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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  SUV for a BMW driver - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Karen&Mark - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Im a Former BMW 528i Touring owner and feel at home in this Range Rover. BMWs hand is everywhere and it completes what british heritage was aiming for - the most capable off road, the most luxurious, and suprisingly enjoyable to drive on road. At a year old and 20,000 miles it has had 0 problems.

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  Hot fun in the summertime - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By ADM HALSEY - May 21 - 4:46 am

  So far, this vehicle is all it can be. The steering and brakes are excellent, ditto for overall handling & response at all speeds. The sweet spot for maximum MPG on the highway is around 66-67 mph - I have cruised to the tune of 22.7+ MPG. Just dont drive like a fool around town and you may inch to 16 MPG. Nothing major to take issue with, aside from petty annoyances that were more than answered on the web site - excellent training videos for all aspects of the car. I came to aquire this car through a series of fortunate events, had I paid the full $62,000 I might be singing a different tune. I have driven many vehicles since 1970, now I get it about LR. Nice car if you can afford.

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  LOVE IT - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By MONTY - May 11 - 10:00 am

  iT S LIKE DRIVING AROUND ON YOUR SOFA. THERE IS NOTHING AS COMFORABLE TO DRIVE AND THE ABILITY TO SEE EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS FANTASTIC. I WILL FOREVER HAVE A RANGE ROVER IN MY GARAGE

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  Simply the best - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By nutty123 - May 10 - 12:08 am

  This is my 5th Range Rover and by far the best. I still get that buzz every time I climb into the drivers seat. Comfort is absolutely outstanding, in fact there isnt a seat in the house that is as comfortable. The smooth gear change, build quality, and the envious looks you get from other drivers says it all. Those little extras like heated steering wheel, parking sensors front and rear, and TV make it special. I have the LPG conversion which means that in real terms I get the equivalent of about 40 mpg which is amazing for a car of this size and quality. Quite simply the best 4 x 4 in the world.

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  My second 06 rover - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By e owen - May 9 - 8:10 pm

  I have owned two of these cars in the last 10 years, about 3-4 years each and both experiences were wonderful! The first had a failed suspension at about 95k mile and that was the worst thing to happen to either. Finding an independent mechanic that understands these cars is key to maintaining them economically ... I purchased the first off a three year lease with about 25k miles and drove it to 100k. I paid 34,000 and sold it four years later for 19k. The second had 60k miles, paid 21,000 and it currently has 130k miles. If I sell it for 8000.00, and add all the maintenance cost and depreciation, my total cost of ownership not including fuel and insurance will be under 430.00 per month or .26 per mile. I think these are great numbers for any car let alone a high end lux mobile... My daughters Prius has not done as well ( but way better on gas). If I "just got lucky", I got lucky twice since my first 06 had similar numbers even with the suspension fix. I also averaged just over 20 mpg on the highway! I love these cars... Ive also owned a 1990, 95 Range Rover (really bad) a 2001 disco and a 2005 sport (both bought new) and I can say that the 06 range rover is by far the best of the lot from my experience, and one of the best vehicles Ive owned (136 and counting).

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  you get what you pay for - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By sprsnic - May 7 - 3:16 am

  Yes this SUV is one of the most expensive in its class, but you get what you pay for. Great looks, good power, comfortable, and a killer stereo. This Land Rover does not disappoint.

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  Glad I bought one! - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By mac6115cd - May 5 - 10:00 am

  When shopping for an off-road vehicle, I wanted one that was actually built for off-road use and would hold onto its value. The Land Rover Freelander has met all of my expectations and the dealer has been superb. I could use a bit more head room (Im 6 3"), but other than that, Im very pleased.

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  Nice All Around - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Broskay - May 3 - 8:46 am

  I have always wanted a RRS mainly because of its good looks. I decided against buying the 09 model because I considered it not technologically up to date. My 2005 Infiniti FX 35 came with a back up camera, which was still missing in the RRS as at last year. They sure did make up for all the short comings this time around. I really dont have a lot of problems with the fact that the exterior is not significantly differentiated from the old model. Ive always considered the exterior look beautiful.I get to take it on a drive to Tennessee this weekend for Thanksgiving and Im sure it is going to be a fun ride based on what Ive experienced cruising around town so far. The drive is really smooth

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  LR2 - Excellent for new families! - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Duane - April 16 - 4:00 pm

  The LR2 is the perfect car for someone who is expecting their first child or travels out of the city. The cabin fits 5 passengers comfortably with a good amount of room for storage. The engine provides enough power, but does not perform like a sports car. The issue is whether that is what you are looking for. The fuel economy is fine, if you learn how to drive the engine. The LR2 is a great buy combined with the Land Rover no service charge for scheduled maintenance and other premium services such as road assistance are included with purchase.

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  Super Duper Charged - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Freddie - April 10 - 3:20 pm

  After one week of driving this car, i am amazed at what it can do. The performance and handling are amazing. I looked at other performance SUVs and I know I made the right choice. The truck is fully loaded and is fun to drive. You have the feeling of complete control while driving.