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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  Very Happy I got this - 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport
  By BBN - July 5 - 2:25 am

  Got this car (a loaner with 700 miles on odometer) a little less than a month and drove under 1000 miles. So far, like the car very much. Got SE model with Climate package, Navigation and 11 speaker upgrade. Got the 19" inch alloy wheel (without extra cost). Things to like - Handling is excellent. All around visibility is very good. Side mirrors are the best I ever had. Seats feel firm and nice. Feels very spacious inside. Overall material quality has the luxury feel. I drive to work 16 miles each way - 8 miles highway and 8 miles local. Getting 30-34 MPG combined without A/C. 27-30 MPG average running a/c. 25-28 MPG with family of 4 and running a/c. So, much better than the 20-26 MPG listed. Engine is very smooth except when accelerating very suddenly. Radio / speakers are fantastic at higher volumes and with HD stations. Things not to like - The rear hatch feels flimsy. The panel below the glass squeaks a bit. No CD player. Radio is just OK at lower volumes. Rides a little truck-like. Other thoughts - Should suggest getting the higher trim level HSE to get many of the fancy features. SE does not get front fog lights. Wish it did.

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  The best SUV on the road - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Catlover - July 4 - 10:00 am

  My 5th Range Rover in 6 years. The new 4.4 liter BMW engine makes all the difference and provides the performance the previous models were lacking. This car rides like a dream, handles like a dream and has the sporty performance of a BMW! I am not crazy about the lights but Rover has succeeded in maintaining the look. This is a much bigger car compared to the old one and an awesome vehicle all round.

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  Rodeo Drive meets the Rubicon - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By DaTB - July 4 - 2:26 am

  We traded in our 2001 Range Rover for a newer model & we found that certified pre-owned is THEE way to go: you have the vehicles service history to see if its a lemon, & we got roughly $35k off the original sticker price. HUGE comfotable seats, both front and back. The height of the driving position is captivating because you feel so in control of not only the vehicle, but all those around you as well. Integration of center console with the dash and the rest of the vehicle is beautiful. Super torquey engine that pins you to your seat but struggles at higher RPMs to haul this monster. This truck rides with more refinement than our previous 02 745i! Storage is ENORMOUS! Highly recommended!

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  Freelander rules! - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Freebie - June 27 - 2:00 am

  The reason to buy an SUV is to be able to go offroad, not to have tons of space for passengers and not for fancy interior design. If you want the former buy a minivan. The Freelander rides the road like it has magnets for tires. When it is raining, it feels like the pavement is dry. The build quality is outstanding. Some people have been negative about the interior design. However, plain it may be, it will last and take a beating. The leather seats are amazing. The Freelander drives itself. The stearing wheel is the best feel I have ever ecountered. I am very pleased with our Land Rover and our dealer was excellent.

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  Worthwile to wait - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By gillz - June 25 - 6:00 am

  Waited for the 2007 model so that could get the benefit of a couple years worth of production issues getting resolved. LR also added the lumbar, seat movement without key in ignition and other improvements for 2007. Only 1000 miles on the vehicle, but already in snow and on hwy, both cases proved to be a flawless performance.

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  Possibly the worst vehicle ever - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By NJB - June 22 - 1:03 am

  I am writing this review in hopes of deterring and potential buyers from purchasing one of these horrid little automobiles. I do not own one; I am a career mechanic, and we contract with a used car lot to repair their vehicles. They have brought in a number of these Freelanders with mileage ranging from 30k to 80k, and not one of them has been saleable without at least $1k in repairs. Aside from being under powered, lazy/sloppy handling, and interior ergonomics worse than the old Ford Festiva, these things have more mechanical and electrical problems than any other model from any manufacturer. VERY expensive parts and high labor costs. Absolute JUNK!

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  The Best - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Zach is Back - June 16 - 10:00 am

  One of the best cars I have had the pleasure of driving.

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  Here it is - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Katarin - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Not much for the money spent

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  My baby buoy!!! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By maria - June 7 - 11:30 am

  I traded in my 05 ford mustang gt.For this 06 range rover sport. At first when i saw this vehicle it was love at first sight! To ever think i could afford a vehicle like this was just unimaginable. The ride, safety,and looks are out of this world. This is the best riding vehicle i have ever had and this makes 29 cars in my life time. We love it so much we thought of buying another one. For my husband. The horsepower is also 300 like the mustang so i didnt loose that.But the room is worth the trade. The options my range rover sport has is incredible too. Love the navigation system.The lights that move as you drive.Thats a plus too.This vehicle is the best! I cant rate it high enough! I just love it!

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  LR3 & ME! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Michael Stoll - June 4 - 6:26 pm

  In this case, the fourth time is a charm! Following a Discovery and two Range Rovers, I think theyve finally got it! Rides like a luxury car, stable on ice and snow, and all the bells and whistles you would expect, save the comment noted below regarding sound system. While hesitant in the past, I would give the LR3 two big "thumbs up"!