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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  My first Land Rover - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By NYLing - November 4 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun vehicle that has been equally at home driving into Manhattan and off roading at our family farm in Vermont. The ride is extremely comfortable over long distances and you have a sense of great confidence in bad weather.

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  qualitty - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By dole - November 3 - 10:10 am

  I traded in an escalade I am very surprised how much more solid and higher quality the range rover is. I drive a 645 bmw and I think the build quality is better on this vehicle.

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  Owned 6 years, traded for a Hyundai - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By capecodrondo - November 1 - 9:47 pm

  I purchased my Freelander brand new in 2005. I loved the handling and ride but over the years found the vehicle to be gas-hungry, under-powered and of poor build quality. Constant electrical problems including a repeated problem with windshield wiper switches. After having driven Jeeps for many years I was surprised to get stuck in the Freelander during snowstorms that the Jeeps handled well. I traded for a Hyundai Veracruz two years ago and found it a much more reliable vehicle. The Veracruz (now a long body Santa Fe) is better in the snow than my Rover was and is an all around more civilized vehicle.

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  Very Nice Ride - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By givergreen - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Looking for lux car (S500, 745il, A8) but ended up with 2004 Range Rover with int lux pkg and 20in wheels. This is my 2nd SUV (Still owns a 2000 Landcruiser). Very classy design in and out. Everything feels solid and well made. Ride is good even with 20in wheels. Engine power is adequate for this heavy SUV, but it needs more for steep hill at 80mph+ loaded with passengers. Almost as quiet as the LCriser, but not as smooth. Sounds system is good, depending on the music. Nav is very bad. Turn on the radio/cd and your NAV screen is gone. It needs a dedicated button to go back to vehicle position map. I know most of my way around so I seldom use the NAV.

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  Freelander review - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By arizona man - October 28 - 4:50 am

  I purchased this new from LandRover Paramus (NJ) in 2002, and have only maintained it at that dealership. I have also owned Volvo, Saab, Ford Taurus, Dodge Caravan in the last 14 years. The Freelander has been great looking back, and I did not baby it unnecessarily. The drive is great, and it has out-performed my other cars. I am reluctant to let it go.

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  Overpriced/Unreliable - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Jeffrey Thompson - October 27 - 12:50 pm

  When I purchased this vehicle it had only 8k miles...I love the way the car looks but since my purchase it has been one nightmare after another..Ive had to make repairs almost every month..It has many design flows. After five years of owning it I would have to say I will never buy another RR. It is over-priced and over-rated...I made my final payment on it in December..Today is January 20th, I am picking it up from the shop. The cost this time was $5500.00. I hate I bought this vehicle..

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  Range Rover Sport - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Darlene - October 27 - 11:36 am

  Very sporty, fun to drive, A little small inside, but comfortable. Quick acceleration, turns on a dime. Super stereo system.

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  less than Lexus LX470 - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By tonyther - October 23 - 10:00 am

  I have LX470 for a year and its excede my new new range in terms of comfert and reliability. i have it for a week and i went to the dealer to time to fix to warning lights. its not the car you expect for daly use.

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  Fun, Practical and Safe - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By rigoberto gutierrez - October 21 - 2:00 am

  On-road and Off-road, Its Impressive.My wife and two children love it too. We do everything and go every where, whatever the weather or the terrain. Smooth ride, low center of gravity makes corner and u-turn smoothly. I recommend it highly.

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  What are the complaints about? - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jaybird - October 16 - 5:50 am

  I have had this vehicle for about a month now and am very impressed with it. I am averaging 23 mpg and no mechanical problems. I have read many negative reviews about this vehicle and have figured out why. First, this is not a sports car. I can see why people have to have engines replaced. The engine requires synthetic oil only. It has enough power to do the job but can see people flooring it all the time because it "just isnt enough" and that takes it toll on an engine, as is also true for the transmission. The brakes are disc- front/drum back so you cannot stand on the brakes all the time and not expect to replace pads very often. Its a luxury SUV treat it good, it will reciprocate.