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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  So far great Land Rover - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By LR3 - August 21 - 2:36 am

  Second Land Rover that I have owned. First was a Disco III that I loved but also hated for the reliability. So far the LR3 has been great. No issues. The LR3 is the most comfortable car I have ever driven. I have done multiple long road trips and multiple off road trips. The only drawback to the car in my opinion is the fuel, but what can you do about that with a V8. I have also done moderate towing (other cars on trailers and boats) and the LR3 handles it well. Its only 2 yrs old so we will see how it holds up in the long run.

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  Range Rover - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By jrollofson - August 19 - 2:00 am

  The Range Rover is for the driver who has previously always had to have two vehicles to match all their driving needs. This car delivers the luxury and comfort of a Mercedes or BMW while performing in the snow better than any other SUV. You can feel great about going to the Opera, shopping, or skiing in this vehicle!

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  Range Rover Supreme - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By bigdogpve - August 19 - 2:00 am

  My 2003 Range Rover is a fantastic improvement over my 1997 HSE 4.6. The power plant has a excellent power band. It averages 13 miles per gallon but can The suspension handles anything from rough outback to crusing the freeway at 75-85 with the same excellence. The Logic 7 sound system is fantastic. The brakes were not engineered to my needs so I replaced it with a Brembo 15" Rotor system and can handle the Palos Verdes Hills with authority. The Navagation System is a bit complicated but it will get you there.

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  Extremely quiet and smooth riding - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By Crewcabrob - August 18 - 1:40 pm

  This has to be the quietest vehicle I have ever been in. My wife has a new Lexus sedan, and this truck rides better and is quieter inside by a large margin. We just finished two family vacations with our 3 teenagers. You know this truck is quiet when both of my daughters comment out of the blue how quiet it is. Power is available all the time and passing long strings of cars is not a problem. My interstate mileage has been awesome. The best has been 19.4 mpg at 75 mph for almost 200 miles. There is more than enough space for our family and everyone gets to spread out. Nobody feels slighted if they sit in the third row. I love the fact that the suspension self leveles for any load.

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  Great vehicle with bad gas - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Sam - August 16 - 8:30 am

  I towed 6,000lbs of Porsche 911 and full trailer across the country with this truck. Never missed a beat. Ran super in the snow and is very comfortable not to mention great looking. Zero problems. Brake pads are still more than 50% in front. DVD player is wonderful for kids. Everything you could want except for some of the worst gas mileage in its class. We average about 12 MPG. But considering we bought late in the model year and got a $42,000 truck for $31,500 I figure the savings buys me about 4,000 gallons of gas. So no worries.

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  standing out - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By dragos - August 15 - 10:03 am

  nice suv overall... not your common look... could use some extra hp and some more mpg... a diesel version for usa would be desired for repeat customers... premium fuel is $3/gal... but... at 57K should not be a concern?!!!

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  unsafe and undriveable - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By Christina Sibul - August 14 - 2:16 pm

  This has been a completely unreliable car. It has broken down on every long trip, and broken down in usual city driving. Our transmission has gone, the brakes, and assorted other devastating electrical and other problems. Its simply unsafe to drive.

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  Great vehicle/Dealer service - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Booth - August 14 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I bought this vehicle 1.5 years ago and have had no issues with it so far. Power is adequate, build quality is fine. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for something a little different, Liberty, Escape and RAV4 are on every street corner. Dealer service/buying experience is unmatched, truly top- notch. No pressure, when-are-you-going to buy phone calls. 4x/year off-road events, strong commitment to continued customer relations.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By salamander - August 9 - 10:00 am

  I like the looks, the way it handles. It really turns heads as it zips thru traffic. BTW is the heated windsheild a standard option on the SE.?

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  Same Old Range Rover - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By David - August 7 - 10:33 am

  Best Looking SUV in its class. Too bad Land Rover has not fixed its mecanical issues. Wait till you get to 25000 mile and the dealer tells you that you need new brakes all around. Dealer wont help nor will Land Rover. They claim this is normal wear and tear. Right!