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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  No one comes close - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Rod - January 17 - 3:53 am

  Beautiful driving experience, out of all my vehicles IÂ’ve owned including other SUVÂ’s this is the best built, ride and handling of all. Makes me just want o get in and go for a ride no destination in mind. Ride comfort is accentuated when you feel as if all your troubles have been left outside the minute you close your door. The sound system is spot on, clear and very relaxing. There is no outside road noise to disrupt your travels, even in traffic jams I feel relaxed, compared to my previous vehicles this is like sitting in a sound proof room. My children love the seating layout and the sound system connect

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  LR3 Best of the Best - 2008 Land Rover LR3
  By David - January 8 - 1:06 pm

  Incredible vehicle, with brand exclusiveness and Ford reliability. Solid and quiet from vault like construction. Handling is precise with insulated road feedback and excelleent pot-hole dampening. The LR3 is underrated and is a great value for the money. This is our second vehicle and enjoy the comfort it provides in all driving conditions. Our last LR3 was involved in a highway accident and the truck provided adequate safety and protection for the family while absorbing some tremendous forces.

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  My LR2 - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By rovergal - January 5 - 2:36 pm

  Ive had my car for over a year now and still havent found anything to complain about. Im getting over 25 mpg, it is extremely comfortable to drive, has lots of power when I need it, can traverse muddy, rutty roads with ease, and is just a great car!

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  Most Fun Vehicle for the Money - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By baeverly - January 1 - 10:00 am

  After owning 4 big SUVs the wife wanted something smaller. Went looking at 4dooor model and bought the SE3 three days later. This car is FUN. Handles like a sportscar, has 4wd, and a covertible roof. Where else can you get a European Car that is 4wd and has a convertible top for the money?

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  Great SUV, but gas mileage is bad! - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By njacks12 - December 31 - 11:50 pm

  The Range Rover Sport Supercharged is a great SUV. It is everything you would wish for, except the gas mileage. First you have to use premum. Then the engine is a v-8 so it burns a lot of gas which I dont like about my Range Rover. Everthing else is excellent!

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  Brass Ring - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Sontob - December 28 - 5:53 am

  Already 1000k on car. Bought it three weeks ago. Drove from SF to LA & back with no problems-amazing performance for an SUV. Also, lots of local driving and 2 Tahoe trips in major snow storms. From the silent ergonomic cabin, sturdy vault like build, crisp clear sound system & command style seating to the terrain response, navigation, & air suspension...each drive is an experience. Driving to Tahoe in a major snow storm has never been more fun & stress free. My wife loves the car & has never been more confident driving in bad weather. This is the kind of car that you look forward to driving even if it is to the local market. Have owned several SUVs LR3 by far takes the cake!

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  2006 Range Rover Sport HSE Review - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Aaron Yeung - December 7 - 10:36 pm

  This has to be the best vehicle Land Rover has come out with. The engine (4.4L) and transmission are improvements from the 4.4 and 4.6 L engines of the Land Rover Discovery II and IIa (1999 to 2004). The smooth ride rivals that of the Lexus GX470. The interior is well-appointed.

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  Awesome Truck - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Ken - December 6 - 12:26 pm

  This is absolutely the best off-road/on- road combination SUV I have ever had. My wife has an ML-500 and we have owned a GX-470, ML-350, Grand Cheerokee, Lincoln Mark LT 4X4 and Jeep Wranglers. This is the best truck for the buck going. It has been bullet proof, unlike any of the others, I take it on Off road excursions where I would never take my Jeep and have never had a problem or gotten stuck. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking a cool, competent and reliable performer.

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  supercool - 2009 Land Rover LR3
  By paganviking - November 29 - 10:46 am

  love the all-conditions suspension control and full-time AWD. a solid truck worthy of the land rover brand. safety, comfort, and reliability are excellent. definitely worth the price. i look forward to many years of land rover ownership.

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  Congratulations Land Rover! - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By BL - November 24 - 2:00 am

  The 2003 Range Rover is for all of the devoted Range Rover fans that have stuck by this company through the years. Now that Land Rover is able to provide their customers with the most extreme capability, luxury, and unquestionable dependability (thanks BMW), maybe everyone else will finally catch the Land Rover bug! Ive had my 03 Range Rover for 3 months and I cannot think of one thing I would change or complain about. For all of those nit picky people that think otherwise, go drive a G-wagon and see how this awesome machine outshines everything that tries to compete with it. Cheers to the Brits for an amazing accomplishment!