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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  best suv i have owned - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By debra kelley - September 13 - 10:00 am

  this is the absolute top in suvs. i drove it cross country, through rain and snow. rides like a car and handles superbly. no leaning on exit ramps like the other suvs. seat comfort is also superb. never had to readjust seat the entire trip. also towed a 3, 500 lb boat plus trailer with no problem. looking foward to my next road trip with it, south this time. highly recomned! i have owned, gmcs fords and dodge. none can compare.

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  2011 LR4 - 2011 Land Rover LR4
  By discov4 - September 7 - 9:57 am

  Ive had the 2011 LR4 for just over a month and have nothing but good things to say. The ride and comfort levels are simple amazing. I compared the competitors in the class, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lexus and ultimately went with the Land Rover. The styling, comfort and bang for the buck ultimately won me over. Im glad to say that after having made the purchase, I have nothing but good things to say. The ride and capability are great. The interior is extremely comfortable and level of finishes very high. I encourage you to take the leap!

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  Awesome Presence - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Chipawa - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Finally picked up the Disco! 03SE7- Zambezi/Alpaca. I agonized while considering and driving everything that may even be remote competetion. I believe this vehicle is the best in its class. It is also the lowest priced SUV that qualifies for SEC179 IRS tax code. Quality/fit/finish look great. Gas mileage is what I expected. I can write it off anyway. although due to great pricing you see more on the road, the Disco still has more presence and exclusivity than the others, I like to be different. Ill report periodically with updates

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  Worth it sometimes - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By flgator - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Plenty fun to drive off-road, but dont expect a quiet ride. Gas mileage is abysmal, but you come to expect that from a powerful tower. I just cant figure why they cant boost it to something similar to the Toyota 4Runner (16/20). Turning radius is awful, but the engineer in me suspects thats artificially governed, so the reckless among us dont make quick, sharp turns and end up on our sides in a ditch. Powers great, and the vehicle looks unlike anything else out there. What used to look utilitarian now has an edge of bling to it. The interior is fine until you see some of the competitors - then you notice they need to get on the proverbial ball.

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  Peerless, in a class by itself - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By YoungTurk - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Excellent build quality, prestigious, Surprisingly peppy performance. Best sounding stereo Ive ever heard in an automobile. HVAC very powerful.

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  LR4 after 5000 miles - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By SWFloridian - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Have the LR4 now for 3 months - driven in mountains, on poor road surfaces and highways. Its fun to drive, very quiet inside and comfortable. Like the air suspension very much - makes it easy to get in and out without extra steps. Wish it was offered with a Diesel engine, the V8 gas engine is thirsty (14.5 mpg) but has good pick-up. Off-road performance is second to none. The NAV unit is not top notch - missing many smaller streets away from Metro areas. Also one has to "agree" every time the NAV display is turned on - thats a pain. In summary: great multipurpose vehicle, comfortable and quiet, roomy inside and has all the creature comforts one needs.

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  Westminister - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By mbr6362 - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Great ride and build quality. Just boughtn the Westminister version....a terriffic suv!!Currently also own a Lexus LX470, the Range Rover is a much more sporty ride with better power. The suv handles very well, ac/heat extremely effecient. BMWs influence is very apparent, many of the interior components are BMW. CD changer rack in dash somewhat of an inconvience. I was surprised at Dunlop tires on the vehicle, it deserving of better. Overall very pleased.

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  Surprisingly Happy!! - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Anonymous - August 16 - 2:00 am

  I waited a year before this review b/c I too wanted to give a fair evaluation. My RRS HSE is white with a coffee or chocolate interior. I love this truck. First, if you were doubtful and have had a few probs, then why did you buy it? EVERY new vehicle with all the electronics will have degrees of problems. I had a few issues like some on here, but new it was the computer b/c it would be fine after it had been restarted (the truck), then LR had a computer upgrade and poof! No more problems at all. 12000 plus miles and riding great!! Its also the first time my husband asks to take my truck!! Service has been wonderful and glad I purchased my RRS.

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  Great Ride - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Edward Blakely - August 15 - 7:33 pm

  Buying a new one to replace this one!!!

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  SUV Knockout punch - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Dean - August 14 - 10:53 am

  This SUV is the best in the market; its just right in everything (very roomy and not too big). Get the third row seat it is worth it. If your wife does not like driving minivans or the big 7 passenger SUVÂ’s then look no further. My wife loves driving it all the time & I love the power and the way it handles curves. In addition to all the perks this car is workhorse too. If you have a family with more than one child this is the car for you. If it isnÂ’t for redundancy I would by another one in a heartbeat