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 SUV! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Brianeshen - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Luxury and brand recognition at an affordable price. No need to shovel if you own this.

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  Our dream suv !! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By MGB - September 17 - 8:36 pm

  Could not be happier with this purchase. I traded in my BMW X5 4.4 toward the purchase of this and I am so pleased to have done so. Never thought a Land Rover would drive even better than a BMW! The whole family loves it. The Best SUV I have ever owned. (Have owned 9 Previously). This vehicle is incredibly well engineered. Serious Curb Appeal! Cant Wait to take the first long trip with it. Only Problem with it is you dont realize how fast you are moving in a nearly 6000 LB vehicle because it is so smooth and quiet.

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  4.6 HSE, Love it! - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Keith - September 17 - 6:43 pm

  Reliable so long as it is maintained. Diesel would be ideal but not available in North America!! Fuel economy for a v8 truck is pretty good at about 18mpg combined and 25mpg hwy. Offroad performance which is a reason for my purchase is phenomenal and this is proven, living in Salmon Arm British Columbia. Overpriced but just buy a year-old unit, then it is a steal!

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  I love my LR2 - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By RoverGal - September 14 - 2:36 am

  My LR2 is the very first one to be shipped into the US market-Numero Uno. Owned it since April of 2007. All that time, Ive had no major problems. A hot restart problem that was fixed right away by the dealer A couple of rattles that were also fixed right away. The car is incredibly comfortable for me to drive, avg 25 MPG on my daily 44 mi commute, is reliable, and can traverse even the worst of the Vermont "mud season" ruts (measured at 14") with ease. It looks sexy in Stornoway Gray with the black leather interior, woodgrain trim, and all the options. Im sorry others are suffering through "first year" syndrome for this. Ive treated mine like a baby and she loves me back!

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  Land Rover for me - 2008 Land Rover LR3
  By upstate ny lr3 - September 10 - 12:43 pm

  Have 2008 Lr3 HSE, only problems are a seatbelt in the back seat and the refrig, replaced and working fine. Live where the snow flies 5-6 months of the year, Lr3 is a beast in the snow. Love to embarrass my two buds with hummers, not even in the same class. This SUV is not to drive to the mall or g-store. Love to drive this car, went on trip to florida with two kids.....great. The gas mileage was expected averaged 21mpg on highway. The car makes me walk funny, built like a tank.

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  Love the Truck - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By dpscraig - September 9 - 2:00 am

  The best way for me to describe the vehicle is it is first and foremost a truck. Yes, It is definitely capable beyond most wanna-be 4 wheel drive vehicles. My wife and I purchased the Discovery because of its unbelievable off-road capabilites. We may never use all of its capabilities, but it does provide great comfort when travelling in erroneous conditions.

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  My Freelander - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By elfie - September 7 - 10:00 am

  The best car buying experience I have ever had. Even servicing the car is enjoyable. Major kudos for having such a professional and pleasant network of dealerships and employees.

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  4x4xFAR - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Robert - September 6 - 8:36 pm

  I have had my new disco se7 for 12 days now, and I cant get enough it yet! Took it to the Sand dunes and it handled pretty awesome. I always wanted a 4x4, this is my first, and I hope I never have to change from a Land Rover ever. Double sunroof is a plus, leather all around looks great. 12 speakers sound like a party inside. 6 cd changer cool. The list goes on and on. I hope I never have anything bad to say as months come around.

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  Zero Defects - 2008 Land Rover LR3
  By Underated in reviews - September 6 - 5:00 pm

  This is my 2nd LR3 and the best vehicle Ive had. Ive had absolutely zero defects on this vehicle. I leased it, but am about to buy off the lease, its that good. One thing I cannot understand is how the reviews always comment on quality. The quality of these vehicles is awesome.

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  Best SUV around - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By geoffsam - September 4 - 10:00 am

  Love this car.....far superior to Jeep, Explorer, Lexus, Navigator...all of which I have owned. Only the GPS system and radio are terrible...must be improved. Big gas guzzler