Jeep XJ Cherokee
Arriving in 1983 as the first all-new design from Jeep since the 1963 SJ Wagoneer, the XJ Cherokee was designed by Dick Teague, seemingly only using a chisel and block of American granite. Available in numerous various special editions and drivetrains, our favourite iteration of these handsome square-jawed 4x4s is the ‘Limited’, with its colour-coded lace-spoke wheels and monotone paintwork, but with so many version to choose from, there’s an XJ Cherokee to suit all tastes.
Land Rover Discovery Series 1
With the Range Rover catering to a more luxury-focused clientele, Land Rover needed a car that returned to their roots — a true no-nonsense off-roader. That emerged in the form of the Series 1 Discovery, first shown at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show and based on the underpinnings of the widely-loved Range Rover. Today, Series 1 Discoveries have aged like fine wine, and their boxy exterior and all-terrain capability are all the more appreciated. We’d take a three-door example finished in a Camel Trophy livery!
Mercedes-Benz G-Class W460
While the G-Wagen has spawned near countless variants during its nearly 50 year production run, the version we hold closest to our hearts is the original, introduced at at a press event held at the off-road proving ground in Toulon, France, before going on sale in September 1979. Basically a military vehicle with civilian number plates, these bulletproof 4x4s are guaranteed to get you to your destination regardless of which engine you choose or where you’re going. Besides, who doesn’t love that characteristic matte-black nose?
Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
If you’re looking to inject a bit of Dakar magic into your daily life, no car does it better than the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution. The Pajero has won the Dakar a record 12 times to date, including a mind-blowing 7-year winning streak from 2001 to 2007, and the Evolution variant is as close as you can get to the full-fat endurance racer from the factory. It looks the part, goes like a scalded rat, and handles better on and off road than you’d think possible — what’s not to love?
Toyota Land Cruiser 80 series
Since the first generation FJ Land Cruiser became the first vehicle to reach the sixth station of Mount Fuji, Toyota’s range-topping off-roader has earned a reputation for being virtually indestructible. While you can’t go wrong with any generation, our pick of the bunch has to be the 80 series, built from 1990 all the way up until 2007. Nicknamed the the Burbuja or “bubble” in Colombia and Venezuela for its rounded soap-bar styling, the 80 series Land Cruiser looks better by the year, while its rock-solid drivetrain will forever be timeless. Again there’s a plethora of special editions to choose from here, but the appropriately-named “Collectors Edition” sold during 1997 only isn’t a bad place to start.
Porsche Cayenne GTS 957
The first-generation E1 Cayenne, split between the pre-facelift 955 and post facelift 957, was an instant star from the moment it was born, boasting a low-range transfer case and locking differentials that made it far more capable off the beaten path than subsequent versions. Our pick of the bunch is the GTS, built between 2008 and 2010 and boasting a whopping 400 horsepower 4.8-litre V8 engine and a handsome bodykit that still turns heads to this day. While intended as a driver-focused model, the GTS looks even better lifted on some all-terrain tyres with a roof rack and a brace of foglight up front.
Range Rover Classic
No list of essential classic SUVs would be complete without the car that defined the whole genre. Built between 1970 and 1996, the first generation Range Rover became the ride of choice for royalty, movie stars, and athletes, combining luxury, off-road ability, and handsome looks like no other car since. If we’re being picky, we’d take the super-limited CSK, named after Charles Spencer King who designed this British icon.
