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 It! - 2008 Land Rover LR3
  By Andrew - December 2 - 9:56 am

  This is a great vehicle! My wife is the daily driver and I am thankful that she is able to have such a safe and competent vehicle for her and our family. This is our second LR3 and the interior seats are very similar to the Range Rover Sport leather.

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  My RRS HSE - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Charlie - November 29 - 10:53 pm

  I bought this truck the weekend it was available to the public back in July of 2005. I cant tell you the goose bumps Id get when people on the street turned their heads to check it out, saying, "I thinks thats the NEW Range Rover Sport", and "NICE TRUCK!" I still have the same sense of excitement every time I start the ignition now at 5,500 miles as I did the day I bought it! If you are looking for a sports sedan - scrap that - a sports car feel but in a full-time all wheel drive luxury SUV, this is your vehicle. I challenge you this...if you have the means, just test drive it and I bet you buy one.

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  Problems from the start - 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By rangerage - November 23 - 11:50 pm

  Wheel alignment, computer problem i went back to service three times in a month. The gas tank keeps showing no gas when there is full tank. The service is horrible at the dealership. Looking to pull out of the contract

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  A truck for all seasons! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By NavalEagle - November 17 - 9:10 pm

  I have taken this truck to the Holister offroad park, and this beast performed fantastically. I have enjoyed every day in this truck, and could never part with it. This thing gets down and dirty, and cleans up very nicely. Those who have never owned a Land Rover, will never quite understand the true charm of these modern day road warriors.

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  Grey Ghost - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Charles Woodall - November 17 - 12:43 pm

  It handles well. I like the height and view. This is my third Rover. They only get better. The workhorse is still there but the creature comforts are superb. I would recommend it highly

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  Cheap Manufacturing - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By DamSr - November 15 - 10:10 am

  Gas mileage is horrible. You will likely average 19mpg highway which is a joke, I could have bought a Suburban. Plastic interior. Engine sounds like a diesel. I bought this thing based on its looks. After 4 months I traded this tank in for a more gas saving, well built vehicle. The sound system is horrible. The interior ergonomics are terrible.

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  No regrets whatsoever!! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By David - November 12 - 8:50 am

  I bought my LR3 SE recently from a used car dealership who posted the car on eBay. I had CARCHEX.com review the car before the purchase and shipment. I saved about $10K than if I had bought it at my local Land Rover dealership. The car is the envy of my friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I love the navigation, the large spacing, power and handling, and the amazing internal and external styling. The mileage is a definite issue; however I leverage my old car during the weekdays, i.e. for going to work. I drive my LR3 primarily on weekends, i.e., dinner date and going to church. This way I save on gas as well as preserve the value of my vehicle.

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  Best SUV in the world!!! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By KROVER - November 11 - 11:10 pm

  SUV with character! I cannot describe how rock solid this vehicle feels. Build quality is excellent, feels like it was carved from stone.

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  Get ready to know your Service Manager - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By WarEagle Tiger - November 9 - 10:00 am

  I am a Lexus owner who decided to buy a the 2003 HSE and after owning it for 2+ years I would recommend staying away from this SUV if you are sensitive to dealership repair bills. The HSE is wonderfully appointed and a prize to drive, but it is very temperamental and with over 60 engine sensors- the service engine soon light goes on every three months. To add to this, the labor and parts charges are a college tuition bill. A heavy SUV that burns through brakes every 20K. Be forewarned it will cost you about $2K per year and the dealer will charge you $130 for an oil change.

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  Looks are great but maintenance is poor - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By T Joseph - November 9 - 10:00 am

  We purchased this vehicle in 07, warranty was still on the vehicle. Every since 07 I cant even keep track of how many times this SUV has been in the service dept. I dont know if its the manufacturer or the technicians that work at the dealership. on 3 different occasions I picked up the car and had to bring it back in less than an hour and it was always something different. pls purchase extended warranty if you plan on buying. Extremely poor maintenance.