I agree - Ford and Chevy get the award for popularizing large SUVs and introducing the Excursion/Surburban class of vehicle. Hummers just took them to the outer limits of excess - probably paved the way for things like the Escelade if anything. They're a convenient lightning rod, but truth is they're sold in so few quantities they don't make dent in overall gas consumption. Whether they stay or go is of little consequence I think.

 

Large SUVs did not start with the H1 or the H2.

Just to be clear on the evolution of the modern SUV, the timeline goes something like this.....

1980s: Chevy S-10 Blazer / GMC Jimmy, followed by Ford Ranger based Explorer start to take off. Chevy C/K Blazer and GMC C/K Jimmy were already in production for quite some time, but not as popular as these mini-utes. The largest SUV, Chevy Suburban, has been around since the 1950's and has a solid customer support base.

1990s:
Mid Size SUVs
Improvements on Blazer / Jimmy & Explorers, Jeep Grand Cherokee, multiple imports make mid size utilities one of the fastest growing segments in the US auto industry, replacing minivans. Dodge also introduces the Dodge Durang into the mid size SUV segment.

Full Size SUVs
Chevy C/K Blazer renamed Tahoe and GMC C/K Jimmy renamed Yukon to eliminate confusion with smaller, more popular mid sized SUVs of the same name. GM, which had for decades supplied powertrains and other components to the military and to AM General for manufacture of the HUMMV military vehicle, enters into agreement to supply the same to AM General for a civilian version of the HUMMV. This vehicle is marketed under the military nickname for the HUMMV, Hummer. (FWIW - a similar transition from military vehicle to civilian vehicles happened in the 1960's when AM General's General Purpose vehicle, aka GP, or Jeep was developed). GM acquires the marketing rights to the Hummer brand from AM General. In the late 90s, the GMT-800 based remake of the Tahoe / Yukon is a runaway hit. Ford counters with the launch of the Expedition. Ford starts the trend towards large luxury SUVs with intro of Lincoln Navigator, which also becomes a runaway hit. GM responds with intro of Denali trim option for GMC Yukon and quickly follows that with the Cadillac Escalade which, yup...., becomes a runaway hit.

2000s:
Full Size SUVs
GM capitalizes on the popularity of the GMT-800 platform by updating the Denali and Escalade, using the Tahoe / Yukon chassins. This further increases their popularity. GM also develops a smaller Hummer, the H2, from the Heavy Duty version of the Tahoe / Yukon platform. DCX takes the Dodge Durango up a weight class and makes it a direct competitor to Tahoe / Yukon. DCX follows that with the addition of the Jeep Commander as a direct competitor to Hummer H2 and Nissan Armada.

During the 1980s and 90s, the Suburban continued to capture a sizeable share of the automotive market while facing no direct competition. At the same time, the slightly smaller Toyota Land Cruiser held steady under the radar screen. In the 2000s, Toyota got more serious about the Land Cruiser and its Lexus cousin the LX430. Toyota begins to position Land Cruiser as a competitor to Suburban.

The GMC Suburban is renamed GMC Yukon XL to differentiate it from the Chevy Suburban. Ford, assuming bigger is always better, launches the Excursion. The Excursion, which is longer, taller, and wider than the Suburban does not do particularly well.

Mid-Size SUVs
Major war-fare breaks out as Ford re-invents the Explorer and adds the Mercury Mountaineer twin. GM separates the SUVs from the S-10 pick up platform and introduces the Chevy Trailblazer / GMC Envoy / Oldsmobile Bravada to replace the S-10 based Blazer / Jimmy / Bravada. Chrysler redoes the Jeep Cherokee line-up, and Toyota gets serious about the 4Runner, which had been around for several years in low numbers. Every Asian and European automaker with a recognizable name enters this segment of the market. Mercedes-Benz had always had trucks in their European line-up but was now bringing more refined utilities to the US. Even BMW joined the truck market during this timeframe. GM expands the Hummer line-up with the addition of the H3, based off a smaller (Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon) pickup truck chassis.

That's the Readers' Digest version. The script continues to be written as crossover utilities begin to have more of a presence.

Peace,

Martin

 

Where would the International Travelall rank? In the 1960s, my parents and five boys would load up in that big old hunker and travel great distances (sea to sea) to visit our various inlaws and outlaws. It stood head and shoulders over station wagons and got maybe 15 MPG. BIG hunker. Heck we even loaded up with another family and their two kids for a 250 mile trip once . . . but that is another story.

I remember driving it at 80 MPH on the Kansas Turnpike and you could see the gas gage creep down. We had a wheel blow out while I was driving . . . ease off the gas and when the speed was low enough, pull on to the shoulder. . . . I didn't know my brother's eyes could get that large.

Of course, back then gas was often 25-30 cents a gallon except during 'gas wars' when it dropped to 19-20 cents a gallon. Gas stations had attendants who would also check your tires and oil. As for oil changes and color . . . I don't miss those days!

We were once T-boned by a Buick . . . which was unable to leave on its own power afterwards. Dad had already installed after-market seat belts so we were OK and continued our trip. We just had to exit on the other side of it.

Bob Wilson