SUVs are hotter than they've ever been thanks to constantly-rising market demand, and that trend seems unlikely to stop anytime soon. Nearly every major manufacturer now offers at least one SUV, with even Ferrari caving in and developing the Purosangue, which is due to be released soon. Since they're so popular, it's easy to assume that most of the best models are already well-known, but that's not actually the case.
In fact, there are plenty of amazing off-road SUVs, both classic and modern, that don't get anywhere near as much credit as they deserve. Most gearheads won't have even heard of them, which is a huge shame as there really is something for everyone here. From rally-raid racing trucks to ultra-luxury desert cruisers, we'd love to own all ten of these obscure SUVs even if most people won't even know what they are.
10 Bowler EXR S
British racing outfit Bowler is most well known for their racing Defenders (which they sell as Wildcats), but they've also worked on other Land Rover models too. The EXR S takes the MkIII Range Rover and turns it into a rally-raid monster, ready to take on any terrain.
Buying one of these would have set you back about $250,000 when they were new in 2010, but today they can be found for around half that price. Despite its stripped-back nature and racing capabilities, the EXR S is still fully road-legal in its home country of the UK.
9 Toyota Mega Cruiser
The Mega Cruiser was originally developed by Toyota for the Japanese military, but a handful of civilian versions were later sold in select domestic dealerships. The SUV was the Japanese equivalent of the Humvee, and it's just as capable off-road.
Its sheer size limited its popularity, as narrow Japanese streets made simply driving the Mega Cruiser a challenge. It's thought that around 130 civilian cars were sold, and today they're a highly desirable cult collector's item.
8 Alfa Romeo 1900 M Matta
When most people think of Alfa Romeo, the first image that springs to mind isn't an open-top Jeep. Nevertheless, that's exactly what the company built in the 1950s in response to a request from the Italian Ministry of Defense.
Around 2,000 examples of the Matta were built for military use, but like the Mega Cruiser, a few civilian versions were also sold throughout the car's lifetime. It's thought that just 154 civilian examples left the factory, making this one of the rarest Alfa Romeos of all.
7 Karlmann King
Very few people in the world will ever be able to afford a Karlmann King SUV, but that's exactly the point. It's designed as a lavish symbol of wealth, with an exterior fit for cruising the desert and an interior that looks like a glitzy private jet.
It's built on the chassis of a Ford F-550 and reportedly weighs over 13,000 lbs. It starts at an eye-watering price tag of around $2 million, and for an undisclosed extra fee, it can be fitted with bulletproof armor plating.
6 Honda Crossroad
The Crossroad is actually Honda's first-ever SUV, except it isn't really a Honda. Sharp-eyed readers will have probably spotted that this retro SUV looks very similar to the first-gen Land Rover Discovery, and that's because it is one.
Honda wanted in on the newfangled SUV craze, but it didn't have the time or resources to develop a platform of its own. So instead, it borrowed the Disco's design and slapped a Honda badge on the front, likely creating the least reliable Honda ever in the process.
5 Daihatsu Taft
The Daihatsu Taft is a small off-roader built by the Japanese manufacturer between 1974 and 1984. It was sold mainly in Japan but was also exported to a number of other markets including Australia and Europe. It's a simple vehicle built with agriculture in mind, so it was both cheap to buy and easy to maintain.
It looks a bit like a miniature Land Cruiser, albeit with the interior space of a Suzuki Jimny. Daihatsu's line of small off-roaders continued in the form of the Fourtrak until the early '00s, and the Taft name has now been revived as a Japanese-market rugged kei car.
4 Rezvani Tank
The Tank is another addition to the ultra-expensive SUV market, this time created by Iranian-American businessman Ferris Rezvani. It uses the chassis of a Jeep Wrangler and many of its internal components but adds a striking bodyshell that can be bulletproofed upon request.
If just being bulletproof didn't make its owner feel enough like a James Bond movie villain, the car also comes equipped with a night vision system, a smokescreen to make a hasty escape, and door handles that can give any would-be intruders a nasty electric shock.
3 Monteverdi Safari
Swiss luxury carmaker Monteverdi was ahead of its time in several respects, including with its Safari SUV. Unveiled in 1976, the Safari was a luxury SUV long before the segment ever became popular. It was aimed at being a step more luxurious than a Range Rover, targeting the type of buyer who would usually go for a Ferrari or Maserati.
It sold relatively well given its high starting price and niche market, and despite the fact it was heavily based on the much cheaper International Scout. However, it couldn't save the company from mounting financial issues and Monteverdi was forced into bankruptcy shortly after the production of the Safari ended.
2 Lamborghini LM001
The Lamborghini LM002 has cemented its reputation as a cult classic, but most enthusiasts won't be aware of its predecessor, the LM001. The whole reason a Lamborghini SUV was created in the first place was to try and win a contract with the Italian military, and the LM001 was Lambo's initial offering for the deal.
It looks similar to the LM002 but more basic and industrial, and no doubt less fancy inside. Lamborghini wasn't able to secure the military contract, and the LM001 was never sold to the public, but it's the first true Lambo SUV, even if it was only ever a prototype.
1 SCG Boot
American racing outfit Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus has produced a number of performance cars ranging from the unusual to the completely deranged, but one of their oddest ever creations has to be the Boot SUV. Based on a classic desert racer of the same name, the Boot is currently available to buy for anyone with enough spare cash to commission one.
It's a fully-loaded trophy truck, with unbelievable amounts of suspension travel and a rear-mounted 650 hp Chevy V8. But, it's also fully road-legal, so it can be driven to each race on the road then driven right home again after it has competed.