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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  So far, so good - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Rover Girl - March 22 - 1:50 pm

  Another satisfied owner, at least so far. Only owned two months & driven 1,200 mi., but absolutely love the vehicle! Gets lots of attention, yet have only seen one other LR2 on the road here since they existed. Love that - driving something unique, not the same vehicle in everyones driveway. Just holding my breath that it proves to be reliable. Replaced my Montero Limited, which had only one minor issue over nearly 100K miles. Dont expect that from a Land Rover, but hoping for the best! Like most people, I considered nearly every other SUV out there in this class, but liked this one the best. Planned on an LR3, but the LR2s are actually more advanced, & look to be much more reliable.

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  The last Discovery, the best Discovery - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Paul Gifford - March 22 - 11:43 am

  Have enjoyed every moment behind the wheel of my SE Discovery. I feel safe and secure at its helm. I have had zero maintenance concerns and find the dealership fantastic. Would recommend others to get one of the last few reamining.

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  The Java Giant--Comfort and Fun - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Stuart James - March 19 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the 2003 Landrover Discovery SE in May of this year. We lovingly call it the "Java Giant" based on its size and distinctive Java Black color. The Java Giant is a luxurious vehicle, with functionality, that performs well on road and off road. The improvements over previous models make this vehicle a pleasure to own and fun to drive. It cruises on the roadways and tackles the backroads with ease. The only downside to the Giant is gas, it has the appetite of Goliath when it comes to fuel ecomomy. All and all, the Java Giant is a true SUV, and if it is worthy of the Queen of England, it is good enough for me.

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  Love my Disco! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By SEOMike - March 17 - 2:56 pm

  My 03 S7 is just great. The truck handles so well! Its a lot taller and heavier than my 01 Explorer Limited was and yet it handles so much better. I have had some troubles mechanically though. If youre looking for an 03 Disco you should make sure that the previous owner had the "brain" for the ABS changed with the recall that went out. If not, expect to cough up around $2500. Tires have worn well as have the brakes. Its not a racecar, dont treat it like one. It goes everywhere I can think of without a single copmplaint. Had a lady rear-end me once and it destroyed her minivan. Didnt do a thing to my tank of a truck!

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  Only 2 Days Old - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By ru4god2 - March 13 - 3:26 am

  Been wanting a full sized RR since 1989. When i saw the price drop on the 2006 models, I searched high and low to find the white w/sand I wanted. No frills, no heated seats, no entertainment, no luxury package, just the base line RR. I bought it certified with only 27k on it. So far, I cant stop grinning. Every time I look at it and hop in, I still cant believe its mine. Finally. Audio system is a little clunky. Why so many different screens to perform simple functions? And the controls are a little out of arms reach (and Ive got 35" arms.) Some of the materials on the interior are cheap feeling (plastic) but thats all I can think of....

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  Satisfied owner - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Aglerote - March 12 - 8:56 am

  This car replaced an MB ML63, one of the best cars Ive ever owned but the too-firm ride began to wear me down (and my wife). Fortunately, the RR has a new and nicely-powered supercharged engine for 2010, since it was so easy to get spoiled by and used to the ML. So far, I have been very pleased with the RR. Its not sporty and is all about luxury / comfort; different strokes for different folks. Its basically an S-Class SUV. The RR has only 500 miles on it so far, so I will need to update these initial impressions in a few months. Also, Ill soon be putting on true snow tires (to substitute for the all-season stock tires) and giving it some real-world back-road snow tests.

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  DiscoRocks - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By JLand - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I dont do much everyday driving, except for trips to the off-road rally sponsored by the retailer. It is an exceptional and true off road vehicle and a distinct style to set it apart. Although it needs a long list of upgrades, I still love it. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the upgrades is in the technology department.

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  Love this vehicle - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By Brian - March 7 - 5:26 am

  I truly agree that this is not the best vehicle on the market for getting kids to and from school and day in day out errands, but when you baalnce that out with weeknd trips to the beach, hiking, mountain biking, and towing a boat there is no better vehicle. I got rid of my first LR3 and bought a smaller fule effecient SUV and after 2 months went back to and LR3. I cant see myself in any other vehicle. During fishing and camping trips I have found myself in a few off road/water situations and have never had an issue even when the passengers doubted it could get to the place we wanted to go. It polishes up well for days in the office, but also loves to get dirty and looks good doing it.

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  Great look and feel, not worth the price - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By MG - February 26 - 4:20 pm

  I have owned this car for almost 1 year. It is great to look and drive, has a solid, smooth ride, doesnt feel like youre driving a 3 ton car.Ive had many comments from other riders about the smooth ride. Offroading is no trouble at all. For the price however, Ive had too many little things go wrong. My back up camera has reset, so it is reversed its image and the lines that show where you are heading are gone. You dont know what station you are listening to when the Nav screen is up kills me. Voice activation of the system is poor. Cant find any POIs. the seat heater in the back is labeled blue and red, so why doesnt it cool like the front seats?

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  Love this vehicle - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By theroux - February 20 - 2:20 am

  I purchased this LR3 after I traded in my Volvo wagon. I love the LR3. Its unique and fun to drive. I previously owned a Discovery and this is even better. If youre worried about gas mileage you should probably be looking elsewhere, otherwise youll love it.