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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  LR2 Gets the Job done - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By slojas1 - July 27 - 10:00 pm

  The LR2 fits 5 passengers comfortably with a good amount of room for storage. The 3.2L I6 engine provides enough power for passing at high speeds. The fuel economy is passable at a combined 17.5 mpg. The LR2 is a great buy combined with the Land Rover no service charge for scheduled maintenance. Other premium services such as road assistance, and others are included with purchase. These features scores major points as they are services that are usable.

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  Get in the mud! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Ryan Knapp - July 21 - 11:43 am

  The truck is more than fun to drive and the comfort is exceptional. I was aware of the reliability issues and got a 100k bumper to bumper warrenty with the sale up front. Dealership has been great about the minor issues we have had, but then again it has been used as it was intended. I have been in mud holes, trails, cow pastures, and rocks with it and it has never stopped! Handles as well as some other sports cars I have been in and everyone loves it.

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  Still Lovin it! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Geoff - July 12 - 12:56 am

  Use is as a daily driver here in New England. Exterior is beautiful and interior appointments are plush save for the electronics which were outdated even when new. Its more like a luxury all weather vehicle but still sturdy when you need it most. Always turns heads and you feel great driving it.

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  You gotta love this Rover... - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By atldane - July 10 - 10:08 am

  I know, I know...horrible reliability, very expensive, low mpg..but I love this vehicle. This is our third one, and this one I am going to keep. I have 130,000 miles on this Discovery, I am pouring money into it, but I love it. It was time to get something more reliable and better on gas, so I chose a new BMW 328i so I could keep the Rover. I now have a new car, but have my boy to take to the lake and use for rugged adventures. You know the saying "if it isnt leaking then it is empty" about Land Rovers. well it is true, true, true! But worth every penny...I really love this truck!!! Very Classic....

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  Find a good one - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By iward1 - July 8 - 11:33 pm

  I bought my 2003 Disco with 98k miles for $6000 in September 2013. Have a Land Rover specialist (preferably not a dealer) do a thorough inspection before you buy. Get a service history. Expect a lot of work to have been done. The only red flag is a history of overheating associated with a very loud engine knock/tap. In the last 10k miles I have replaced the power steering pump and done regular maintenance, about $1200 total. Im not bothered since I paid so little up front. Its a fantastic truck with an old-school feel. I average 11mpg city and 15mpg highway. If you love it and treat it well, this truck will get to 200k miles and beyond.

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  my rover - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By range rover hse - July 1 - 10:33 pm

  This truck is a looker. People often compliment me on my purchase. However, it has more than its share of mechanical defects and glitches. Part of the problem, I believe, is there are just too many cute electronic gadgets. Thus more things that can go wrong. I have just over 60k miles and have already replaced a major portion of my transmission. (under warranty) I dont think this is acceptable. If you are looking for a conversation piece, this is it. If you are looking for economy and reliability, not here!

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  Solid, but needs improvement - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By JMO - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Beware of the small gas tank. SUV with a 15 gallon tank.

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  2010 LR4 Lux Intermittent Electrical - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By honey11 - June 9 - 5:08 pm

  Love our LR4, just wish I didnt have to bring it in for repairs every few weeks. Tire monitoring system keeps throwing codes, the NAV and radio goes out once in a while and then theres the windshield wipers that suddenly shut off and stay off. I read about other people with the same issues, lets just hope Land Rover gets it figured out so we can buy another one. Otherwise, we wont do this again.

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  Engine damaged after overheating - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By jeevanga - June 5 - 1:12 pm

  Bought with 29k and whole year of warranty left for $22000.Used for 4 years and put on only 11k due to terrible gas mileage.Loved the ride and apperance.No issue for 3.5 years then 3 amigos appeard but did not fixed. Engine overheated due to coolent tube leak and seems to be head gasket blown or engine cracked.Sold it to carmax for $7000.

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  Sad! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By alicia75024 - May 29 - 6:07 pm

  I have been reading blogs all over the Internet about Land Rover problems and I could just spit! I purchased my 2004 LRD 10 days ago... I dont drive much, just back and forth to work. A couple days ago I was driving and the car overheated, I pulled off the freeway right away and while pulling over the car started to smoke and shut down... now I need to spend 6K on a new engine, the mechanic at LR chuckeled and said "yep, we see it ALL the time". What a waiste of time and money.. If this is such a common problem shouldnt there have been a recall??? Also, anyone know a good and honest mechanic in north Texas...or should I just part it out and cut my losses? It sounds like this wont be the last problem with this vehicle!!!!