Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are celebrating their 50th year, and while they were originally designed to be military motors and off-road cars, they have now become the norm for families, with Jaguar Land Rover to thank for this. 

According to Transport & Environment, if the current trend of ownership continues, three-quarters of new car registrations will be SUVs by 2027. This is up from 60 per cent in 2023, with one million new SUVs being sold in the UK alone. 

This already is a huge jump from 2008 when SUVs accounted for just 161,000 in Britain, accounting for 11.6 per cent of the market share.

The huge rise of SUVs could be down to Land Rovers and Range Rovers, which were the original four-wheel drive vehicles.

Once military vehicles in the Second World War, they became more refined as years went on and their popularity soared, thanks in part to their endorsement of the Royal family. 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were big fans of Range Rover and were often seen driving around in their beloved vehicles. 

Now, Land Rovers and Range Rovers are part of the luxury car market, with only those who can afford their steep price tag able to buy a brand new one, which is why lots of people opt for second hand models with reconditioned Range Rover engines instead.

As many people are priced out of the market, other manufacturers have created their own SUVs over the years, even if they do not have the four-wheel drive capabilities that Land Rovers and Range Rovers do.

In fact, most drivers of these large vehicles do not need their off-roading features, but simply want to enjoy the extra space and aesthetic appeal of a SUV.