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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  Too many whiners... - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Hippoman - November 24 - 5:03 am

  A number of people have had drivetrain problems with this truck but Ive had none. There are some things that could have been built with a little more quality just like about anything else on the market. This is a European vehice, not a Ford, GM, or anything else people expect to change the oil every 25K miles and run it to death. It takes a certain amount of care and maintenence. If you want to drive a LR its going to cost you no matter what model you buy. If you just want a sporty SUV to take your kids to school in, buy a Jeep.

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  almost there - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By veradu - November 21 - 10:00 am

  the steel outer shell is extremely thin (I could push it in by touching it lightly) and cheap. Does not compare to the thick steel of the Liberty (much less $). Handling is very nice on the LR, milage undoes the fun. Shift is good, horsepower is shameful. sunroof cover has slits in it. Controls hard to see, clock does not light up at night. For side impact this car is dangerous. Nothing but a ridiculous floating bar protects driver and passengers from a fatality. No side crash test results on this matter suggest neglect, and mars seriously the Landrover reputation.

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  worst car ever - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By dk - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the LR2 last year and it has spent more time getting repaired than a car should be. Factory tires were wore out at 16,000 miles. Constant software and electrical issues. There has been a code that trips the check engine light that is apparently cannot be fixed until new software is produced. So the engine light comes on and off. Now the latest which happened today. Went to start the vehicle and its like it shorted out everything. Will not start and would not eject the key fob. This car looks great from the outside but what a mistake I made trading in our STS for this thing. About to move cross country and now I cannot trust this car.

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  Horrible Reliability and Service - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Mike - November 19 - 10:00 am

  Dealerships has had it for the last month and a half trying to fix multiple problems. In the last 4 months it hasnt started about 40% of the time Ive had it in my possession. The last two times I have picked it up from the dealership after they have stated they fixed the problems, Ive had problems with in one day. Customer Service at Land Rover North America is horrible and wont return phone calls. They also dont provide a rent car when they keep it for weeks at a time.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever had - 2015 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Michelle Kellams - November 18 - 2:39 am

  Currently also have a Mercedes S550, have also had in the past 10 years 2 other S550s, Mercedes ML, Cadillac Escalade, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Boxster and recently bought this to replace my 2012 RR Sport. Loved the sport but this by far is the best SUV on the market. I never had one issue with my sport and Ive not had any issues with this full size either. Gorgeous interior/exterior great ride and height on the road. Only slight negative I can think of is the infotainment is slightly slow when turning down volume/pushing a button. Like a second or two. Overall its pricey but definitely boss. **update one year later- still love it, still have had 0 problems. The only time its been back to dealer is for the 15k mile scheduled maintenance/oil change Update two years later-still no problems whatsoever.

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  FREE THE FREELANDER - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By ideafixes - November 15 - 2:00 am

  the baby-land rover is definately FUN. Great to drive! the mileage is very good, handling is wonderful, the sound parallels the bose. It is fairly silent, purrs mostly. Seats could give more thigh support, back could be bigger and most IMPORTANT: it needs some serious side and curtain airbags. English ergonomics are fun, but not usual. Havent gotten it into snow, but it has gone in water pretty deep, with the New York rain. Nice inner city car. Long trips may be stressing due to lack of good seats.

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  Range Rover? In a heartbeat! - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Mountain Man - November 13 - 3:56 am

  This is a 5000 lb. truck, not a sedan. If you want a highway poseur stationwagon, buy something else. Ive taken the RR camping in the mountains, & it simply goes wherever you point it; no drama. The only real competition for this vehicle is the Mercedes G-wagon, which rides like a tank on the road. I can go off-road with modified trucks, and cruise home on the highway like a limo. Absolutely, the BEST 4x4 by far! Find an independent shop that knows Rovers; only a fool would use a dealer for service!

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  Outstanding thus far - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By cbm - November 8 - 11:50 pm

  The vehicle has been a pleasure. Great looking externally and internally, excellent layout and ergonomics, and incredible flexibility from an amazingly comfortable road trip / commute car. Prepared to take the beating of bad roads / potholes / merges....but clearly is just so roomy for moving and hauling people and gear while being right-sized for the city.

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  First 5 Months - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By CJR1977 - November 8 - 2:00 am

  I have found the Freelander to be extremely reliable in adverse weather, namely heavy rains, ice and deep snow. It maintains excellent traction and remains responsive in less than ideal conditions. Interior design is highly functional, and appealing to the eye. A pleasure to drive!

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  Land Rover Discovery - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Ted - November 7 - 10:40 am

  This car is awesome. It is good on and off-road. It is the kind of off- roading, while handling good on road. This is one cool car