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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  Bring it back! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By weinsteinb - June 25 - 11:26 pm

  This is by far one of the best looking trucks ever made. The ladies love its sexy looks and the interior! Fantastic sound system!

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  Awesome dude where is my car - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By browns - June 23 - 11:50 pm

  I love my car nice dark windows, to party behind, no problems, sweet , my wife loves bought for her for x-mas

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  The best SUV in its class - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Happy LR3 owner - June 23 - 6:46 am

  Pros: The new style, technology, on-road and off-road capabilities, and gadgets in general far exceed its competitors. Not to mention, the outstanding, complimentary service for the first 45,000 miles. Ive been to two dealerships in different states. The service is excellent. Cons: This SUV is the quintessential "gas- guzzler". Note: I have clocked approximately 20,000 miles since May. Therefore, I expected to meet or exceed 30,000 miles before May, 2006. Yes, I know high mileage does not help vechicle resale value, but I enjoy driving the LR3.

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  The worst car Ive ever had - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By julie - June 18 - 3:43 pm

  This car is a joke. The battery died after 1 year as did the brakes ($1100 later) I need new tires at a cost of $1200. For the better part of leasing this car I had trouble starting it. I just returned again from the dealership yesterday and it stalled in the parking lot and now a new problem my driver window is no longer working. I really give up. I am putting a sign on this car to advise all never to own a Land Rover.

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  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.

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  Great vehicle ? tires - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By wood - June 13 - 5:06 pm

  Land Rover did a great job on the design. Still a little square . Good performance. Road noise from the tires not good. Goodyear has replaced one and still noisey.

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  Spot On - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By jjs57 - June 13 - 11:03 am

  This vehicle was bought to replace the Lexus GX 470, it is far superior to the Lexus and it a real pleasure to drive. They thought of everything, already own the Range Rover and could not be happier with the new body style and cockpit design.

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  Just leased a week ago - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Monkeygirl - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I have had it one week and it has already been in the shop. My driver side mirror was scratched....they broke the scratched mirror removing it and then broke the new mirror installing it. So, they kept my new car over July 4th and then I picked it up yesterday. I drove off and then realized that the new mirror is distorted....great work guys. It is annoying and if I hadnt already taken the car off road and loved how it handled....I would be way more upset. Luckily, they gave me a great sports car as a rental while they fixed my mirror (the 1st time)....well see what happens on Monday.

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  Excellent Car - 2009 Land Rover LR3
  By Hash - June 11 - 3:36 am

  Great Car, good Drive, Powerful Engine and Car for difficult missions. Safe for Family, Luxury and conformable.

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  In a market of its own - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Dr. French - June 7 - 6:40 am

  Im coming from a 2001 Wrangler Sport and a 2002 Infiniti QX4 and I must say the Disco is unique. For whatever reasons, I love the rugged, quasi- military/safari styling and how the truck sits, especially from the front, and especially with the newly designed front end and lamps. I bought it about 1 year ago for $9000 from a wholeseller (it was about a 7.5 out of 10 with massive head gasket and coolant hose leaks, a faulty oxygen sensor, a broken glove box opener and a slightly damaged rear bumper and a few dings) and was prepared to put money into it. $1800 later its a 9/10, puts a smile on my face, and is still cheaper than a Jeep product. More regal than the QX4 also and better leather.