Author: John-Joe Vollans
Photography: Manufacturers
We can hear all you track-day types groaning from here, but hear us out… While we’d certainly agree that a performance estate makes a cooler and better driving load lugger, there are nevertheless a handful of modern classic era SUVs that have also earned their modern classic credentials.
For many decades, the American market was treated to a host of ‘lifestyle’ off-roaders that were both handy along the trail or highway, but Europe was much slower to catch on to the versatile charms of an estate car on stilts.
Come the new millennium, manufacturers on this side of the Pond were inexorably moving towards making SUVs, with a host of models ready to take on adventurous outdoor activities and the school run in equal measure, mostly the latter.
It’s impossible to compile any list of surprisingly good to drive premium SUVs without BMW’s (E53) X5. Beardy, tweed-clad Land Rover types will likely sneer at this unapologetic on-roader, while also utterly overlooking the reasons why most people bought – and continue to buy – BMW SUVs. These models are popular because they offer practicality, a heightened driving position, premium image and have plenty of space for the whole family. By these metrics, the original X5 scores extremely well. Add in period BMW build quality – via its newly opened US factory in Spartanburg South Carolina – plenty of technology that’s still relatively trick even today, and a range of engines offering everything from frugal-ish six-cylinder petrol and diesels to flame-spitting V8s, and it becomes hard not to commend the X5. Oh, and it also has an aggressive stance and visual appeal – thanks to the penwork of designer Frank Stephenson – all its own.
What’s easy to overlook today is how much of an outlier the original X5 was. Beyond BMW’s hyperbole – attempting to convince us all to adopt its SAV ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’ tagline – making an ‘off-road’ vehicle that drove as well as a premium saloon on tarmac was next to unheard of in Europe. Only Mercedes-Benz with its ML and Land Rover with its Freelander (hold on, we’re getting to it) had even bothered, with varying degrees of success. The X5 was pitched perfectly into a premium sector where many a monied owner, and their spouses, clamoured to buy BMW’s first big boy.
Somewhat paradoxically, the same NFU-card carrying Land Rover devotees will probably excuse away the Freelander, Land Rover’s shot at the same market. The Freelander mixed more useable on-road qualities with Land Rover’s legendary go-anywhere design, creating an instant rural sweetheart in the process.
Arriving in 1997, the Freelander went into battle a market dominated by Japanese makers. Pint-sized gems like the Suzuki Vitara and Toyota RAV4 had been hoovering up young customers by their hundreds of thousands and Land Rover wanted a slice. Having recently found itself in the BMW fold, Land Rover was made even more acutely aware of its lack of model-range progression, BMW being past masters of enticing younger customers with its 3 Series (now MINI/1 Series) and retaining them as they graduated all the way up its model range. In keeping with this mantra, the Freelander deliberately sat below the likes of the Defender, Discovery and Range Rover models – yet was still far from cheap, debuting at £17,995 (£34,771 today) – it would nevertheless go on to become Europe’s best-selling SUV. Having not appeared in America until 2002 however, and with less than stellar reliability, the first Freelander was yet another tantalising British car industry what might have been… Speaking of somewhat chequered (to put it politely) reliability, when its four-wheel drive remained, err, driving – first-generation viscous couplers are known weak points – the Freelander managed far better in the rough stuff than the aforementioned BMW.
It might not have been able to ford as deep or climb as steep as a Defender, or match the cache of a Range Rover, but the Freelander bolstered Land Rover’s range in a vital sector it has never left since – even if today’s entry-level Land Rover wears a Discovery Sport badge.
All this talk of SUVs and we’ve yet to mention one from the land of its origin, America. This territory has, of course, produced some of the SUV’s greatest hits, with Jeep arguably kicking it all off in the first place. It made a family off-road station wagon way back in 1946, but it was the Wagoneer of 1963 that truly cemented Jeep’s take on the SUV formula. Fast forward two decades and we got the fabulous Cherokee XJ. Small – especially by US standards – it still managed to take its off-road work seriously, keeping Jeep’s legendary go-anywhere reputation intact, adding respectable road manners and dependable mechanical components into the mix. It was wildly popular around the globe, testament to this was its numerous big- and small-screen outings; chances are if you watched TV in the 1990s, you saw someone drive an XJ.
Ah yes, it’s time for the model that made 911 fans spit out their bratwursts. News of Porsche making an SUV in the late-1990s was, however, also met with thunderous applause, especially in the USA. Just as those rear-engine aficionados had loathed the Boxster and all it represented a few years earlier, Porsche die-hards also overlooked the need for their favourite manufacturer to diversify in the 1990s merely to survive.
The early part of the decade had seen some of the most challenging years the famous Stuttgart firm had ever faced. The success of the Boxster, an essential element in keeping Porsche in the black, lead to the subsequent Cayenne affording Porsche – and its 911 core fanbase – a future. Porsche’s controversial ‘third model’ allegedly came down to a choice between either an MPV or an SUV, so it could have been a lot worse! Although, we’re mildly curious to see what Porsche’s take on an Espace might have looked like…
The Cayenne took a new approach to the SUV formula, that of making a genuinely rapid and driver-engaging 4×4. It was thought to be impossible to marry these seemingly disparate elements until Porsche went and did it, with very few who actually got behind the wheel of that first-generation Cayenne in 2002 having anything bad to say about how it drove. The twin-turbocharged V8 S model in particular was a rocket ship – 0-60mph in 5 seconds and a top speed of 167mph – while still offering all the usual Porsche refinements and quality fans had come to expect.
Over 276k first-generation Cayennes found homes, putting much needed funds back into the Porsche coffers, its success guaranteeing the Cayenne’s lineage to the present day.
If you could own any SUV, what would it be? Let us know in the comments.
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‘Suburban Utility Vehicle’ is just a name for the new ‘Minivans’ or ‘People Carriers’.
There’s only one modern classic – the L322. Too obvious to put in the list ?
I’ve owned an XJ Cherokee and currently still have my Grand Cherokee bought new in 2007. The XJ was somewhat rudimentary with its separate chassis but it was so comfortable, rather like driving an armchair. The Grand Cherokee was a massive step up and in its 60k plus miles it has rarely, if at all, let me down. But time moves on and I don’t tow racing cars anymore so I’m about to treat myself to a Jaguar F Pace SVR.
Some look good, some do not – whatever the price tag.
Our Evoque ticks all the boxes as far as we’re concerned. At 12 years old it’s stylish, comfortable, reliable and a pleasure to drive.
I’d love an Aston Martin DBX, but sadly I couldn’t afford to run it. Plus, it would break my heart if it got scratched. I’d probably settle for a 957 Cayenne (as it got rid of the worst excesses of the ugly rays that hit the original, but still had low ratio gears) or a Macan from when they had the 3.6l engine (before they put that gopping smiley wide face on it). I’m always throwing a bike or camping gear in mine, so SUVs makes practical sense for me. I’m getting older too (so the easier entrance/exit is useful). I still do a bit driving off road, though most driving is on road, so an SUV makes a lot more sense than a proper off-roader. But until I win the lottery, I’ll keep my Honda CRV.
The Subaru Forester is maybe the best all wheel drive SUV, indestructible, very trustworthy.
I own one alle ready 25 year old. Still okay. In ids entirety not mentioned in your article ?
Could not agree more. Better known as the Swiss farmers car for it’s rugged mountain climbing ability.
I think you may have missed the greatest global suv legend of all- Land Cruiser. Epic at dune jumping, school run, over landing in the aEric and Horse boxes at Badminton in standard spec for at least 500k miles.
XJ’s were always a winner with me!
Range Rover Sport 2021 Diesel Ingenium Mild Hybrid. Superb handling, totally reliable and very fuel efficient.
More than the Freelander 1, there is a much rarer and better Land Rover for the collector – the Freelander 2 i6.
Only 546 of these wonderful 6 cylinder transverse petrol engined 3.2 litre classic SUVs were sold in the U.K.
They are often referred to as mini Range Rovers and they certainly drive as such. Highly capable as either a highway cruiser or plugging the muddy rural wastes, they are something of a hidden gem with a dedicated following.
The Forester is an excellent option. Anyway, with the state of UK roads, an SUV of almost any flavour, seems to bw a very sensible choice.
What about the Maserati Levante??
The first iteration of the Freelander quite rightly had a somewhat dubious mechanical reputation. But the Freelander 2 was a different beast altogether, generally recognised in the trade and fraternity as the most reliable vehicle to come out of Land Rover in a LONG time. To me it was perfect… the right size inside and out; the right performance, and the right ‘green oval’ badge. I’d still be driving one now if they hadn’t gone and spoilt it…
‘Discovery’? Wrong… the Disco was traditionally the next size up.
‘Sport’? Wrong… there was nothing sporty about it (and at my age I have no desire to be identified as a ‘boy racer’!)
OK, so I know that the non-reliability of Freelander 1 wasn’t well received over the pond, (where ‘LR2’ was a preferred name, I believe) but there was no need to mis-name its successor. When mine reached the end of its desirable life, I very reluctantly left JLR (although there’s still a Series 1 in the garage.)
After half a century of the ‘Green Oval’, and four related films with my name on, my current daily drivers?… a Jimny and a Grenadier. I didn’t leave Land Rover… Land Rover left me.
I was a prototype test fitter at JLR Gaydon the Si6 was agreat drive my lasting memory would be Off road durability testing at Eastnor Castle in the summer having to drive with windows open when possible and the heater on full because the rad packs always blocked up with the notorious Eastnor silt.