Land Rover can lay claim to inventing the luxury off-road 4x4 with the Range Rover in 1970 (at £1,800). Discovery came in 1989 and soon made the Land Rover badged vehicle a ‘must have’ motor car for the more comfortably off middle class.
Built on a separate chassis, they offered manual transmission and centre differential lock, permanent 4x4 with a transfer box for high/low ratios. Although far from “utility” vehicles, these were dual-use 4x4s still capable of a proper job of work.
Mercedes-Benz evolved a more ‘soft-roader’ approach with the M-class of 1998 - aimed initially at and built in the USA. But the ‘Sport’ in SUV came – unequivocally – with the BMW X5 of 1999. It abandoned the transfer box but concentrated instead on a competent permanent 4x4 system which was as much of an asset on-road as off it.
Built on a separate chassis, they offered manual transmission and centre differential lock, permanent 4x4 with a transfer box for high/low ratios. Although far from “utility” vehicles, these were dual-use 4x4s still capable of a proper job of work.
Mercedes-Benz evolved a more ‘soft-roader’ approach with the M-class of 1998 - aimed initially at and built in the USA. But the ‘Sport’ in SUV came – unequivocally – with the BMW X5 of 1999. It abandoned the transfer box but concentrated instead on a competent permanent 4x4 system which was as much of an asset on-road as off it.
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