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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  It is a LR afterall... - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Rover - April 11 - 6:13 pm

  The car is absolutely awesome. It is like having McGyver with you at all times. If you want perefection, I would look elsewhere (generic, blend with all, and is that my car?). Think of it as a thoroughbred, the care and feeding are most crucial.

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  My third Land Rover - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Richard Williams - April 11 - 10:00 am

  The professional attitude of the Land Rover Centre. No problems with the auto so far.

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  Be careful!!! - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By GAM - April 9 - 10:00 am

  I have 7,000 miles on a 04 HSE and since I bought it there have been whining noises not heard on other Freelanders i have driven. Land Rovers Regional representatives reply..."the noises are to acceptable standards." My answer...Lemon Law. It is a fine ride. the loaner I am returning right now is superb in handling and ride however mine is not so test drive whatever FL you plan on buying for at least 2 days, and drive it at 70MPH to make sure you do not land up as I have. Also visit the "Freelander Living" web site for more info about potential problems.

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  Sporty European fun - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By beach bum - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive. Abundance of standard technical and performance features. Handling is superb. Dealership experience is excellent. My first SUV. I love the convertable and sporty feel/look. Good A/C - important in Miami. Handles well in heavy rain. Turns heads in South Beach. Easy to drive and to park. Wish I had it back in California.

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  Dont waste your money - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By lenny - April 6 - 9:56 pm

  Dont waste your money....I have had nothing but problems with this SUV since day 2...the voice recognition does not recognize,,,the phone system is usless. The on board computer has froze up enough times to make you go crazy....Either I have a Lemon or the bugs in the electronics were never tested before mass production....I love the driving and comfort, but the electronics braking down all the time is enough for me to reurn the car if I could.

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  A Terrible Car - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jake - April 4 - 4:26 am

  This is a terrible car! One month after I bought it the timing belt breaks and I spend $ 500 getting a new one put in. The next month, the motor needs to be checked again, another $600 bucks spent on it! I was driving it in manual one day and the transmission loses all gears except for park and neutral. And I was on the interstate at rush hour, the car gets towed overnight because the tow truck wont bring it to my house, Land Rover wants me to spend $1000 bucks getting the tranny rebuilt, the Hyundai dealer where I bought it said to just sell it which I did to my brother for $200 because he would fix it someday. Bad SUV for anybody.

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  Sonnys review - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Sonny L - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Starts without any hesitation. Firm but solid ride and able to keep up with traffic during interstate driving. The Freelander handles extremely well in bad weather and poor driving conditions. A/C could be improved - it takes a while for the interior to cool.

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  What a GEM! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By babbs - April 2 - 10:00 am

  This is my first SUV, previously I have owned Saabs, Audis, and a BMW. My Freelander handles as well or even better than any of my cars ever have. I receive many compliments on the look of the car. I feel extremely safe driving in all conditions, it handles well in all weather. It stops on a dime, and has excellent turning capabilities for an SUV. I will always own a Freelander. The performance, reliability, warranty, style make it a must have for anybody and any lifestyle. Perfect for someone that wants an SUV without feeling like you are driving a huge car.

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  I Love my Quirky Land Rover Disco - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By sms65965 - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I grew up in the back of Land Rovers (what most people know today at Defenders), and the off-road heritage that has been passed down to todays LRs is just as mud, snow, sand, and rock gripping as in the past. The daily commute in a LR bears little resenblance to the original LR tractor/all around farm vehicle the Brits first developed, and it hasnt lost any of its utility. The LR Disco may now be a people-ferrying vehicle, but it is still first and foremost a utility vehicle.

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  Better than the Discovery by a mile - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By aesko - April 1 - 4:46 pm

  Purchased as a demo model, so it had a few miles on the odometer. We have previously owned a 95 Discovery, and a 02 Freelander. Land Rover seems to have done its homework this time. The overall fit and finish is far superior to LRs previous offerings,and the 300 hp on tap is just about right. For a SUV this size it handles great. However Im not so sure about the durability of the electronics. Overall we are quite happy with the purchase of this vehicle, however LR could have done a few things better, the third row should have come as a no cost option, and the lack of a SIRIUS radio system is well just dumb. I mean GM offers XM on even its base cars. I hope it holds up better then its previous offering