Overview & Reviews

Land Rover is a luxury SUV manufacturer that has its roots in England. Many of its vehicles are replete with the sort of leather-lined comforts that call to mind hunting lodges and high tea. Land Rovers are also known for being stellar trail-busters, endowed with the moxie to get down and dirty when the road gets rough. Currently owned by Tata Motors, Land Rover is one of just a few automotive brands in the United States to solely market SUV products.

After World War II, two British brothers, Spencer and Maurice Wilks, were impressed by the rugged and versatile nature of the U.S. Army's Jeep. They worked with the British automaker Rover to create the first Land Rover in 1948. Called the Series I, this truck was equipped with permanent four-wheel-drive, a canvas roof and optional doors. These early Land Rovers were crude but extremely well-suited for operations in the field.

The 1950s saw Land Rovers moving toward increased power and refinement. Launched in 1958, the Series II offered added horsepower and a somewhat less rudimentary exterior, with sills designed to disguise the exhaust and chassis. The first diesel-powered Rover was also produced during these years. The Series IIA came next, in a production run that lasted from 1961-'71. As the '60s drew to a close, Rover was acquired by Leyland Motors Ltd. (which would later become British Leyland).

Land Rover's storied Range Rover made its debut in 1970. Equipped with a V8 engine and a body made mostly of aluminum, the stylish vehicle was more consumer-oriented than its predecessors. In the mid-'70s, British Leyland was nationalized; by the mid-'80s, the company — renamed the Rover Group — had been acquired by British Aerospace.

The automaker officially entered the U.S. automotive market in 1987 when the Range Rover made its debut on American shores. It was followed in 1989 by the Discovery, which was initially offered only in two-door form. The Discovery was the first all-new Land Rover in 19 years.

In the 1990s, the sudden popularity of the burgeoning SUV segment placed the brand in an enviable position. In response, Land Rover's vehicles, while still retaining their go-anywhere attitude, became more luxurious, particularly after BMW bought the company in 1995.

The Land Rover family of vehicles has continued to grow. The late '90s saw the introduction of the Freelander; the compact sport-ute held the distinction of being the first production vehicle to offer Hill Descent Control. The latter optimized maneuverability on steep descents by automatically braking to keep the vehicle's speed in check.

BMW's control was short lived, however, and in 2000 Land Rover was sold to Ford. Ford worked hard to improve the reliability of Land Rover's vehicles, but by 2008 Ford's financial instability resulted in Land Rover being sold again, this time to the Indian automaker Tata Motors.

Today, Land Rover is still well known for its luxury SUVs, including the ritzy yet rugged Range Rover as well as smaller and more affordable models like the LR4 and Evoque.

User Reviews:

• 

  Been there done that - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Shermie - December 9 - 9:53 am

  Purchased a brand new Freelander and it is the only regret I have in my life. So you can assume exactly what kind of ownership experience my family and I had to endure for over 5 years. When the motor finally dies at 58Kmiles, and the transmission had been slipping for 1 year, the car still smelled brand new when it was sold for scrap parts. Never ever buy a Freelander, unless you have a high tolerance for a cheaply built, outsourced funky japanese tranny and a Chiness built motor with epoxy glue holding the cylinder sleeves together. The 5 years of missing coolant was nothing compared to what this car did to my life and finances. Pure junk.

• 

  My New Ex Boyfriend - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By My New Ex Boyfriend - November 27 - 4:40 pm

  Yes, its true...I ran to him when 6000 lbs or better meant notaxes that year! and now he has cheated on me. He got into bed with a gas pump and I just cant trust him anymore! He was quite the looker, but boy he has a drinking problem. Seriously, I loved the look of this truck, I like the classic stying. The romance fades from here. Although its never left me stranded, OK once - E means empty, there is no forgiving here. Have already done the brakes and I am on my 2nd set of tires. Front end is leaking as it is prone to do. O2 sensors have been replaced two times. Rear door latch failed and while rounding a corner door flew open and bent hinges

• 

  DO NOT BUY A RANGE ROVER!!! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Russ M. - November 26 - 9:36 pm

  I normally do not like to complain, but someone has to help you from making this mistake! Bought it with 22k miles, immediatiely ran into elecectrical issues that caused the rover to "blackout" completely while driving- No power at all. Dealer can not find or fix the issue ( Has happened twice) Then at 72,000 miles, then engine blew up without any warning lights!!! a $10,000 dollar repair!!! All repairs cost a fortune!! Wipers were $300 dollars! If you have more money than scents, buy this vehicle!! If you like to be stranded on the side of the road, late at night with tractor trailers wizzing by at 75 miles per hour while you wait 2-3 hrs for Rover service to arrive, buy it! L-E-M-O-N

• 

  DourResearch - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Listen2reviews - October 30 - 6:46 am

  I bought what I expected to be a quality car, it is not! Wonder why the company has changed ownership 3 times??? They cant fix their cars, and wont hire good mechanics, or service people. The car started to have electrical problems, blackouts, being stranded, suspension, and under warranty were supposedly fixed, but thye continued! and Ive been stuck with innumerable bills.Dealer says things happen... Their service department is horrible, and the interior quality competes with kia, maybe! VERY EXPENSIVE to maintain, and getting parts is a pain.

• 

  what a shshame! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By nothappy - October 20 - 8:43 am

  Bought this car, expecting "royaltys car", The exterior and the interior are beautiful, but once it has a few thousand miles, problems start to happen, as if the car is 15 years old. Problems with stability, breaks, powertrain, and the interior which seemed well done, is not, the color fades, it looks old. I would not recomend this car to anyone, for the price a BMW, infinity or lexus are 100% better

• 

  Not much room - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Scott - October 7 - 6:20 am

  This was my wifes truck. We traded it in this last week because its not comfortable for a 63" broad shouldered man, and because the local land rover dealership stated that it is normal for these trucks to need new rear brakes and rotors at 40,000 miles. It has a recurring issue of brake squeak which the dealer said they could fix for $250.00, but that it was not covered under warranty (5yr 50000 miles). Its had to have several oil leaks repaired (Oil pan, front differential) under warranty. I would not recommend this truck unless you buy it somewhere other than a Land Rover dealership, are small to medium build and are related to a Land Rover mechanic.

• 

  Dont do it!!!! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Mini B2003 - August 18 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle was a bust from day one. The electrical system went out multiple times, the A/C drains got clogged (for no apparent reason) and flooded the front of the car, the Goodyears they put on them cupped within the first 10K miles making it loader than a semi. The steering wheel is way too low for anyone over 510". This was the worst automotive choice I ever made. Do yourself a favor, look around, there are much better vehicles out there.

• 

  Not a good choice! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Mandana - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had the car for 11 months and it had to be taken in 5 times with various warranty issues. The front window raddles, the airconditioning unit control is not accurate, the car died on the road during the 2nd month of purchase. in 11 months, it cost me $650 on break change...It is by far the worse car I have ever had.

• 

  Considering a Land Rover? - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By beavers52 - July 23 - 5:40 am

  I would encourage anyone considering the purchase of a new Land Rover to do your research - review customer comments, check JD Powers ratings, etc. I wish I had done so. Unfortunately, I purchased a new LR3. Nothing but problems with the vehicle - cheap interior parts - electrical problems - frequent mechanical issues. I would encourage anyone considering a purchase of a LR to think twice before doing so - there has got to me more to a car than "good looks".

• 

  No-Go Disco - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By l-i-v-i-n - June 14 - 2:03 am

  I was looking for a great off road vehicle; this is not it. Despite regular maintenance, and no hesitation in replacing parts as the mechanic suggested it, this car still let me down. Blown head gasket, blown seal, exhaust leak, electrical problem, stuck window(s), and the little nickel and dime stuff here and there (wipers, filters, etc.) that all cost more than on a non-premium car. The car performed well when it was working, and could work trails like nothing Ive ever driven, but enter into this understanding your obligation as an owner is to spend at least $3000-$4000 per year on problems; not just standard maintenance.