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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  Disaster on wheels - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Never Again - March 18 - 7:06 pm

  I purchased the 2002 Freelander S several years ago. Within the first year I spent over $5,600 in electrical, engine, and exhaust parts - that doesnt include labor costs. The rear door window and wiper broke ($500), front passenger lock malfunctioned ($300), my entire dash had to be replaced because the coolant system was spilling fluid into the dash ($2800), and the exhaust system went ($2000). The Freelander depreciates in value by $2500-3000 per year. Highway and city mileage is dismal. Blue book value is only $6,000 right now. I cannot wait to get rid of this vehicle. I cannot emphasize enough what a horrible decision is was purchasing the Freelander.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Coloradan - March 18 - 10:23 am

  I love my LR3. My friends love my LR3. I get complimented often on my rig. This is my second Land Rover (Disco II), and I had great experiences with both. Dont buy into the reliability hyperbole. Land Rover makes a superior product.

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  Superb! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By DC Land Rover Owner - March 17 - 10:50 pm

  Had some reservations going into this purchase due to previous reports of poor reliability. The 2003 redesign appears to have fixed most bugs. I have not had any problems. This thing drives and performs flawlessly. I look forward to getting behind the wheel everyday! Note, gas mileage in city driving is quite atrocious, however, the bargain prices on these should more than offset the poor mileage.

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  Sport Rocks! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By KRBJr. - March 13 - 7:46 pm

  Best looking SUV on the planet. Ride and handling are close to the best as well. A real head turner with the guts to do more off road than most are willing to try. A keeper.

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  Worst SUV ever - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Jamie - March 12 - 10:40 pm

  Ive had my Range Rover Sport for 15 months and I cant wait to get rid of the vehicle. I bought the SUV new and Ive had radio complications, had to purchase 4 new tires, and replace brake pads after the 1st year. Thats not counting the times the SUV was in the shop to reset signal lights. I understand you have regular wear and tear maintenance problems, but Ive never purchased tires or brakes within one year of buying a new vehicle. When I asked the dealer was this normal, their response was "yes". The back seat room is ridiculous (very uncomfortable) and the navigation system is a joke.

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  Recommended! - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By lr3lvr - March 11 - 5:13 am

  We are completely happy with our LR3. Its a real head turner and not to be confused with any other. Ive owned other Land Rovers and this is the best by far!

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  Nice Sled - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Happy Camper - March 9 - 6:06 am

  I grabbed one of the first Sports to hit the lot in LA and have zero regrets. This SUV is a superb driving machine. But its not until you het the rain, mud, snow, and ice that you know you got what you paid for - its off-road prowess is unequalled. An unsurpassed engineering marvel! And it looks and drives great, too. Handles like a sport car and accelerates like one, also.

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  So far so good! - 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
  By Ray DeLuca - March 6 - 8:19 am

  Bought the 2 door with 2200 miles. Ive had no issues or complaints, drives great, feels great, looks great and so far I love it. Brought it in for oil change and they did a s/w upgrade. No issues will keep you posted

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  Best 4x4 ever! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Daniep - March 3 - 6:10 am

  Im a 16 year old high school student and I love my Disco. It has a good sound system, and it sits really high. The ladies love it. Lots of storage room and great on the snow and ice. The V8 has lots of power and pulls away from my friends 6 liter V8 gmc sierra. Great for off roading and camping.

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  So Far So Good! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Cegibbs3 - March 1 - 9:03 pm

  I purchase this vehicle used from a dealership in Florida. So far so good! It has been very dependable and it doesnt seem to have any of the issues that some of the other reviews Ive read have had. Im 64" so the interior design is a bit tight but thats nothing new to me. I enjoy the heck out of driving this vehicle on and off road. Its my first full time 4-wheel drive and Im extremely impressed with the handling in rainy/bad conditions on the road. It feels like Im driving in ideal conditions even when they are less than. The stereo is the best Ive ever heard in a vehicle from the factory! Real high quality! The looks are unbeatable! Anyway, Im enjoying it! So far so good!