Check out this neat Ford Expedition XLT 4WD. It’s not your average Ford Expedition, in that it’s armored. The Armourment level is B6. Here’s the link to the I.A.G. Website; just mouse over the pictures to display the vehicle:

International Armored Group - B6 Armored 2005-2006 Ford Expedition XLT 4WD [U1]

I though it was kind of neat and wanted to share. A Armored Four-Wheel-Drive Ford Expedition would be the Ultimate SUV

I still think the Hummer H1/AM General HMMWV is probably the ultimate SUV.

Depends what you mean by SUV. For the H1 you probably mean the ultimate off-roader? I'd rather give that rating to a car like Land Rover Defender

For me, it would be the Ford Expo… Though I know it has its flaws (then again, it has very few flaws )

Anyway, that armourment really impairs side window viewing area (those amour pad things in the interior of the Expedition) It looks like it would be harder to get in the vehicle as well.

Should have used a Limited rather than an XLT if that's what it is.

Why a Limited Edition? ( just out of curiosity )

Granted yes, the Limited Edition is nicer than the XLT, but the XLT is still well equipped for the money.

Because Limited is the high level Expedition. (or King Ranch)

Good point, I don't really equate the term SUV with a true unadulterated utilitarian offroader like the classic Land Rover, an SUV is something soccer moms drive! The H1 could possibly be considered an SUV (it depends on your point of view), but the Humvee (military version) isn't really an SUV at all, it's more of a truck than a car.

In reality the ultimate SUV (though it was not known as a
SUV at that time) is the Original Willys Military Jeep.



Built from 1941 to 1945.

Since you say it was not known as an SUV at the time (which is correct) can it be called an SUV now? SUV is a phrase that was invented for 4x4s that were also designed to carry passengers better (more space and more comfort) than a really rugged 4x4 (like this Jeep). And the Willys Jeep was designed for military use, for function not comfort, whereas many modern SUVs are more orientated to comfort more than offroad ability. Even if the original SUVs were really basic (wikipedia counts the classic Land Rover and Toyota Land Cruiser as early SUVs), the kind of the vehicle that the SUV has envolved into is just not the same thing as something like the Willys Jeep. So the classic Jeep is not an SUV, it should be called an offroader or 4x4.

Can it be classed as a SUV now? Sure it can. Albeit its more of a Utility Vehicle than a Sport Utility Vehicle. But a SUV nonetheless. The modern Four-Wheel-Drive Jeep Wrangler, although it does not share any mechanical similarities with the Original Willys Military Jeep, it does have the same basic cosmetic design, and it is classed as a SUV.

Many people argue that the Chevrolet Suburban (1935-Persent) is the first family Wagon SUV, (the version of SUV you are referring to that was able to carry more people and their belongings) but the problem with that claim is that the Suburban didn’t receive Four-Wheel-Drive until about 1960.

1935 Chevrolet Suburban
(Click to enlarge)




The first real Four-Wheel-Drive Wagon SUV, is the Willys Jeep Wagon (1946-1965) and was powered by the Willys "Go-Devil" engine (the same engine that powered the Original Willys Military Jeep) It received Four-Wheel-Drive in 1949, long before the Chevrolet Suburban. The Willys Jeep Wagon is credited as the "Grandfather" of the modern day SUV.

1949 Willys Jeep Wagon Four-Wheel-Drive
(Click to enlarge)

Why are they called Sport Utility Vehicles anyway? There's nothing sporty about them.

And what is "utility" in some modern SUVs?

In most modern SUVs you mean!

I would love to see a ratio/list of just how many modern SUVs are really purposeful. I would venture to guess that not many would make that list. And are not really deserving of the SUV name.

The percentage of truly capable SUVs out of all of them would be pretty low. In fact someone here could make a list if they checked out all the reviews.

Anything that's tall and has 4WD can be called an SUV nowadays. How long exactly has the term SUV been in popular usage? Wikipedia says it was invented in 1960 by Toyota, but how long have most people been using it? Where things like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wagoneer referred to as SUVs when they came out?

The thing is there are so many bad SUVs, and too many people needlessly buying them, that it's become a negative term in my book, so I don't think of the proper 4x4s like the Land Rover Defender as SUVs, I think of them as something else, like an "Offroad vehicle" or something. An Offroader should be most at home offroad, not onroad, most SUVs today compromise offroad ability for onroad comfort, in the end many of them are more road cars than offroad cars.

I could start such a list, but it would take a while to complete, (going through every specification for every SUV would quickly become a nightmare ) a unless someone helped me.

You'd just have to forget about all the options, features and other nick-nacks and just concentrate on whether they can do REAL offroading. The Land Rover Defender has very few interior features but it's far more of an offroader than most of these bloody SUVs.

I should have been more specific I guess. What I meant was Mechanical Specifications and Convenience abilities. I do know a SUV would have to meet or exceed several criteria to be deemed "Truly Purposeful".

Indeed, On-Road ride quality and Luxury features would be a mute point in such a list.

It would have to be:

(A) Powerful and Reliable
(B) Able to perform at least Intermediate Off-Roading or Better
(C) Able to carry a suitable amount of Passengers* and or Cargo/Luggage*
*(More than what a standard family Sedan is able to accommodate)
(D) Have a high towing capacity*
*(This excludes car-based or Crossover SUVs)
(E) Ergonomically friendly
(F) Excellent Safety Record