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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  Solid Small SUV - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Jason in California - October 15 - 6:06 pm

  Ive been driving my LR2 in Northern California for more than a year and Ive had no problems at all (and Im surprised to read about othes who have had problems). In fact, Im quite happy with it. Acceleration is mediocre, but it feels confidently solid and smooth at speed on the highway. Steering can be a bit sensitive, but it is easy to get used to. I found the fit and finish pretty nice, with with leather seats and rubberized utilitatian knobs. Particularly for its price. It is sure-footed in the snow and has seems to have more rugged capabilities than others in its class. With the seats down, theres lots of room. Ive been very happy with my LR2.

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  never again - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By DavePetrie - October 6 - 10:00 am

  My RR was bought back by Land Rover after several trips to the dealer for electrical problems they couldnt fix. The car stalled frequently. For no apparent reason, the door locks would go up, flashers on, and interior lights on when driving at highway speed. They told me I needed a new "vehicle control module" but they couldnt tell me how long it would take to get one. That was it....

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  best suv i have owned - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By debra kelley - September 13 - 10:00 am

  this is the absolute top in suvs. i drove it cross country, through rain and snow. rides like a car and handles superbly. no leaning on exit ramps like the other suvs. seat comfort is also superb. never had to readjust seat the entire trip. also towed a 3, 500 lb boat plus trailer with no problem. looking foward to my next road trip with it, south this time. highly recomned! i have owned, gmcs fords and dodge. none can compare.

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  Worth it sometimes - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By flgator - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Plenty fun to drive off-road, but dont expect a quiet ride. Gas mileage is abysmal, but you come to expect that from a powerful tower. I just cant figure why they cant boost it to something similar to the Toyota 4Runner (16/20). Turning radius is awful, but the engineer in me suspects thats artificially governed, so the reckless among us dont make quick, sharp turns and end up on our sides in a ditch. Powers great, and the vehicle looks unlike anything else out there. What used to look utilitarian now has an edge of bling to it. The interior is fine until you see some of the competitors - then you notice they need to get on the proverbial ball.

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  Surprisingly Happy!! - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Anonymous - August 16 - 2:00 am

  I waited a year before this review b/c I too wanted to give a fair evaluation. My RRS HSE is white with a coffee or chocolate interior. I love this truck. First, if you were doubtful and have had a few probs, then why did you buy it? EVERY new vehicle with all the electronics will have degrees of problems. I had a few issues like some on here, but new it was the computer b/c it would be fine after it had been restarted (the truck), then LR had a computer upgrade and poof! No more problems at all. 12000 plus miles and riding great!! Its also the first time my husband asks to take my truck!! Service has been wonderful and glad I purchased my RRS.

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  Great Drive, Very English Car - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By jlg - August 9 - 8:16 am

  Great driving smaller SUV. Learn about english cars before buying very quirky and odd at times. It is different and a land rover. But you could probably buy something more pratical, but why? If you want something to drive without attention dont buy this one. Overall I like it but not without issue with some things. The greast thing it has is a heated Windshield. Everything else I wonder who designed it, so I could rough them up. It is a neat car though.For the right person.

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  Love My Freelander - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By Love It - July 30 - 7:03 pm

  I read the reviews and bought mine anyway. It had high miles but looked brand new. I love it! It is fun to drive, looks great, and mine really scoots. Gas mileage is way better highway where I get 22-24 mph. In the city I only get about 17. What vehicle is ever cheap to repair? If you maintain well, the vehicle will last. I dont take mine to a dealer, I use Columbia Rovers. They know their stuff.

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  Basically cool - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By UFOFLY - July 29 - 2:00 am

  I have this vehicle since OCTOBER, and have 3000 miles on it. Tight feel, great handling, quiet vehicle. However, my husband needs to slightly tilt seat back to keep his head from touching roof, and last week, during a cold snap, the power window button fell off in my hands causing the other windows to open/close on their own and act wacky. The good news is that the dealer, after calling on my cell phone fixed it almost on the spot when I drove in. It was COLD with a window open all the time. Great service and treatment! I also got a great price as a leftover with 4000 off the list price.

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  Love my 2007 HSE - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Marc - July 27 - 10:06 pm

  Awesome car, turns heads, fun to drive, easy to operate. Re-sale value is the pits. Averages 15 mpg which is not bad considering how big it is. Awesome boat tower, you will never get stuck on the ramp. Definitely would buy one again. Due to cost of maintenace, makes buying on still in warranty or new very attractive. My only proplem has been defective head & tailight assemblies that fog up. Of course dealers say they are not fogged when you take it in. So take pictures!

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  Buy it... if you love your service mngr - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By RolandLR4 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Initially, we loved this vehicle. The look is clean and the drive is far superior to the LR3 series (quieter/tighter). Seats are reasonably comfortable. Some controls for navagation/cameras/dvd are a bit cumbersome but learnable. At about 3800 miles the first service visit was for a check engine light that we were told was a "computer reset" issue. Two days later the light was on again and before we could get a scheduled appointment another "impaired performance" warning light was flashing. 3 WEEKS later the dealership calls to say the backordered injector has been installed. My wife gets in and the service engine light was on before she left the lot. Doesnt bode well for reliability!