or 110 is worth big bucks. Surprisingly, they are quite affordable and easily available since they got produced and sold in large numbers.

Often overlooked, the International Harvester Scout doesn't get the kind of attention the Ford Bronco gets, even though it preceded it by several years. Making its debut in 1961, the International Scout was a capable and reliable SUV that could take you anywhere – even beyond where the roads end.

The original Scout 80 came as a roadster, hard-top, or truck SUV. The Scout 800 was an upgrade of the former, featuring an improved interior and better engines. But the Scout II made the biggest leap regarding size, design, and capabilities while still maintaining styling cues from the original concept. Thanks to its robust construction that has stood the test of time, the International Scout is finally getting the love and respect it has always deserved from enthusiasts.

Although it arrived late to the party, the Chevrolet K5 Blazer had one thing over its SUV rivals – full-size comfort. Making its debut in 1969, the Chevy K5 Blazer was part of the C/K truck family and GM's smallest full-size SUV. It was available in three generations that ran to 1994, including an upmarket version sold as the GMC Jimmy.

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Compared to the International Scout and Ford Bronco, the K5 Blazer was much larger in all dimensions, making it more compact and a better family-size daily driver. On top of that, it had powerful engines to complement its size and boasted one of the highest towing capacities in its class. Ultimately succeeded by the Chevy Tahoe in 1995, the K5 Blazer is still a head-turner, attracting everyone's attention everywhere it goes.

The original Ford Bronco is among the best classic SUVs today. Meant to take the fight to the International Harvester Scout, Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Jeep CJ-5, the Bronco came about at the beginning of the '60s muscle car craze, but there was nothing like it. It was an incredible off-road SUV, stylish and contemporary, offering optional niceties like automatic transmission, a heater, and a hardtop.

The Bronco's era-specific details and styling still holds up incredibly well today – so good that it inspired the new, modern Bronco in so many ways. Fans of this classic SUV can't have enough of it today, and its high demand continues to push its value over the roof.

The Range Rover Classic, spanning from 1970 to 1996, was Land Rover's attempt to craft a modern SUV, using everything they'd learned about passenger comfort and suspension since 1948. The combination of high-end features of luxury cars with the tough, all-terrain abilities of the legendary classic Land Rovers made it an instant hit.

The first-generation Range Rover was a bare bones two-door SUV that didn't acquire a four-door version until 1981. Early vehicles got a Buick-derived 3.5-liter V8, but subsequent releases saw a boost in engine capacity to 3.9 liters and 4.2 liters in the LSE variant. Diesel engines included the 2.4-liter VM unit and the bulletproof 200Tdi and 300Tdi Land Rover engines. Many people believe the Range Rover Classic to be the first luxury SUV, which is why it has achieved iconic status.

At its introduction in 1984, the Jeep Cherokee XJ was quite unique and revolutionary. It featured a unibody construction instead of the traditional body-on-frame construction. It also had a four-door body type when the competition offered two and came with various four-wheel drive systems, including one for on-road use.

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The Cherokee XJ was such a hit that Chrysler kept selling it alongside the Grand Cherokee, an SUV that was supposed to replace it in the market. Today, only a few vehicles have the kind of passionate loyalty and love the Cherokee evokes, and for good reason. It's so reliable that Kiplinger magazine named it among the cars that refuse to die. It also enjoys massive aftermarket support like no other classic SUV.

The Land Cruiser 70 Series (J70) replaced the 40 Series as Toyota's off-road model in the Land Cruiser lineup. Although Toyota first introduced the 70 Series in 1984, it never made it to US shores, but it's still sold in other markets such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. But thanks to the 25-year rule, you can now legally import an old J70 to the US.

The Land Cruiser 70 Series inherited the off-road capabilities and reliability associated with the 40 Series, and is part of the reason this SUV is still in high demand today. Today, you'll find the 70 Series driving in the toughest conditions, from doing medical evacuations in the most remote locations to running patrol missions.

Sources: American Collectors, Motor Trend, Velocity Restorations, and Popular Mechanics

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Dennis Kariuki is a tech enthusiast who writes for Hotcars.com. Previously, he wrote for the.car .He likes covering the marriage between technology and cars. Besides that, he is big f1 fan. After working tirelessly through the week, you can be sure that on Sundays he is most likely enjoying and following motorsports events.