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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  after a year, not a single problem... - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover
  By iainmc - February 2 - 9:46 pm

  I am very surprised (especially considering my previous experience with a 98 rr hse) that i have not had a single problem with my 2008 rr hse. Its been great.

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  Looks great but disappointed! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By udman2 - February 2 - 2:30 am

  Love the looks. Had to change out the Continental Tires that were stock. 3 of the 4 had side wall issues. Dealership said must be abuse but I am 46, driven all prior cars with no accidents, no abuse and have done nothing but normal with this vehicle. Chromed wheels at same time. Looks great. Went off=road 2 times into real estate development on new roads just cleared. Both times in area where several other vehicles had 0 problems the RRS had issues and damage underneath. CHEAP< CHEAP ALLUMINUM shield (not steel) just crumples if contact anything. Underside sits so low (even w/ veh in hi) had damage at 2 - 3 mph over cleared area. 0 issues with Suburban.

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  Best 4X4, not another SUV - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By charlypm - February 1 - 11:33 am

  This is my 2nd Disco, the first which we still own was purchased in 1996. This is quite different from the 96 in that it has more comfort features, tighter turning radius, and more aggressive look. Ive had almost zero problems with it after buying it used with 25000 miles and now having over 70000 miles. If I had a complaint it could only be the fuel mileage and it would be a minor complaint. The rig tows my trailer with no problem, hauls up hills easily and I never realized how stout this rig is until I borrowed a friends Dodge pick up. The Disco is every bit as heavy duty as the pick up ans actually handles the trailer much better. If I located another with lower mileage Id buy it.

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  All around suv, vince - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By vince - January 31 - 4:06 am

  I have tried all the suvs on the market and so far this is the best to date. You have all the capibilities and comfort for the money. I hope this high will last for many miles.

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  King of the road & sandpile - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Thrilled owner - January 30 - 8:43 pm

  This car does it all very well, it is fast, brakes and handles perfectly, and is the heavy weight champ of off- roading. It cleans up well for a night on the town but it looks just as well under 20 lbs. of mud.

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  Range Rover - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By smurf - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a beauty. Big but nice. My husband works for L.R. N.O, I get to see and ride in them all the time, I really like the new range rovers they look like the bubble eye Mercedes or Lexus.

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  Serpentine Belt replaced 6x in 1st 6 mos - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By unhappy at the disco - January 26 - 10:33 am

  I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. I have had to take it to the dealer for servicing 8 times in less than 8 months. Six times to replace the serpentine belt and the other two times because the check engine light was on. Can you imagine what this piece of junk will require when its a couple of years old?

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  Best in the world!!! - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Robert - January 23 - 2:13 am

  I have owned many SUVs!!! All imports. I had a cayenne for a very short time and an X5 for 2 years. I liked the BMW better than the Porsche but the Range rover has surpassed them both. I looked at these new redesigned models in 2003 and almost pulled the trigger but ended up with the BMW. It was fine but they are a little too common. I wanted something Big and comfortable with a timeless style. I think the Rover really fits the bill. This is the first purchase of a SUV...I have always leased in the past but I want to keep this one for a long while. It has everything I need. I was saddened to see someone trading off for an A8l...it is just a car afterall and audi is hammered on resell.

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  A beautiful can of problems - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By mwatson - January 21 - 1:43 am

  For the first four months I absolutely loved this vehicle. It is hands down the most beautiful SUV on the road. Then the front differential went out while driving down the highway. Then the steering wheel adjuster started going crazy and locking into its lowest position. Then some gasket wore out. And I am told I have to replace the brake pads pretty much every 10-15 thousand miles. And now the electronic air suspension stopped working. And I have owned the car for a little less than three years. It is, however, fun to drive, its a gorgeous car, and you can take it to the best restaurant in town or to the beach without feeling out of place. Would I buy another one? Probably.

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  Awesom double R - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Badbcd5312 - January 15 - 2:00 am

  my RR is awesome its the best car ive had. and ive had alot of high-end luxury cars