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:

• 

  New Land Rover owner - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By NewRoverOwner - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I have always like the Land Rovers but could not accept the 12-14 MPG of the larger Discovery or Range Rover. The Freelander fit my needs with many of the features I would expect from a Land Rover. Was surprised it lacked several features listed below in the "Suggested Improvement" section. Great car so far. Also had a great experience with the dealership sales staff.

• 

  freelander - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By lb3319 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I feel safe in this vehicle, esp with my children. I like the wider wheel base, the reinforced side passenger doors, dual airbags. What I really like is the rear passengers sit up higher than the front for safety purposes. The body design is simple but sporty. Easy to drive and park. The real challenge will be this winter to be able to drive in the snow.

• 

  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! :-)

• 

  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.

• 

  Mine must have been the good one - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Relatively happy - November 28 - 2:20 am

  Ive seen all the reviews on the Freelander and I realize I was just lucky - mines been fairly trouble free in the five + years Ive had it. It hasnt been babied, either, but Ive also been picky about maintenance. But for snowy weather, its always been the best.

• 

  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.

• 

  Dont even consider this vehicle - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By disappointed - November 21 - 4:43 am

  I owned a 2003 Freelander and had to get rid of it. At 65K The head Gasket went. It was to Land Rover multiple times and they could NOT diagnose it. I had to personally tell them that the coolant was going into the oil because I took an oil sample. After they diagnosed the head gasket , they would not garantee the repair. The total for the repair was $2800. It ate brakes and rotors , I had electrical probs including the radio cutting out when it rained. I thought Land Rover was reputable and they would sell a reliable vehicle. I was wrong. I can go on and on . . .buying this vehicle was a MAJOR mistake.

• 

  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

• 

  LR3 - good, but.... - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By mpn1 - November 17 - 7:00 am

  Had several stops to dealership after 2 stalls, rear sensor fail, and 2 engine faults ( one caused by gas cap!) I like the ride, and am trying to really feel comfortable about the purchase, but the reliability issues keep me from getting too attached...

• 

  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.