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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  Incredible Vehicle - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By njlr3hseguy - May 17 - 6:23 pm

  Love the command driving position and the seats in my new LR3 HSE. This is my first LandRover vehicle and I really enjoyed the purchase process and the dealership. Being a previous Lexus customer I am very impressed with the LandRover philosophy in treating their customers. My local Lexus dealership has lost its "halo" and I think their success is harming their ability to treat customers as well as they used to. Thank goodness there are choices in the marketplace and I am so far very pleased with my new vehicle and the dealership. They know you as a name not a number.

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  Stay away!! - 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport
  By neverbuyLR - May 15 - 3:30 pm

  I have had this car into the dealer several times starting with a coolant leak, failed water pump, computer system failures. The dealer didnt do all the work they said they did or the problems I had, wouldnt have happened. One cylinder lost compression at 58,000 miles with no warning. Dealer says needs a new engine that will cost $21K. But, they have no idea what broke. Car isnt even two years old. Land Rover and dealership customer service is horrorific compared to my previous experiences with dealerships. Then even stuck me with the rental car bill and towing bill after they took 5 days to tell me anything. I am now stuck trying to unload this car at a loss. This car is like a hot guy with no brains... looks good on the outside, but cant go the distance.

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  So far, so good ! - 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Eric - May 15 - 10:00 am

  I have never owned a Range Rover or SUV, but I traded in my 2006 BMW 330I for a new 2011 Range Rover Sport. So far, so good. I did a lot of research online and I know Range Rovers have had some issues in the past, but I decided to give it a try. I am pleasantly surprised so far, however, I have only owned it for one month. I like the ride and overall feeling, plus the 375 hp gives it some pep when you hit the gas, which has been reassuring. I like the overall look and my kids seem to enjoy climbing in and out of it. I will update my comments after a few more months of ownership.

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  I regret buying this car - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Nela Alvarez-Sotomay - May 12 - 6:20 pm

  I always wonder if its going to work when I start it. Things that have gone wrong with this vehicle are: New Brakes (twice @ $800), Wipers, Air Bags, Fuel line, Radio

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  Definitely NOT worth it - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By CA Driver - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Cant say too many good things about this car. Price comparison was similar to an S-Class - should have bought the S-Class! Resale value is extremely poor - it been less than 4 yrs and the re-sale price has already dropped 60%. Cant even sell it if I want to - too much of a loss! Technology was really old when I bought it compared to available technology at the time. Unless you are into serious off-roading...its defintely NOT worth the money.

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  Not an SUV - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By FCJHNewYork - May 11 - 2:00 am

  The mistake people make is that Land Rover makes "ATVs" not SUVs. This is a great one, made by the master. Its designed for people that love to move with the road. It may look small, but get inside this one. More room than you can imagine. Just sit in this one, and test drive it you will want to own one. Priced very well for a Rover. Well build and sealed (nothing gets inside, any where).

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  Fun and comfortable! I love it! - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By LoveMyLR4 - May 7 - 2:13 pm

  I got it yesterday and cant get out of the car! Always wanted a LR3 but was stuck on a lease and then decided to wait a few month for the arrival of the LR4. Looked at the GL-450 and the Q7 and was tempted by their diesel option, but the LR4 offered the best value, the best ride and a very quiet cabin. Its very spacious inside but not big and bulky. I got the Lux Package. Its fun to drive and very comfortable.

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  Range Rover Review - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By George Jordan - May 7 - 2:53 am

  The range rover is a comfortable vehicle that is quite fun to drive. Also makes quite the statement driving around town.

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  Buyer beware - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By tbone1 - May 6 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a fully loaded Range Rover and after only 1,200 miles it is back at the dealership with the following. Electrical problems, Frame problems, Steering colum, Trans warning light and shutdown, Not starting and many more. And if that was not enough the dealership and Land Rover wont replace the car. I had to hire two law firms to assist and the problem is still not close to being resolved. For the money you pay for this car you would think Land Rover would bend over to help, but no way. Then they are owned by Ford

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  This truck talks the rest walk - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By lisa123482 - May 4 - 3:43 am

  My Land Rover Lr3 now has 100,600 miles and going strong. I just out secound set of tires on it. I have had 2 alignments and finally one tune-up. Three brake jobs and nothing else. I just had a front Rover Winch installed and a Rover Push bar. I will drive this 05 LR3 to at least 200,000 miles. Its the most comfartable truck I have ever owned. I have changed all fluids and ready for the next 100,000 miles. I will still change engine oil every 5,000 miles and then junk the truck at 200,000 miles at which time well owe me nothing. At aprox. eight years old by then well have cost me about 7,000 dollars a year for the vehicle itself. This is a joke because if I keep it 10 years the cost well even be lower!