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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  Great Vehicle when it works - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By AT - October 12 - 2:10 pm

  We love the car when it works, great to drive, excellent interior room and function. However, weve had 4 major problems in the last 9 months along with a few minor ones.

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  Missed some details....but a great truck - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Bammer - September 16 - 12:36 pm

  Ive had my LR3 for four months, having traded in a Range Rover. Overall Im happy with the car, but there are some ponderous details they overlooked, like you have to hold the wipers away from the window while washing. You need three hands to wash the windows. The lack of front tilt on the seats is ridiculous as has been mentioned before. Ive added mud flaps because the wheel wells dont catch anything the tires run through. The black door panels "chalk" in less than a week, turning a whitish hue which no amount of cleaning seems to stop. The radio accessory plug in the rear of the center console???? I carry my iPod in front not in back, so I had to snake a cable to the front.

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  High cost to maintain - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By DES - September 7 - 5:43 pm

  I got my LR about 2 years ago. The reason I traded in my 96 Cherokee was I was worried it was going to start costing too much in repairs. Should have stuck it out because I have spent around $1000 already on my Freelander which is probably more than I would have spent on my Cherokee and I didnt have a car payment. I have had the brake pads and rotors replaced twice already. The dealer says it is normal for the Freelander because of the weight. Not good. Also the windshield wipers stopped working. Drivers side in a snow storm and passenger side in the pouring rain. No big deal to fix, but not a good sign of quality in my opinion. Wish I had driven my old Cherokee for a few more years.

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  At last... - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By 3stripes - September 2 - 2:00 am

  This has been a dream car of mine for years. Have always liked its unique design and rugged features. Surprised to find my wife likes driving it as much as I do. Toddler loves the view from her seat. You must like British styling to overlook many of the comforts available from lower priced competitors. I love it.

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  Good on everything but milage! - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By CocoandBobo - August 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is great and well worth the extra money! Compare to Jeep Liberty, Toyota Rav4 and you will see that the Land Roover is SUPERIOR!

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  LR3 for me............. - 2009 Land Rover LR3
  By 2 Timer Land Rover - August 19 - 4:16 am

  After evaluating many mid-sized suvs, I decided on the 09 LR3 HSE. White/Blk. I just like the solid feel of these suvs. I drove the new LR4, I kinda like the utilitarian interior of the LR3.....plus about $14,000 less. My wife has an 07 LRRR, 50,000 miles and not one problem. Because of our experience with the RR, I felt good about the LR3 purchase. Gas mileage on the larger RR is 16 city & 21 hwy, I assume the LR3 will be the same. I hunt/fish so I will use the off-road ability this suv. Dealer came off $10,000 off sticker. Full maint. on the 09 not on the LR4. Look forward to happy miles like we have had with the Range Rover.

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  Wonderful Truck - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Scott Griebel - August 16 - 5:06 pm

  Despite its love it or hate it looks, the truck is very solid and luxurious. It has a more comfortable ride than any car I have driven. Very quiet on the highway.

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  Garbage RRS - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Garbage RRS - August 15 - 4:56 am

  Great looking RRS, but this car stinks in reliability! 390 horses and it doesnt feel like it. I got smoked by a BMW X5 4.8is. I tell you, who ever thinks this car is some kind of performance machine, is a fool. I have had this thing in the shop for half of the time Ive owned it. Garbage! Traded it in and bought a 2006 BMW X5 4.8is. Now this is a car. Talk about having some B-lls!

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  Freelander S 2002 White - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By cophotog - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Tight little SUV and fun to drive. Needs more cargo space though.

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  Purpose built - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By bgsntth - August 4 - 8:50 am

  Have 10K on our LR3, and in that time it has seen duty on/off-road, snow, soccer mom stuff, and as a surf vehicle. The third-row seat is amazing for its room and comfort. The rear cargo area is like an enclosed pick-up. The ride is smooth and rarely bottoms- out, though the handling is somewhat ponderous and could benefit from the Dynamic Response System in the RRS. Off- road it is, of course, amazing. I took 6 people on an off-road tour, which included a 30 degree slope ascent over loose dirt. We use the air suspension daily for loading, extra suspension travel over speed bumps, and warding off door dings in combination with the side-steps. It is ungainly in appearance, but ungodly practical.