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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  Feels good......so far. - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Mack1 - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my HSE for about 3 months now. So far I really enjoy the SUV. Im a little reserved with my review because im fearful something will happen to change my entire opinion. I was actually riding from the mall the weekend with my wife and had to sporatically comment on how nice and enjoyable the truck is to drive. I think I used the phrase "its a pleasure to drive" and her reply was actually.."its a pleasure to ride in also"... I guess that sums it up ....

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  To many problems - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By jsat - August 17 - 10:00 am

  I had the vehicle for a year and 1/2 and it’s been at the shop for than 45 days. The vehicle has had transmission problems from the first month. It’s been a horrible experience

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  2004 Range Rover - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By love my rover - August 12 - 5:53 am

  I am on my second Range Rover and I love it. The ride, handling, and performance are all excellent. I have owned the car for 1 year and have had no issues with my vehicle at all. It continues to be a pleasure to drive every day. I have driven and owned several luxury SUVs and I have yet to see another vehicle that feels anywhere near as solid and well built. I feel very safe behind the wheel. Despite being a large SUV, the car accelerates and brakes extremely well (far better than the older model) and handles much like a BMW. The car is awesome. It was an expensive truck but Ive never once regretted buying it.

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  awesome - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By amanda - August 11 - 2:00 am

  excellent it is a wonderful vehicle i would not trade it for the woprld

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  All Weather Champ - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By mneil - August 10 - 2:40 pm

  Bought this vehicle used from a non-LR dealer with 35k. It seems that many of these vehicles are now coming off lease and are good bargains, and may still be under warranty (like mine) for at least another year. Dealer has been very helpful. Vehicle is smooth, comfortable, and glides up snowy and slippery roads when other vehicles are left spinning their wheels (although the computer takes over and limits your ability to accelerate). I cant say enough good about this vehicle. It is a comfortable, all weather champion.

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  The drivers choice - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By ducati - August 8 - 2:00 am

  We compared the LR to the Jeep Liberty, Mazda Tribute, Honda CRV, Ford Escape, and Audi A4 Avant quattro. Out of those choices, only the Land Rover had excellent on-road manners (approaching that of a sport sedan) and off-road capability. It is truly an excellent blend for the real world user. I do think the dash is a bit ugly, but the quality of the leather (HSE) is 10 steps above the crap offered in the Liberty. For only a few more $$ than Liberty, and with 4.9% financing (3.9% for cloth S), this is the vehicle to own for those who like to drive. Interestingly enough, as we got down to our last drives, the Audi A4 Avant quattro was really the only competitor..

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  8 months into ownership - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Steve S. - August 8 - 2:00 am

  My 2010 Range Rover is currently sitting at the Hornburg Service center in Los Angeles for warped rotors. This will be the third time in less than 15,000 miles they have been replaced. The brakes are not worn down. I will be opening up a Lemon Law case against Range Rover because of this problem that apparently cannot be fixed. Service manager said my driving habits have cause the rotors to warp every 5,000 miles. My 2008 Range Rover never had any brake or warped rotor issues in the 22,000 miles i drove it for the year I owned it (purchased in 2009 and traded it in for the 2010 model. The other problems are too numerous to list hear. I am shocked and dismayed at Land Rover.

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  "Youll Stand out in a crowd" - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Art Teacher - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Drives and rides like a car but goes of road like a truck. This vehicle is much improved over the 2003 and earlier. If you are looking for a small SUV that gets 20+ miles to the gallon and can be easily maneuvered in a parking lot, this is it.

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  LR3 Review - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By zamer1230 - August 3 - 11:03 pm

  I just switched from a Mercedes 500 to the LR3 and while owning the LR3 may not be the most fun in the summertime... try getting thru a blizzard with it...youll be passing people as if it were flurrying out! The truck handles well for an SUV, and I have had most. The gas mileage is the only negative quality, but you are towing a great amount of weight daily...Kudos to the LR3!

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  The perfect Luxury SUV - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By KCRover - July 31 - 9:36 pm

  I had a Denali for 7 years and decided on the LR4 HSE. The more I drive it the more I love it. The interior quality is unmatched and the ride is impeccable. I love this ride.