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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  The good in the bad - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By saharatj98 - April 2 - 8:40 am

  Oh, the stigma... You always hear the complaints and not the praise. Land Rovers do have their quirks. I have to say though that I will never own an American made car for reliability, resale, dealer professionalism, quality and just general engineering mediocrity. That said, the Land Rover shines in comparison. Many of the complaints are due to mis understanding as far as how it is designed. Reliability is a crap shoot. Mine have all been great. 288k on a 89 Rangerover is above average for any make. You have to maintain them to keep them happy as any European car. Off road these things are incredible and Ive owned Jeeps of all types. These were never intended to compare to a highway SUV.

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  Dont walk, run away - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Mark - March 31 - 7:53 pm

  We owned this vehicle for approximately 20 months. Total cost of repairs exceeded $16,000.00. No kidding. The engine has inherent design flaws. The cylinder sleeves will fail, coolant will flow into the block, your motor will be shot. You will experience electrical failures right and left. This is the second and last product we will buy from Land Rover and Range Rover. Utterly worthless vehicles. Our Discovery was only marginally better. Gulps fuel as well.

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  vibration. - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By a.ash. - March 30 - 11:26 am

  I love to keep it, But the dealer couldnt fix steering vibration for the fifth time, car factory adjustments is good for only 4 to 5 thousand miles, Ill try to call land rover again to get it fix. or call my lawyer.

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  Great Drive - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By MSIN - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Purchased two weeks ago and the car has been great. No problems at 700 miles. The car handles better than anything in its class. Engine is more than adequate. Harmon Kardon stereo sounds great.

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  Overall a satisfying vehicle - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By California buyer - March 30 - 7:30 am

  I love my Freelander for its interior styling and reliability. It does have some quirks, such as the brakes make a subtle noise when I come to a stop but I am getting that checked out. Otherwise, I am very satisfied with my car. Its fun to drive and I feel safe in it.

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  Pleasantly surprised so far - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Curtis Hall - March 27 - 10:33 am

  I recently purchased my 2004 RR HSE in 4/08. I must say I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality and workmanship of the RR. I have had to take it to the dealership for the 37.5K service (free complimentary service). Nothing major but while at the dealership I did have a couple things repaired 1.) New dashboard readout console--mileage numbers began to fade. 2.) Problem with locking mechanism on rear hatch--problem fixed 3.) Transmission Failsafe Program came on--Sensor reset (that does make me a little nervous). Dealership repairs are expensive so look for a independent LR shop.

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  Love it so far - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By Skippy - March 26 - 8:00 pm

  When my wife and I went shopping we looked at all the competitors. Decided to look at the Range Rover Sport but liked the LR4 more because it was so roomy. (I am 62" tall.) Test drove and loved it. After 3 months I still do. Great performance. Poor gas mileage? Sure but that is the trade off I was willing to make for the ride and power. The visibility is really great. Inside it almost feels like a greenhouse with all the glass. I am pleased with the sunroof shade. I was wondering about that since it is not a complete blackout. It has turned out to be perfect. I will use this vehicle occasionally off road but honestly doubt that I will ever take it anywhere close to its limits

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  Freelander SE3 - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Scottocs15 - March 26 - 10:00 am

  All in all a great vehicle. It looks flashy(people at gas stations will come up to you and ask about it), and drives extremely well. The interior is nice, although it could use some improvements.

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  excellent car - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By rianxo - March 26 - 10:00 am

  The car is amazing

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  First Land Rover - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By dave and patti b - March 26 - 6:46 am

  We have a 2003 E Mercedes; the Land Rover rides better. Other considerations: Lexus GX too showy for the beach and surfing .Thought of waiting for the Mercedes 2006 but our E has been in the dealership so often the salespeople don’t even bother me anymore