Classification standards

Another precursor to the luxury SUV is the Range Rover, which was released in 1970. It was the first road-going vehicle to have a permanent four-wheel drive system, split tailgate, clamshell bonnet and continuous waistline (in the same vehicle).[52] The Range Rover had long-travel coil spring suspension and an aluminium V8 engine.[53] Development of the Range Rover began in 1951.[54]

In the mid 1990s, the SUV market expanded with new entrants. By the mid-1990s, the entry-level Ford Explorer and upscale Jeep Grand Cherokee were the market leaders for SUVs.[55] The fastest growing sector of this market was for the so-called luxury SUVs, which included the Jeep Grand Cherokee … the Grand Cherokee’s allure: “This vehicle is proof you can have a true off-road vehicle without giving up luxuries and amenities” with the Jeep providing a crucial new intangible factor for buyers—image