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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  You havent lived until you own a LAnd R - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Nancy M - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I have LOVED this little SUV. It is dependable and fun to drive. I also own a 2002 Mercedes and like driving my Land Rover just as much. If anyone is thinking about buying a Land Rover Freelander, you wont be disappointed. They have all the bells and whistles and I havent had any problems to date. I purchased it from a Salesman named Kevin in Asheville, NC. Dealing with Land Rover in Asheville and Kevin was a pleasant dealing. You havent lived until you own a LAnd Rover! :-)

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  Lets do it again - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By TAH - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Our 2003 Discovery is the second one weve leased. The 2003 is much quieter than the 2000 model we had before. My wife insisted on another although my blazer can carry more in the rear. They include the scheduled maintenance now.

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  Fun - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By white51254 - November 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is great - if its for you. My wife and I are young, no kids, but have a very large dog. We live in the midwest, so theres lots of snow in the winter and its hot in the summer. This car is perfect. Tons of storage with the seats folded down. Handles like a low-end sports car. And the 2004 had the interior improved to make it more Land Roverish. The outside was dramatically improved as well, it looks more like a Range Rover now. Just owning this car makes you want to drive it.

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  Back on the map - 2009 Land Rover LR2
  By Thorsten - November 19 - 4:50 am

  A great car and great value for your money. So far I had no issues, the car feels well build and I love to drive it. For an SUV you can drive it very sporty (has enough power)without feeling uncomfortable or unsafe. The stereo system (Alpine Dolby Surround)is fantastic, bluetooth connects right away to any of my phones (con: could be louder). Navigation is terrific but the updates are very pricey. The breaks are great (I have the 19" wheels) and the engine sounds awesome, Fuel economy is great on average 14-16 mpg city, 23-26 mpg highway (what do you expect it is an SUV). In summary it is a great all- round vehicle, which puts Land Rover back on the map

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  My LR3 - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Vivina - November 14 - 7:30 pm

  This our first Land Rover, and we founded to be excellent suv, It takes curves beautifully. We are very pleased with it, we drove to Florida over the spring holiday and its very comfortable and roomy.

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  LR2 - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By obie - November 6 - 10:06 am

  Drives like a car,very quiet. Turns on a dime and can tow 3600 pounds with trailer with brakes. A fun luxury SUV

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  RRS S/C 4 ME!! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By midwesting - November 1 - 4:00 pm

  Fast,nimble,handles like a sports car with true off road ability that few other SUVs can match. Chose the RRS S/C over the Cayenne and could not be happier. SIRIUS,Bluetooth,NAV,active HID headlights,headrest monitors with DVD changer,heated seats - completely loaded. Gas mileage needs improvement but I didnt buy it for gas mileage.

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  Its not just the cupholders - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Arch North - October 30 - 12:36 pm

  We love our LR3 just because its a great car to drive. Its unbelievably smooth on the highway due to the air suspension, and a push of a button raises it for off road driving. The engine barely makes a sound when its idling, and is matched with the transmisson so nicely that you barely feel feel it shift. The sound of the engine under accelleration is symphonic! Weve owned the car for about a year and a half now, and still feel like were going on vacation every time we get into it.

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  Coolest SUV ever! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Josh14109 - October 28 - 2:00 am

  The SE3 is Amazing. The whole idea of a convertable SUV is such a great idea. Ive never been much of a Land Rover fan but they sure won me over with this one!

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  Thank you Land Rover! - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By u2fan1967 - October 27 - 1:00 pm

  Just picked up a Stornoway Gray, Ebony Interior with the cold Pack. Had it for 3 weeks and absolutely love it. Ive owned 3 Jeep Grand Cherokees, 2 Audis and an Acura TSX and this has been the most fun to own and drive. Handles like a dream and to me the performance is just fine. In Sport Mode rocks! Dont be fooled by the motor trend article that criticizes the perf. Plus the breaking and handling of this SUV is wonderful. Great value when you consider a Toyota Rav4 Limited w/Leather and sunroof runs $30k. The LR2 with cold pack is $34. The X3 was way over priced and the RDX was way to harsh like my TSX was. I wanted smooth and posh, now I got it in style! Thank you Land Rover!