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In the early days of the World War II, allied forced felt the need for an all-wheel drive, general-purpose vehicle that could survive the harsh battlefield conditions. The military Jeep was the first ever fighting vehicle that was not based on civilian production vehicle. Willys-Overland and the Ford Motor Company shipped out 643,000 Jeeps for the purpose.

This design remained on American bases decades after the WWII. During the combat, the Jeeps served as troop carriers, ambulances, reconnaissance, and commuter vehicles for higher-ranked officers. Later, a M151 Military Utility Tactical Truck (MUTT) was launched to serve as mobile missile launchers.

Based on the same engineering design, Willys-Overland started manufacturing civilian Jeeps with CJ-2A badge, shortly after the war came to an end in Europe. After three corporate ownership changes, the vehicle is currently sold as Jeep Wrangler.

Mercedes-Benz's G-Wagen has served well beside American HMMWVs in current military procedures in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In contrast to the AM General-built strong vehicle, the Mercedes Benz G-Wagen's wheelbase is 17.8 inches narrower which makes it perfect for traveling through tighter paths.

The civilian version, produced in the same Austrian plant, became publicly available in 1979. But the G-Class was made available in the US in 2002 only. These G-Class vehicles were full of luxury features and equipment that could be expected from a modern Mercedes-Benz. The military-bred Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen provides great off-road traction, courtesy the three fully locking differentials. This not only provides sure-footed tire grip to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, but also makes it the only SUV sold in the U.S. with this unique differential set.

The Land Rover Defender is one of the oldest military vehicles. After entering production in 1948, Land Rover has made a name for itself as a player in the military defense sector after serving the Brit armed forces Iraq and Afghanistan. Mostly used for transporting equipment, personnel, and for reconnaissance missions, the Defenders serve the British Army even today.

As we all know Land Rover focuses mainly on the luxury market, but the Defender design has survived in both military and consumer production vehicles. As far as comfort is concerned, the Defender now includes ABS brakes, a high-end stereo system with an MP3 player, and leather seating. But one of the unique features that have remained since its inception is the lateral rear seats that allow up to 12 passengers to be seated.