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The legendary Willys Jeep originated from military roots during those tumultuous war years. It was to develop into the Jeep Wrangler as a direct successor and set the highest standards in rugged performance and off-road capability, alongside its unmistakable design.

It’s remarkable how such a utilitarian concept has become a beloved automotive icon, and the distinctive, boxy design is more popular now than it was back then, and one of the best-selling Jeeps in history. In fact, its exceptional off-road performance and versatility have been an inspiration for numerous vehicle manufacturers, ten of which we shine a spotlight on below.

1

Mitsubishi Jeep

Mitsubishi jumped into the reconstruction efforts following the end of World War 2 and launched its own multipurpose Jeep. The company inked a contract with the Willys Jeep manufacturer before coming out with its home-built version, the J1. Mitsubishi was to enter into further technology and sales agreements with Willys, so it could produce early versions of the Jeep in the Japanese market.

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Domestically, the Mitsubishi Jeep gained a strong reputation for both simplicity and exceptional durability. You could find it in rural communities, helping its owners to complete various utilitarian and agricultural tasks, and in time, Mitsubishi’s Jeep design was to morph into the company’s broader SUV range.

2

Nissan Patrol

The original 4W60 Nissan Patrol came out in 1951 and shared the practical design philosophy of the Jeep. It had an inline-six gas engine that delivered 105 hp with plenty of tow-rev torque on tap. Due to its robust nature, it’s clear to see why the Patrol became popular in markets that featured a lot of rugged terrain. Customers in both civilian and military sectors used it as a dependable off-road workhorse, able to deal with harsh conditions throughout the year.

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Nissan made plenty of changes to the first-generation Patrol, but the second-generation G60 soon emerged as a three-door and four-seat model in 1960 (pictured). It came in short, medium, and long wheelbase versions, and all of them had a four-speed manual gearbox.

3

Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota studied the original Jeep vehicles during the Korean War and decided to launch its version, the Land Cruiser, in 1954. This vehicle produced only 125 hp from its inline-six gas engine but with all its torque on tap low down, and was quick to gain fame for its durability, capability, and reliability.

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Toyota developed a short-wheelbase model of this Jeep look-alike and eventually added a new cast-iron F series engine. Soon, it would find its way to overseas markets, as the first Toyota to ever arrive on foreign shores. The robust nature of the Land Cruiser has made it a global favorite in military circles, as well as on expeditions, or during humanitarian missions, with various body styles and numerous incarnations over the years (pictured).

4

Ford Bronco

In the early ‘60s, Ford took a close look at the original Jeep and felt that those vehicles lacked power, were uncomfortable, and were too small. The Blue Oval felt that this caused a gap in the market and decided to launch its own utility vehicle, which it codenamed the Bronco.

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Again, you can quickly recognize the boxy shape, two-door layouts and round headlights, and Bronco went through several revisions before arriving at three body styles – the roadster, which was an open-top model, a sport utility, which had a pickup bed, and a wagon. All of these early models had a standard four-wheel drive, with a six-cylinder engine and a manual transmission. Interestingly, the Bronco became very successful in the off-road racing community, winning multiple competitions during its early years.

5

Suzuki Jimny

The first-generation Suzuki Jimny made history as the only compact four-wheel-drive vehicle in the mini-car segment. It had a very small gas engine to accompany its compact design but was nevertheless popular for its capable off-road performance. In fact, Jimny became something of a cultural icon and was popular across a range of demographics, from off-road enthusiasts to urban drivers.

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Eventually the Jimny gained more power and, in its second generation, an upmarket interior. However, it retained the instantly recognizable “Jeep” form and shape, and the Jimny helped to put Suzuki on the map as a credible manufacturer.

6

Mercedes-Benz G-class G-Wagon

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Mercedes-Benz had its own attempt at creating a Jeep copycat, with a no-nonsense but go-anywhere SUV. The Geländewagen (German for “cross-country vehicle”) was a limited production vehicle but still became a status symbol in towns, cities, farms, and skiing communities.

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The first G Wagon owes a lot to the Unimog of the post-war era but had a very robust four-wheel drive system beneath one of three different body styles – convertible, two-door, and four-door wagon. It was to become very popular in the ’80s, but it wasn’t until 1993 that the first version got to US shores.

7

Land Rover Defender

Land Rover originally launched its version of the Jeep in 1947, and the company wanted to create an all-purpose vehicle along the lines of the Willys Overland Jeep. That Land Rover became very popular with the British Army and eventually, the 110 model, which is now the Defender, made its debut in 1983.

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The Defender features a capable diesel engine, and rapidly became a favorite among explorers, farmers, and emergency service workers alike. People seem to love the Defender for its adaptability and resilience, and it’s known for performing well in challenging environments. Of all the Jeep “replicas,” perhaps the Land Rover Defender has the strongest global reputation.

8

Troller T4

If the Land Rover Defender is best known, Brazil’s Troller T4 is probably the least. This vehicle was launched in 1999, initially with a two-liter gas engine before designers upgraded it to a larger turbo-diesel version. Ford Motor Company was to acquire the original manufacturer in 2007. The Troller T4 is available in four-wheel drive and has a fiberglass body over a steel chassis. You could buy it as a two-door with fiberglass hardtop and, for a while, the vehicle became the best-selling SUV in Brazil. Sadly, while Ford plowed plenty of money into the Troller T4 post-acquisition, it is no longer in production.

9

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra produced its first version of the Willys Jeep in 1949, primarily for the Indian audience. The company would roll out various versions of this Jeep lookalike through the decades until the Mahindra Thar arrived in 2010. This simple SUV has two diesel engine options and is famous for being a rugged and affordable workhorse. It’s also very customizable, so it’s really popular within off-road communities.

You can certainly see the Jeep heritage in the Mahindra Thar and the company clearly wants to bring the vehicle to as broad a segment of the population as possible. Today, you can choose a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, diesel or petrol engines, and a host of electronic driver aids.

10

BAIC BJ40

China’s BAIC company launched the BJ40 in 2013, with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine and, once again, many of the Jeep’s esthetics. This version is affordable and has genuine off-road capabilities, being particularly attractive to young and adventurous consumers across the country.

Chinese buyers have four distinct trim levels – super, professional, city, and special edition-and BAIC has now inked a formal agreement with the Jeep company to market the BJ40 as the Chinese version of the Wrangler.

Sources: Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Suzuji, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Troller, BAIC, Mahindra.