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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  This is a great Rover! - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By JJF030 - October 2 - 11:36 am

  After owning 2 LR3s and 2 X5s I upgraded to the RR Sport. This is a great SUV, and is truly king of the mountain. Dont be deceived by the scary reliability ratings, Ive had more trouble out of Lexus and BMW products. The vehicles are sometimes quirky, but the issues are small and infrequent. Plus the dealer is great to work with and always gives you a Rover loaner. Plus, this is the best looking SUV on the market. I have never had so many compliments. I would recommend the RR Sport to anyone that appreciates a refined luxury SUV.

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  As good as it gets... - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By RoverLover - September 23 - 10:00 am

  If the price tag for this truck is intended to manage your expectations to the highest point, Land Rover has succeeded. Ive been a BMW owner for years, and when I saw (and read) about the German engineering that contributed to the re-design of the third- generation Range Rover I was intrigued. The BMW 4.4 liter V8 (tuned to the needs of the more weighty Rover than the 5 series) seems a plenty powerful match-up to the Rover. (Coming from the polar opposite ride, a 1997 M3, I cant be a good judge of handling, acceleration, etc. on comparison.) Actual fuel economy, reset for a 4-hour stretch of interstate with cruise on was 20.6 mpg.

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  RANGE ROVER - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By KMC - September 23 - 10:00 am

  BETTER THAN THE X5, AND ALMOST AS RELIABLE....BMWS FINEST ACHIEVMENT.

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jaime911 - September 21 - 11:23 am

  I purchased my vehicle back in March 2007. I love it! It rides great and makes me feel safe when I drive it. The extras in it are worth it! I recommend this vehicle to anyone!

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  Land rover quality - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By carz - September 18 - 4:40 am

  I love my vehicle. It runs smooth and no problems what so ever. I dont like the fact I get 15 miles per gallon. One stumbling block I have had is I bought a boat recently and now need a hitch. The dealer quoted me almost $800 for a hitch. If you dont need a hitch and dont care about gas mileage this is the greatest SUV.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By spemberton2000 - September 16 - 9:10 pm

  Ive had the car for a year now, and I have been extremely pleased with it. The dealership have been pretty poor though, and need to work hard to improve their customer service - something they dont seem to want to do. The car though has been superb.

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  Lots of HP, at your command !!!!! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By JoBob - September 15 - 6:20 am

  I own the 06 supercharged. ive never been in control of so much horsepower (400hp).I beat sport cars, trying to show -off.only downside that ive noticed since ive had it is , console compartment places, for example..places to put small things that you would use with-in 3-4 days at a time.

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  Great SUV!! - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Mike C - September 14 - 8:46 am

  Ok folks, this SUV is a must have. I sold my BMW X5 to purchase the LR3; the LR3 stands alone in the luxury category. The 3rd row seating is comfortable and the stadium seating keeps all in the conversation. It is a joy to drive and have taken off road..what a rush. I have had no problems with reliability or quality and the Red Nolan dealership in Colorado Springs know the true meaning of customer service. GO BUY ONE TODAY!!!

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  My 04 Rover - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Hardest Dog - September 11 - 4:20 pm

  This is my first Land Rover, and I love the way it drives and manuvers through traffic. The body style stands out proudly and demands respect. I am looking forward to taking it off road in the near future! Catch you on the trail.

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  The Ultimate Luxury SUV - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Flash G - September 5 - 11:53 am

  I traded in my 1997 Range Rover 4.6 HSE for the new Range Rover Sport HSE. You get the best of both worlds with the Range Rover Sport: The classic Range Rover styling and off-road capabilities coupled with the performance of a luxury sedan. The design of this vehicle is very upmarket. It is a handsome car. The interior quality is excellent. I have the very rare upgraded "Ivory" leather and cherry wood which looks much more opulent than the darker "Alpaca" and standard black "Ebony" interior. It looks and feels like a fine British coach. (I do wish the seats had darker piping like the big Rover.) Excellent power, handling and ride. Electronics are top notch. All A+