When it comes to selling new SUVs, the market is booming at a level never seen before. Replacing minivans as the go-to family hauler, SUVs offer massive amounts of cargo space, seating for the whole family, and the ability to handle all-terrain driving (most of the time). It makes sense really, why drive a big and ugly minivan when an SUV can offer all the practicality needed while looking and behaving closer to a normal car?
While the market is as friendly as ever to SUVs, they've become commodified in a sense, with a saturated market dulling down SUVs to rather uninspired family vehicles rather than the hardcore utility-focused forms they once took. In the past though, SUVs may not have been so popular, but stuck to their guns as tough and versatile vehicles that could handle anything thrown their way.
Thanks to the rising popularity of SUVs, older examples are gaining traction as classics, admired for their uncompressing focus on nearly indestructible practicality. While certain examples like the Ford Bronco have quickly become high-value collector's items, plenty of truly purposeful classic SUVs remain cheap to buy. So read on, to see 10 such classic SUVs that are built like a tank, and can be bought for under $10,000.
10 Toyota Land Cruiser (60 Series)
One of the most legendary names when it comes to old-school SUVs thanks to incredibly rugged construction and capabilities, the Land Cruiser is still around today, but has several generations that are now considered bonafide collectible classics, and carry prices that have risen in turn. The 60 Series is on the verge of becoming one such classic and is a prime example of how tough the Land Cruiser really is.
A pure SUV design, the 60 Series debuted in 1980, based on the tough and durable mechanical aspects of the legendary 40 Series, but adding a modern, larger interior, and new body style. A thoroughly classic, incredibly capable, and nearly indestructible 4X4, the 60 Series Land Cruiser is at the point where prices are rapidly rising, but can still be found in decent shape for around $10,000 every so often.
9 Toyota 4Runner (First & Second Generation)
A nameplate still running today, the 4Runner is the smaller compact cousin to the Land Cruiser but separates itself from the dedicated SUV with its construction based on one of the most indestructible trucks of all time - the Toyota Hilux.
Introduced in 1984, the 4Runner was named as a portmanteau of "4 Wheel Drive" and "Off-Road Runner," and built as not much more than a pickup truck with a fiberglass body over the bed. Thanks to its basis on the Hilux (simply called the Toyota Pickup in North America), the original 4Runner was one of the most durable and capable SUVs out there. Updated in 1990 for its second generation, the 4Runner still was based on the Hilux, but now offered a more well-appointed interior and additional seating in the back. Either generation is an incredibly durable vehicle, and both can be found for around $10,000 in decent shape.
8 Chevrolet Blazer (S10)
Chevrolet's answer to the Ford Bronco, the K5 Blazer came to life in the '60s as a smaller version of the C/K truck series, offering all the benefits of a body on frame truck, while coming equipped with civilized car-like features on the inside.
Even smaller than the K5 Blazer though, was the S10 Blazer. Introduced for the 1983 model year, Chevy started offering the S10 Blazer as a compact, sportier version of the full-size K5 Blazer. Based on the S10 truck, which filled a similar role in Chevy's pickup lineup, the S10 Blazer did much the same as its nameplate's origins and turned the utility-focused truck into a more comfortable daily driver SUV. Thanks to its truck origins, the S10 Blazer is incredibly durable and capable. The 1983-1994 generation has all the classic SUV looks that are becoming so desirable, and can still be bought for under $10,000.
7 Dodge Ramcharger
Much like the Blazer, the Dodge Ramcharger was based on Dodge's truck of the time - the D-Series (later changed to "Ram"), and turned the rugged work vehicle into a practical everyday SUV that today stands out as a thoroughly awesome classic.
Introduced in 1974, the Ramcharger initially was offered with just a driver's seat, with passenger accommodations being an optional extra - a configuration that made it ideal as a cargo carrier. Updated over 2 generations up until 1993 (though continuing to be produced in Mexico through to 2001), and also sold as the Plymouth Trail Duster, the rough and rugged Ramcharger can be found for under $10,000.
6 Lada Niva
For the uninitiated, ranking a Lada with beasts like the Chevy Blazer may seem like a joke, but it isn't, as the Lada Niva defies the crumbling, unreliable reputation most Soviet-made cars have with incredible durability and off-road capabilities.
Introduced to the (Soviet) world in 1977, the Lada Niva's incredible durability comes from the job it was designed around. Made to be a sort of "People's Car" for the Motherland, the Niva needed to be able to tackle the horrendously rough terrain that encompassed many Russian villages. Built like a tank, and with surprisingly advanced engineering like independent suspension - a rarity for the '70s, the Niva would go on to prove itself as a small but mighty and practical machine. Plentiful in Russia and former Soviet states, as well as many European nations it was exported to, a Lada Niva can be found for the equivalent of just a few thousand dollars.
5 Chevrolet Suburban (7th Generation)
The longest-running nameplate in the car industry, the Chevy Suburban is iconic when it comes to big American SUVs, faithfully delivering massive practicality, off-road capabilities, and competitive comfort for its class.
First going on sale in 1935, the Chevrolet Suburban was designed and made as an 8 passenger, everyday use, ultra-practical wagon built on top of a truck chassis. Continuing on sale to this day with the same design philosophy, the Suburban has spanned 11 generations as a heavy-duty, durable, and practical SUV. Now a nostalgic design, the Suburban's 7th generation lasted from 1973 until 1991 relatively unchanged (save for upgrades like fuel injection). Big, tough, practical, and immediately recognizable as a classic SUV, a 7th gen Suburban can be yours for around $10,000.
4 Land Rover Range Rover Classic
An icon of the British car industry, the Range Rover continues on sale today as a well-appointed and practical, yet unstoppable all-terrain machine.
Debuted in 1970, the Range Rover made a splash in the market with its sophisticated mix of stylish design, performance, on-road comfort, and off-road dominance. With Land Rove already established but making rather barebones utility vehicle, the more refined and (relatively) luxurious Range Rover helped push the brand upmarket - where they now comfortably sit. Initially called just the Range Rover, the original model became known as the Range Rover Classic in 1995. Still utility-focused, these original Range Rovers can be found for around $10,000.
3 Mitsubishi Pajero (2nd Generation)
Far smaller than the typical classic SUVs you'd think of as tank-like in their capabilities and construction, the Mitsubishi Pajero is still a hardcore off-road capable beast
Debuting on sale for 1982, the Mitsubishi Pajero quickly proved its off-road capabilities in the Paris Dakar Rally, taking first place in the grueling off-road race a total of 12 times. Available in both 2 and 5 door configurations, the Pajero stands out as a smaller alternative to the big Japanese off-road SUVs, offering all the great durable and capable characteristics, but in an easier to drive package. Launched in 1991, the Pajero's still function-focused second generation is a great deal, with imported examples selling for as low as under $5,000.
2 Isuzu VehiCross
Yes, its an incredibly strange-looking vehicle, but don't let that fool you, as the VehiCross is every bit the rugged and capable SUV that its more "normal" looking competition was.
Unveiled as a concept in 1993, the VehiCross went on sale in 1999, yet thanks to its unique design look far more modern than the 20-year-old machine it actually is. The VehiCross was rather special though, never meant to be a mass-produced vehicle, specially made ceramic tooling dies were used to make the curvy body panels, and broke down after just under 6,000 VehiCross units were produced, making it rather rare to boot. Built with all the off-road capabilities Isuzu's traditional SUVs had, the VehiCross is a real beast and can be yours for under $10,000.
1 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
Quickly gaining fame as a prime example of what an SUV should stand for, the XJ generation Jeep Cherokee is one of the defining models for SUVs as a modern concept, offering a more refined, comfort-focused interior while staying incredibly capable when the going gets tough.
Debuting in 1984, and sold until 2001 without a dramatic change to its design, the Cherokee's XJ generation is one of the pinnacles for boxy SUV design, looking great to this day thanks to its crisp lines and well-placed proportions. Not considered all that special when it was still on sale, the Cherokee lacked the popularity of its competitors, but today is a desirable classic thanks to its design, comfortable interior, ease of use as a daily driver, reliable and durable engine, as well as off-road optimized capabilities. Prices have been rising up from rock bottom for a while now, but an XJ Cherokee can still be yours for around $10,000.