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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  Fun to Drive - 2009 Land Rover LR2
  By forester2 - July 31 - 7:26 pm

  This is a fun car to drive and is amazingly capable. It is truly a 4X4 and is not just a car with an all wheel drive attached. It handles like a sports car around town and a jeep off road. I have been driving 4X4s at work for near 35 years and cant believe how this rig takes all the drama out of muddy roads. This is a real 4X4 and Land Rover stuffed in about every technical option available somewhere into this high quality rig. No problems so far.

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  ultimate British SUV! - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By LRlover - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I just moved to the states from Kloof, South Africa, where Land Rovers are the staple off-road vehicle. They are dependable, long lasting vehicles (more than 80% of every Land Rover ever produced since 1948 is still running on the road today.) I had a 1990 Discovery Td5 which has been the best SUV I have ever owned, until the 2003 Range Rover. Land Rovers offer a unique owning experience that cant be described, you just have to own one to feel it! Drive this vehicle, and you will understand why these British SUVs are revered around the world, especially by the royal family.

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  Great Suv - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By AlfonsoKnoll - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Fun and practical for our family of 4.

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  Kings of the Road (and off)! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By LRlover - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I just moved to the states a few years ago from Kloof, South Africa, where Land Rovers are prevalent. I owned a 1990 discovery TD5 that took me all over the country. Even though I miss having a diesel, there was no other car I would have purchased! This brand is special, unique, and built for one purpose: being the best SUV on the planet! And believe me, these vehicles can go anywhere--trust me, I have!

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  Finally paid for & it died! - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Mary - July 29 - 11:33 pm

  Three weeks after we bought it NEW - it blew a head gasket. Dealer of course fixed it but it never had the initial power quality again. Then the many recalls -overheating - then the hill descent started coming on at inappropriate times - dealer could not find anything wrong - dash lights flashing - tires wearing out much too quickly/noisy. Finally paid it off & at 75,000 miles the transmission goes. Anyone needs parts?? Oh thats right - there arent any worth selling!!!

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  the best on/off road truck i ever seen - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By blake - July 28 - 4:26 pm

  this truck is outstanding. it feels like u are connected to the road, there is no engine sound, u cant even feel the bumps on the road. it goes over it with confidence. i love the way it sits high and the comfort in the inside, and i love this truck and i am pleased that im a land rover owner

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  Love it, bought another - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By michaels family - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Great on-road ride, good for commuting - stable, quiet, smooth, plenty of power. Off-road beach driving is a dream, barely know youre off-road. Styling, both ext and int, is right up our alley - conservative yet modern, comfortable, masculine but not over- the-top.

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  Outstanding vehicle - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By WELKA - July 21 - 8:43 pm

  I have owned my LR3 for 9 months now and have had not one problem. My dealership held one of its offroad events and you would not believe what these things can do. The biggest thing was after we finished doing some serious offroading, we road home in awesome comfort. Land Rover could not have done a better job of designing an interior space. Everything seems to be perfectly placed.

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  the worst car i ever owned - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By camille defilippo - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car two years ago and have been in the dealership 10 times with simialr problems.

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  I Love This Truck - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Peter Taylor - July 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a truck - not a sedan! Dont make the mistake of confusing the two! This truck has been, over the past two years, simply the best handling, capable and fun to drive vehicles I have ever owned/driven. It handles very well on any surface, in any weather. The ride quality is superb! Easy to drive, it takes care of you. Ive found myself in precarious situations and have made it through unscathed! With plenty of power and pickup, Ive a confident feeling in any situation. To anyone who daily drives the DC streets, the offroad features make this vehicle a dream as it makes its way, effortlessly, through arguably the worse streets in the nation.