The 1980s heralded an era of comprehensive development for Japanese off-road vehicles, embarking on a journey of playful and luxurious diversification. This reflected a vibrant marketplace, where Japan’s motoring landscape blossomed with diversity. Meanwhile, traditional off-roaders with body-on-frame builds and solid axles reached a zenith in terms of variety. With Japan’s economy in overdrive, a wave of creativity surged through the automotive industry.

A Brief on America’s Automotive Landscape in the 1980s

What of the American automotive pioneers, who set the foundations for modern off-roaders? The outlook was less than stellar. The oil crisis of the late ’70s had begun to reshape Americans’ penchant for large engines in favor of more economical models. Wastefulness was often synonymous with American vehicles, a trait that influenced design and consumption.

American Off-Road Evolution: Luxury, Economy, and the Jeep Cherokee

In response to economic shifts and competition from compact Japanese and European models, North America’s automobile industry pivoted. A landmark of this shift was the Jeep Cherokee—particularly its second generation, significant for redefining the off-road paradigm into what we understand as the SUV today.

Cast in a new light, the second-generation Cherokee (debuted in 1984) adopted a unibody design over the traditional body-on-frame, reducing cost and improving spatial efficiency. With design cues borrowed from contemporary wagons, it offered car-like driving dynamics through a lower center of gravity—an embodiment of the ‘crossover’ appeal we recognize today.

Keywords in Design: The SUV Crossroads

Think ‘wagon style,’ ‘unibody construction,’ and ‘comfort-oriented seating’—these are the hallmarks of today’s highly-sought-after crossover vehicles. Meanwhile, the second-gen Cherokee upheld the off-road prowess not seen in current SUVs, reconciling rugged capability with a unibody architecture that maintained structural integrity and suspension performance.

The Classic American Off-Roader: Form and Function

The Cherokee’s silhouette preserved the distinctive off-road stance—high, agile, and well-proportioned. Its design followed the ’80s penchant for visibility and spaciousness, principles seemingly at odds with today’s trend toward larger but more cramped vehicles.

The Cultural Milestone of Automobile Manufacturing in America

Significant, too, is the Cherokee’s domestic production. As Forrest Gump witnessed history playing table tennis in China, the automotive collaborations of the late ’70s to early ’90s marked milestones in world history. In 1983, Beijing Jeep Corporation emerged as a joint venture, and by 1985, the Cherokee was a testament to China’s opening reforms.

Divergence in American Off-Roading: Carrying Capacity—Body-On-Frame vs. Unibody

American off-roading takes two distinct paths: the traditional body-on-frame and the pioneering unibody. Ford’s significant post-WWII achievement was creating the F-Series pickup, an icon of American life. Following suit, the Ford Bronco marked the fruition of this design philosophy, becoming the emblem of American off-roaders through the ’80s and ’90s.

Ford Bronco’s Legacy and The Soft-top Style

Launched in 1976, the second-gen Ford Bronco distilled the pickup’s structural features into a three-door short-wheelbase off-roader. With a split hardtop front cabin and a soft-top rear, the Bronco embraced a style prevalent among American vehicles in the ’80s and ’90s—not merely for convenience but as a statement of luxury.

The SUV Formative Years: The Cherokee Breakthrough

While the Chevrolet Blazer and Dodge Ramcharger followed similar blueprints, Jeep’s Cherokee broke the mold of pickup-based American off-roaders with its unibody construction and three-door soft-top configuration, shaping the classic American off-roader style that characterized the ’70s to early ’90s.

Overview

The Sport Utility Vehicle began garnering attention and popularity in the early 90s. Over time, more individuals started leaning towards this genre of vehicle due to its combination of luxury, convenience, and stately presence. For 2014, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class stands out as the epitome of this popular trend.

Quick Review

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, acclaimed as the best SUV of 2014, is a marvel of modern automotive engineering. Priced at $63,000, it boasts a spacious interior, an extensive range of powertrains, and a robust aesthetic. It comes in four distinct configurations, each offering more luxurious features and potent engines:

• GL350 Blue-TEC 4MATIC
• GL450 4MATIC
• GL550 4MATIC
• GL63 AMG 4MATIC

Under the Hood

The base model features a 3.0-liter intercooled turbo diesel V6 engine, producing 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The specifications and pricing of the other configurations are as follows:

All models feature a 7G-Tronic Plus 7-Speed Automatic transmission which provides a smooth, quiet, and confidence-inspiring drive. Designed primarily for comfort rather than sportiness, the vehicle still offers a ‘sports’ mode for sharper handling.

Exterior

Defining rugged elegance, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class shuns excessive chrome in favor of tough SUV aesthetics. Subtle curves and prominent grilles lend it a refined yet robust appearance. Notable features include LED lighting on both front and rear ends. Each configuration differentiates itself with unique rim and tire sizes.

Interior

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class redefines luxury with its reconfigured interior, presenting a neater and more sophisticated look. A standard seven-inch screen for infotainment adorns the matte-finished dashboard. High-quality leather upholstery elevates the cabin’s comfort. More opulent configurations feature perforated design leather and olive ash wood trims.

Comfort and Quality

This model is more spacious and efficient compared to its predecessors, seating up to 8 passengers comfortably. It features split 50/50 third-row seats with power-folding capabilities, ensuring ample space for a family. The front seats excel in comfort and quality, making long journeys enjoyable.

Safety

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a paragon of safety, adorned with advanced tech features like night vision, a 360-degree camera, auto-parking, collision prevention assist, and cross-traffic alerts. The stability control system also includes a crosswind stabilization feature, aiding control during sharp turns.

Features

Standard

Standard features include heated front seats, a seven-inch HD screen, a 6-disc CD/DVD changer, a rearview camera, power-folding third-row seats, a sunroof, a power tailgate, dual-climate control, Bluetooth Audio Streaming, tilt/telescopic steering, auto-dimming mirrors, satellite radio, and navigation.

Optional

Optional add-ons come as packages or stand-alone features. For instance, a $6000 package includes soft-close doors and a premium Kardon sound system, while additional stand-alone options include a 6-mode drive selector, 3-zone climate control, and a night-vision assist system.

In conclusion, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class stands as a testament to luxury, comfort, and advanced engineering. It represents the pinnacle of what an SUV can achieve, ensuring every journey is an extraordinary experience.