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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  Love My Rovers - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover
  By jshook - September 25 - 12:37 am

  I am on my third HSE (04, 06, 08) and have absolutely loved all of them. Apparently, I am fortunate in that I have never experience any major maintenance issues. My only complaint is the $100+ it takes to fill it, but that goes with the territory. These vehicles are fantastic in all conditions. I live in the midwest and drive about 30,000 miles per year, so I see my share of nasty conditions including blizzards, ice and torrential rain. I never worry if I am in the Range Rover. Keep good tires on the car and it will get you there safely and effortlessly. Regarding interior finish and comfort, it doesnt get better, except on the newer RRs. Buy this vehicle....you wont regret it!

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  An Outstanding Choice - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By RTL--Bellevue - September 24 - 10:06 pm

  I use my Range Rover--and it really performs. Snow, mud, sand, up hills and down without complaint. Towing is a breeze--very stable frame. Throughout it all, my RR has been outstanding. Excellent driver visibility and superior lighting make it a treat to drive.

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  Superior versatility - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jeff Makowski - September 20 - 6:36 pm

  Id been looking for a compromise between a full-sized SUV, for off- roading and poor weather safety, and a sedan, for better milage and handling. The Freelander hasnt disappointed. Very smooth ride, with little to no body roll, great visibility, superior snow/mud/muck handling, and Im still getting relatively decent milage (18-20 mpg). The styling certainly sets it apart from most other vehicles in its class. Very unique interior material (Technical Fabric), with excellent seat support and comfort. Plus, the hardtop is easily removable, looking forward to adding many summer driving miles. The Freelander is the compromise that doesnt feel like one.

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  The best there is - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By uncle ollie - September 20 - 1:16 pm

  The experience has been fantastic. this is the best built vehicles in the world. i live in Maryland and since Ive had my vehicle, I pray for snow.

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  No comparison - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Gulfvet66 - September 19 - 6:16 pm

  Everyone looks at you differently than if you were driving Lexus (ho-hum, been there done that) Best looking large SUV ever made. Gorgeous color combinations. Averaged 22 hwy when in cruise control. Nav is simple, sound system is amazing. Harmon Kardon 715 watts, Logic 7? Stop it!!!

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  Its a Beast - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Addison, TX RRS SC - September 17 - 9:26 am

  I custom ordered my 2010 Range Rover Sport SuperCharged so it took a couple of months to arrive.I finally picked it up last week 5/8.It is Alaska White with Ebony Interior and Ivory contrast sticthing.Just gorgeous!The 510HP engine on the SC is so responsive I named it "Charlie the Beast". BUT The first day I drove it my ipod started to play music out of the left speakers only and I got really concerned coz Ive heard alot about reliability issues with Land Rover. It worked ok 3 days later so Im keeping my fingers crossed. The ride is so smooth 90mph feels like 50mph.My one complaint so far is the lack of compartment space.Do away with the cooler! Overall it is an Amazing ride!

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  Awesome SUV!!! - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By David - September 11 - 4:30 pm

  This is a really fun truck to drive. We also own a Landcruiser and was actually looking to buy a smaller SUV like ML350 or X5, when we stumbled on this....Wonderful truck..This is now the truck of choice in my house.

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  U can tell that BMW helped Design SE3 - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By CJR - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Originally my wife and I wanted to get a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. But we test drove a SE3 and feel in love with handling and options that arent available on the Jeep. Our dealership even has a offroading event three times a year to put the SE3 to test. The European Handling and tight steering is is also a nice feature. You can tell that BMW had something to do with the design of this vehicle.

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  Just Perfect - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Jeff - September 9 - 5:13 am

  After three Mercedes MLs, it was time for a change. The MLs kept getting better (1998, 1999, 2001 models) but were nowhere near as good as the LR3. The LR3 is incredibly solid, with smooth acceleration and a great ride. Interior comfort is excellent and the kids love the third row, which offers easy access. Winter driving in New England was never better, with the LR3 handling snow and ice in a way that can only be described as awesome. Yeah, I like the LR3 a lot.

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  Get in the Mud - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By RoverFun - September 5 - 12:40 pm

  My family and I have put 25k miles on the truck this year and have more a problem not driving it. Third row seat is a pleasure, best tailgate design ever, and confort beyond exspectation. I understand that others have had trouble with a first model year, but that is typical and I was prepared for it (bought 100k bumper to bumper warrenty). I have been off road with groups and solo and never been stuck yet. The truck is truely more at home off road and my wife can still lean back an chat on the cell at the same time. I even squeezed a larger set of tires on it and they worked great in sand