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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  Testament to its toughness - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By msn619 - November 6 - 8:19 pm

  As we all know right now the mid west and east cost are on blizzard watch and accidents are all over the city and I was not exception, I was on a stop light waiting to turn left when a sliding car hit me head on maybe around 20mph, I was ok thankfully my 2 yrs old was not with me. His passat was wreaked and my 00 discovery II was badly damaged but no oil or coolant leak, I was able to drive home 10 miles after all that. For 8yrs my discovery II never left me stranded, as long as I keep up with maintenance, she was good to me.

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  Its a great car if you have the funds - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Rovering - November 2 - 6:36 pm

  I bought my truck in November 2000. It was a special edition, in which 25 were made (125 were planned, but 25 only made it out). I love the car, plan on driving it into the ground, however it still is a Range Rover. To begin with Rovers are not well known for their reliability. It isnt the question of whether you have a good one or a bad one, it is more like I have a bad one or a less bad one. So far during my ownership, I have replaced a fair amount, about $10,000 worth of work since new. I also know that since I came out of warranty, I need to put in about $4-5k. I would avoid a Range Rover and go Japanese, unless a Land Rover/Range Rover is a must have

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  Love hate relationship - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Russ - October 30 - 3:13 pm

  This car is excellent on streets, but it ends there. Horrible reliability and it can barely go over a pothole. Its simple to fix to- Front and rear differentials! Go with the G Class instead.

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  Dont believe the (negative) hype - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By DaTB - October 27 - 12:03 am

  We bought this truck a few years ago as a b-day present to replace my husbands aging 01 RR 4.6 HSE. After buying several brand new and slightly used cars, I decided upon a pre-owned, still-under-warranty 05 RR (which is THEE way to go since you let others pay $30k more for the same vehicle to determine if its solid, or a lemon). And this beast is one impressive machine: its amazingly torquey and can induce whiplash if youve got a heavy foot, it has a cavernous interior, gigantic, ultra-comfortable seats, intuitive and well laid out touch screen, insane, gale-force A/C, and unsurpassed build integrity. But, it is anemic at speeds above 30mp & could use a few more tech features. Love it!

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  Durning 1st Year of Ownership - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By 2006_rrs - October 17 - 7:00 pm

  This is a great vehicle inside out. I love the look of the RRS. Customer Services were great at both location in S. CA area. Problems that I had during my 1st year of ownership: Suspension Faults, compressor problems, Tailgate struts failure, Brakes squeeks after a few thousand miles, Engine Light comes on often, car shuts off by itself very often, Clicking Noise when making turns, rough transmission shifting at low speed, Spent 40+ days in shop. When vehicle is out of the shop: turns head, nice sound system with 6 cd changer that plays MP3. Est. 170 songs per CD. Nice driving position, Air Suspension, Touchscreen Navi & Radio is separate on dash. A++.

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  Big Chunk of Cash...Big Chunk of Truck - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By HectorD - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Having always wanted a Rover, Im thrilled with this one. It is among the most beautiful SUVs on the market. Its off-road capabilities can be matched by only an H1, but this is a far more practical vehicle for everyday driving. Despite poor fuel economy, I have no complaints about this vehicle.

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  A truly special car!! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By twisties4me - October 15 - 11:23 pm

  Great Car!! Most misunderstood car out there. If youre not into having maintenance done then buy one of those look alike disposable cars, do not buy a Landrover. Excellent on-road or off. In 115k miles I certainly have not had any of the nightmarish leaks and electrical problems that Im reading about, but then, Ive owned it since new and maintain it, with much affection I might add. Ive never ceased to be amazed with the quality of the switch gear etc. which we have BMW to thank for. The car is as solid as a rock! Stangely enough, for such a tall ride, it also handles rather nicely too. I love my Landy!

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  Ultimate Luxury SUV - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By nina abdo - October 13 - 1:03 pm

  Great luxury car. Doesnt feel like youre driving an SUV. Love all the extra special features.

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  satisfied with my landrover - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By sherry heverly - October 12 - 7:03 am

  i bought my freelander off the showroom floor, love at first sight!, it is my first suv and i bought it mostly for my dogs, who travel with me daily. all in all it is reliable. there have been some english quirks, but it starts up every day and gets me to work and i love the style and handling. the quirks have been, a recalled engine at 35,000 miles, brakes that squeal, it does go through brake pads quickly.but i am still satisfied with it.

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  a great drive - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By luvmyrover - October 6 - 10:33 pm

  This is my second Range Rover. My first was a 1995. Love the new body style. The drive is fantastic. It is equal to sitting in a barcalounger and the view out the windows is your tv. It is one of the smoothest vehicles that I drive. I travel 11/2 miles on dirt road, and you would never know I have left the pavement. I have had a few unusual mechanical problems; however the dealership has taken great care of me. Will most likely buy a 2006 or 07.