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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  2007 Range Rover HSE - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Mike - May 5 - 5:03 pm

  I have owned many cars - including many luxury SUVs (07 Escalade, 06 Discovery, etc.). I am forced to compare this vehicle to the 07 Escalade AWD that I owned. As far as comfort goes - the Rover is more comfortable for the front passengers, but not as comfortable for the rear passengers as the Escalade. This is mainly due to the lack of being able to recline or adjust the rear seat. As far as driveability - the Rover wins hands down. The Escalade would toss the occupants left and right through corners - the Rover is very solid. As far as power - even though the Escalade boasts 400+hp - I feel they are very close in power.

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  Just got it - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By newguy9 - April 30 - 3:30 am

  Just got it 4 days ago & love it. The gas millage is brutal, but love the truck! Cant believe that there are no floormats- thats crazy!

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  Buyers Beware - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jocita - April 28 - 10:00 am

  Filed Lemon Law on my vehicle! Ashamed that I had to give the vehicle up after a year. Had to take car over 13 times for brake squeak and got fed up. Electrical problems: Wipers ,back window, & radio shorted out. Back seat had annoying squeak when rode over bumps. Dealer could not fix problems. When shifting automatic, it was easy get gear shifter to get stuck between D & 4 on the gear shifter.

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  Great compact SUV! - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By zipdedoda4 - April 21 - 2:00 am

  Great fully-loaded SUV if youre not willing to cough up the $40,000 for the X3. Ive had it for about 8 months and still havent had any problems. Love it!

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  8 MONTHS INTO MY DISCO - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By JSEA2 - April 14 - 10:00 am

  I FIRST WROTE WEEKS AFTER PICKING UP MY 03 DISCO. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED. RELIABLE , SOLID RIDE, ALL SEEMS TO BE HOLDING UP WELL. DONT KNOW IF I WOULD GET ANOTHER ONE THOUGH. COMFORT LEVEL NEEDS A BOOST!! A "RANGE" WOULD BE THE NEXT BEST THING, BUT THE STICKER IS KILLING ME!!!!

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  City Range Rover 2000 SE - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By T. Sharrock - April 6 - 7:33 am

  My wifes car. She loves the great visibility from the Range Rover. Interior finish is top notch. Plenty of cargo space for hauling all of the trinkets from the shopping trips. Nice sound system. Car looks rugged but not flashy.

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  Special car - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Tom d - March 30 - 2:00 am

  This is my second RR and the 2010 model is a big step up in power and ride. Trips to distant hockey rinks are a joy. When you exit this car after a long trip you feel great because th ride is extraordinary. The power is simply amazing. Yes expect a few gremlins. We have had the back up camera replaced twice and I do think the bluetooth is relatively weak. This car is special. People who can afford this car can buy any SUV, don t think they drive RR just for prestige. It is truly unlike any other!

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  You will get noticed! Great 4X4 - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Rover owner - March 27 - 4:16 am

  I have loved owning my Range Rover. I can tow our boat behind, put a canoe on top, and drive in comfort down the highway. My kids and I love to take it off road. It really can go anywhere the tires can get traction. I have not had any breakdowns with it, however I do maintain my Range Rover religiously. If you are thinking of buying one of these make sure you get a certified Land Rover preowned with a complete warranty. They are very expensive to repair and maintain. My Range Rover is well worth the money- it is the most fun I have had with any vehicle, it can carry all my recreational toys with ease, go anywhere up mountains and through rivers, the kids love it, and it looks great too!

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  2005 LR3 SE - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Craig Snyder - March 20 - 9:26 am

  Just purchased new LR3 this weekend. I think it is an incredible vehicle, very heavy and sure footed. Got a good deal from the dealer, theyre starting to move off of the sticker a little now. Traded from a leased 2004 S60 which they bought out for me too!

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  The Only Tank Built Freelander? - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By 1st FREELANDER - March 15 - 11:03 pm

  I must be very lucky to have gotten the miles out of my Freelander, even though its dying quickly now. Recently the transmission lost 2nd gear (just skips right over it now) and the sunroof wont open, and the AC just died. However this Freelander was the first one sold in my state and has had a heck of a great run. Currently with 224,550 miles on it (not a typo), I refuse to put money into it at this stage in its life, so I guess its time to part. After reading everyones issues with this Land Rover model, I feel like I should fix it up and sell it to the Land Rover museum.