Oldtimer: Das sind die Urväter des SUV-Booms

Köln – The modern SUV boom, characterized by large, comfortable and best-selling vehicles, shows no signs of slowing down, with sporty off-road cars selling better than any other car models or body styles. But when did the birth of the automobile's high seats actually begin? Clearly, we must look to their ancestors in the off-road sector.

Classics like Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol or Lada Niva are among the first that come to mind. However, these are true off-road vehicles, designed to endure the harsh conditions of the African savannah or the Russian taiga. The modern Sport Utility Vehicle, on the other hand, generally cannot match up to these standards. For city streets and daily use, however, an all-terrain differential is unnecessary.

What matters most is that the vehicle looks stylish and adventurous – factors that enticed manufacturers in the early 1990s to experiment with the first lifestyle off-roaders. The result was Fun-Cruisers and Crossovers like VW Golf Country or Toyota RAV4. Later, the factors of comfort and engine power were added, giving birth to premium SUVs like Mercedes ML, BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. These giants outperformed the rapidly growing SUV market.