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:

• 

  status - 2001 Land Rover Range Rover
  By broncoyianni - September 23 - 10:25 pm

  this is one of the most comfortable vehicles on the road, you feel like you are in charge and own the highway, it has some quirks, but what car doesnt, i feel very safe and that is a big factor in driving on the roads today, it is a driving dream, feel as though i could drive it coast to coast non-stop, the biggest thing is keeping up on maintenance, preventive is always the best way, get a feel for your rover, its a status symbol that you will always enjoy, mine has a 102,000 miles, going real strong, if you do buy one make sure the air ride is in place, a little maintenance, but the ride is worth it.

• 

  Warning Will Robinson! Danger! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Fed Up To Here! - September 21 - 6:46 pm

  As you can see by our rating we love everything except the reliabity. This car has been in the shop more than its been in our driveway! The LR3 was way over engineered. Keep the design and the luxury and get rid of the gizmos! Six computers? Come on guys! This car is so complex, the dealer couldnt figure it out! For example, the door locks lock and un lock at will. The stereo display will read total system shutdown, with the car running or not! All the dash lights will go out and the alarm will come on! On one accasion every warning light came on and the car quit and refused to start. Give me the car with a low range and a locking rear differantial and I would be happy.

• 

  So far so good - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Dot - September 20 - 1:16 pm

  Great car, but I really wish it had a remote tailgate. This is a heavy car and should have a rear hatch that opens and closes via remote. Also, Ive already been through 2 sets of brakes and tires. The dealership said this is normal. Ugh. A heavy car like the RR Sport really blows through the brake pads. I had them replaced less than a year ago and they are already squeaking. You can hear me braking from a mile away. Kind of embarrassing.

• 

  Disappointing Purchase - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By alias2 - September 20 - 2:00 am

  If you are considering this purhase stop...and test drive several Landrovers. I have been stranded by my 2002 Freelander with only 2200 miles at the time. It still does not ride well. A true disappointment and bad choice for this year.

• 

  Awesome Drive - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By New Owner - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased the Land Rover Freelander after looking at all the SUVs in its class (and test driving them). Not only did I find the Freelander the best in its class, but I also found the dealership to be quite impressive. Very up-front. No cheesie sales people here! The nice sales people and no stress atmosphere is what out me over the edge in getting the Freelander. No hassles. I know another satisfied customer as well who has had one longer. I review again after I have driven it a while. But right, now, I am very impressed.

• 

  Love it! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Rover Mom - September 19 - 4:33 am

  I bought this car brand new. I had an MB E Class. The Rover sport is cute seems a little small when all adults are in the vehicle. Ive been told the head rest are uncomfortable in the rear. I had a short in one of my headlights the 1st month I owned the car. I dropped it at the dealer they gave me a loaner, I picked it up 3 days later and never had the problem again. I just got rotors and brakes all around $1500, I never had such a high maintenance bill ever! I love the Rover sport I just wish it was a little more roomy, better on gas, and its a little slow to take off, have to work speed up. Im thinking about going to the full size HSE, but I wonder will it be worth it...

• 

  Better than the 2009s - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By NancyF - September 16 - 9:23 pm

  I have had this car for 4 years and put about 35000 miles on it have done my maint and have had very few issues with it. The Land Rover dealer here in Co is beyond great!I have looked at a lot of newer cars and suvs to trade to but the quality isnt there. Cheap interiors 2 that ,very cheap looking hate it..junk. As far as reliability its just as good as any chevrolet those have had issues 2 no ind suspension checked out infiniti did not care for there interior either! comparison doesnt hold a candle to Land Rover or Range Rovers int is amazing. And all cars have issues my dad was a mechanic for 40 years.. Not a car you buy even a Honda will not break down. MAINTENANCE!

• 

  Great little Landie - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By bryanmsi - September 14 - 10:00 am

  After reviewing nearly every small SUV, I thought the new Land Rover Freelander was the easy choice. Only a few thousand more than comparably-equipped Escape or Liberty but with features neither of them had, like traction control, steptronic transmission, and hill descent control. On road handling is simply awesome - this thing feels like a European sports car. Off road, it still feels like a mountain goat. I also love the quirky interior layout. It is refreshingly different from other vehicles on the road and really reminds you that you have a Land Rover.

• 

  Perfect size for Mom, Baby and Outdoors - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By cjm - September 14 - 10:00 am

  After my husbands safari-equipped Discovery and driving many traditional SUVs... the Freelander meets all of our needs WITHOUT the worry of fitting in a parking garage. Dollar for dollar the Freelander makes the most financial sense... It drives like a passenger car, has the off-road capability of its brothers and can handle a family of four with all the gear accordingly.... additionally, aside from the service you can expect to find associated with the Land Rover name it is always nice to know your vehicle is not another cookie-cut product found in every garage in America.

• 

  Giverny Green - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By fragras - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Quality and detail excellent. Very comfortable and loads of features. Not a high performance firecracker but easy to drive and handle.