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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  Glad we bought it - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By LRSC - October 28 - 11:30 pm

  We are very happy with the LR3. It hauls our sail boat, take us off road to remote camp sites and gets us to the snow in comfort and style. The interior is very comfortable and suits our taste. We find the third row seats to be useful and comfortable for adults. It has been in the shop twice. The first involved a failed rear locker. The dealers response was excellent. They swapped a rear end from an LR3 on their lot and got us back on the road within a couple of days. The second failure was a compressor. It was on back order but was fixed as soon as it arrived. No other problems. If it continues to run well we will be happy. We plan to keep it for a long time.

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  Range Rover Sport Rocks - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By mmec - October 26 - 6:10 pm

  If youre looking for an SUV that drives as smooth as a luxury sedan, handles like a sports car, plush interior, and is a real off road vehicle...look no further then the Range Rover Sport. Best in its class, best on the road

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  Poor Quality/Poor service - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By doobie856 - October 25 - 11:13 pm

  I own a 2004 RR and in the time that I have owned it, it has been a constant problem. I had a problem with the recall service that was completed on the vehicle 2 years ago and LR simply said that it was not there issue and that I would have to eat the cost. Within 2 years I am having to replace the front differential and drive shaft, after LR said it was properly replaced. Understand, I do not off-road my vehicle, or take it through any type of rough terrain. I believe that the quality of product (parts) and service are very poor and not worth the money. For those of you looking to purchase one, I would consider alternatives.

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  Lets try this again! - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By doc1899 - October 21 - 4:43 pm

  First I would like to apologize to anyone who purchased a Range Rover based on my first review. I should have waited more than a month to write it. Im actually on my 2nd 2010 RR HSE because I had way too many issues with the first one. My dealer was kind enough to get me into a new one with no hassle. HOWEVER- Ive owned the second vehicle for a little over a week and it has already been back to the shop for an equipment failure. I fear that 90k just went straight down the drain.

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  What a Difference! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By SCEMARINO - October 20 - 7:46 pm

  I just traded in my 2003 Discovery for the new LR3 HSE. Everything about this car is an improvement. It is so much easier and quieter to drive. More room and tons of extras - it will take me weeks to figure it all out! Glass roof lets in tons of light. Seats are way more comfortable and the back seats are much improved too.

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  My nightmare is over - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By That was a nightmare - October 18 - 12:23 pm

  Here is what you need to know about the Freelander. It is different from all other Land Rovers and you cant get it serviced anywhere but the dealership. Shops that advertised they worked on Land Rover would not work on my Freelander. They dont make engines for them anymore. It cost me $400 to get a window fixed that was stuck down. I traded it in for $7,000, bought a Hyundai, and literally cried with relief to be done with this vehicle. Land Rover to Hyundai and never been happier. Please do not purchase this vehicle. No power, terrible gas mileage, terrible and expensive service. Be smarter than I was.

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  GR8 SUV - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jad - October 17 - 10:00 am

  i have driven many cars but this is one of the most fun to drive it might look small but just get inside one of them its great. you have all you need from leather seats to sunroofs to everything .. you even have 2 glove compartments one on each side..overall its a great car

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  Nothing but trouble - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By hhr1owner - October 17 - 4:43 am

  I bought this SUV with 60k miles and now its got 65K and I had spend over 3k in repairs. The timing belts and all the components on the front of the engine. Now the fuel pump which is going to be over a thousand. It has been nothing but expensive. I wouldnt suggest this vehicle at all. Unless you got the time and money to keep in the shop. I am selling right after the fuel issue is fixed.

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  Love my dirt demon - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Paul - October 14 - 10:50 am

  I am a little biased here, I used to be a sales manager for Land Rover so know that up front when reading this. I do love love love my disco. This is my 4th Rover (98 Disco, 2x 03 Freelanders (his in black and hers in Red), 03 Disco), and Ive never been disapointed. The thing about the Discovery is that you have to understand what it is before you buy it and be ok with what it is and what it isnt. What it is: - The ultimate off-road vehicle, go anywhere anytime for any reason. - IMO, tough. Ive never had a big problem with any of mine, but then again I do my service and repairs (most dont!) - Expensive What it isnt: - A Mercedes-Benz - Fuel efficient - For everyone

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  Bad All Over - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Bad over - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Nice 4wd, nice change for 2003. Car has humming noise, similar to gear noises around 50-70 MPH. People either seem to like it or think its ugly. Drinks gas like an gasoholic. why is it so hard to stick the key in the ignition? Bad dealers attitudes. I had better treatment at BMW, and infinity dealers.