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:

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  They finally did it right. - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By sowell - October 20 - 10:00 am

  This is my third range rover and finally I got what I paid for. They did it right.

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  Perfection in motion - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Surprised - October 18 - 11:20 am

  This car has been perfect for me. I was originally looking for a sport sedan in the 50k range, but I couldnt find anything that fit my personality. I wanted something that was comfortable and fun to drive but stood out. I found the comfort in one car, the drivability in another. But in this Range Rover Sport, I found both of those attributes plus the X factor in appearance. This SUV really stands out. I get looks and compliments everywhere I go. Its big enough to look rugged and tough as well as being sleek enough to look sexy. Land Rover could have not made a better SUV. When I tell someone that I own a Range Rover, they congratulate me for getting the Sport and not the other one.

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  Awesome Potential.... - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Roverdawg - October 17 - 5:53 pm

  Great vehicle......when its working. I love this car but Ive had repetitive problems with the air suspension and some other issues. Unfortunately, despite mult. visits the suspension faults remain. Poor reliability on my particular vehicle (related to early build?. Also had the fuel tank recalled/replaced, susp. compressor replaced, front speakers replaced (rattling), hood release cable replaced (failed), rear distance parking module replaced (failed). And yet, I still would recommend this vehicle IF you buy a 2006/2007 and get the extended warranty. Glad I bought the extended warranty!

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  Fun Vehicle / Great Value - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Charles Green - October 16 - 9:36 am

  Purchased mid August 2007. 6500 miles currently. Only dislike is the heated windshield. Embedded wires cause glare at night and you can see them during the day. This is a fun vehicle to drive. Fast and stable. Plenty of interior room for driver/passengers. The only time you know youre driving a small vehicle is when you back up and realize there is still plenty of room to maneuver. RIM has a download for their Blackberry, Bluetooth now works great. First SUV Ive really felt comfortable driving. Many like the X5 feel too ponderous, you can feel every pound in the steering. Many other SUVs dont even pretend that they could go off road. Added roof rails and mudguards. Lots of compliments.

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  What a car! - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By knewton304 - October 13 - 10:00 am

  We have owned LRs in the past and this is by far the finest vehicle they have ever made. It is truly increadable. A little large for some, but extremely agile and quick. Extreme comfort and capabilities combined with a increadable design improvements!

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  2004 Dicosvery 2 trial w/155k miles - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By VampyreKing - October 11 - 10:00 am

  We just sold our 2001 discovery 2 with 200k miles and got this 04 with 155k miles last week. We love them and if you take good care of the car and do a little research on the web you can find all the parts that you need and a great mechanic will keep you within budget. The love and hate relationship is true but if you are looking for a vehicle that will keep you safe, goes anywhere and has great presence this is the car for you. I dont have allot of money but if you treat your rover well and have a mechanic you can trust you will be able to afford one. P.S. I got my 01 with 139k miles and spend about 5k during 4 years of ownership

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  Not all are bad - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Wayne - October 11 - 10:00 am

  I read several of the reviews listed here before purchasing my 2005 Range Rover HSE as was very nervous about doing so due to all the negative comments about its reliability. I purchased the vehicle with approx. 68K miles and to my surprise it has been one of the most reliable vehicles Ive ever purchased! Now I have ~109K miles on it a it runs just like it did the day I purchased it. The only major cost was the front suspension. This was a 2K+ repair but other than that nothing more than routine maintenance. I love my RR there is nothing like it on the road or off! With the air suspension it rides smoother on the highway that most cars! Sounds system is awesome and the engine sounds great!

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  Reliability is the problem - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By BAD choice ;LR2 - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Once i saw this car i loved the exterior and interior and lots of extras it came with. So i dropped my first choice back then which was the vw Touareg, as i had a concern about the vw reliability. Unfortunately i was totally wrong cause it i never suffered with a car like this LR2, every now and then it should be towed to the dealer for electrical problems, that actually there is no real solution for them. Engine fault and transmission fault are keeping flashing in your face! tail gate got stuck more than once. What a great loss i had spent a fortune to own this LR2 and i cannot depend for long journeys in it.

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  My first Range Rover - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By James Daniel - October 8 - 8:16 pm

  This is my first RR purchase. The reliability has been superb at 7000 miles. What a looker! Turns heads of all ages. Maybe too small up front for a big guy (64", 220lbs.), however controls and seats are top notch. Fuel mileage has averaged about 14 city and 20+ highway. I have tried regular gas for several tankfuls without any noticeable problems. Has the best nav system on the market, period. The infusion of BMW engineering (RRs previous owner) and Fords money (RRs current owner) has created a desirable, competitive and trustworthy product line.

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  Im Very Happy - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By mcapurro - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I shopped several SUVs and was very surprised at the drive experience on the Discovery. With the larger 4.6L engine and the improved suspension and braking, it performed very well on the road. This caught me off guard in that with the height and weight of the car, I expected it to be a dog. I was proven wrong. Off road it lives up to its reputation. Dealer experience post-sale has been great!