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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  Freelander solved a major problem! - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Davey - September 25 - 10:00 am

  I just brought a freeland and think it rocks! The Nissan Exterra is TOTAL CRAP compared to this! Also, Land Rover solved a major problem that I had! Most 4x4s you have to shift into 4 wheel drive mode. When you do not use it much the gera get dried out and it stops working right! With this it is full time 4 wheel drive and thus the above problem is sloved!

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  Best LR ive owned/driven - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By quiet - September 18 - 6:50 pm

  Ive slowly moved up from the disco 2 to the lr3 to the rrscs and I gotta tell you this truck is slick and fast. I usually drive on the highway and going from ramp speed to highway speed is a dream. Put this thing in sport mode and two things happens, it sucks a lot of gas but also an adrenalin rush. Ive had no issues other than a having to replace a fuse for the heated seats and the drivers airbag sensor. While Im at it I must also say that no Major issues to report in regards to the lr3 and disco 2.

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  Head To The Top Of The Class! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Chofgarden - September 18 - 2:33 am

  Picked up our fully optioned LR3 last week, cant decide whether its a luxury sport utility or a rock climber- it does both so well. Ride, quiet, refinement, power, ergonomics all superb, features are many and well thought out. Quality seems excellent, no initial problems of any kind. Feels solid as a rock, drives as quiet and smoother than our E320 Mercedes. This car raises the standard way above anything else on the market, even the Range Rover! Well worth the price, in fact a bargain.

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  I should have listened to my husband - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Kelly Weaver - September 17 - 6:46 am

  After owning about six reliable Toyotas, We purchased a 2006 LR3. While the car is fun and rugged, it has not proved to be a reliable, quality vehicle at all. Many of the problems have been minor (broken seat belt, gas cap fell apart, bright lights come on with blinker, etc.)but there are a couple of larger issues we are still trying to solve regarding suspension and the radio(which sounds incredible when it is working). The suspension fault indicator sometimes comes on daily for no reason. I had a problem with something else that was causing the check engine light to come on, which required two trips to the dealership to have a part changed out. Too many aggravations.

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  Terrible Fuel Economy - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Ejags - September 11 - 5:30 pm

  I owned a 2002 Bmw 530i prior to this vehicle. Great performance and 25 mpg on highway. Wanted to go back to sport utility for a change. I learned a painful lesson at the fuel pump with this vehicle. The LR3 rides great and is dependable. Just dont get one unless you absolutely neeed a SUV. The fuel mileage is so bad you will fill up $50 to $60 every 3 to 4 days. Otherwise great vehicle.

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  typical Brit engineering - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By LarryG - September 11 - 10:00 am

  2002 SE Expect brakes and rotors to go every 15K Fuel economy 12mpg at best, even on 1000 mile highway trip Power not close to the Liberty

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  The Best Ever - 2008 Land Rover LR3
  By Marko - September 8 - 8:00 am

  This is absolutely the smoothest car Ive ever driven. Its comfort and ride are second to none. The LR3 inspires confidence and its capabilities are far beyond those of its competition. Ours is outfitted with every possible option. We just love it. Some complain about its weight, but thats one of my favorite features. This car is strong and sound, and you can feel it. I highly recommend this car.

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  I still have money for the groceries! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By ev barrett - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle despite the price is a complete SUV. It performs well and is very comfortable for a 6 ft plus person. Window controls on the center console is a little awkward, smoke occasionaly rising from under the hood still mystifies me, but with only only one recall so far, Im pleased. Seventeen inch wheels really set it off, and manufacturer incentive financing makes it a deal.

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  The best does come in small packages - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Austin - September 6 - 11:00 am

  We were running an errand when my girlfriend needed to use the rest room-- - we were near a LR dealership, so i decided to stop by, 3 hour later i was walking out the dealership owning the new LR3. The only HSE available was the floor model in silver/black interior. I traded my 2001 DiscoII SE7 and im so happy with the LR3. The vehicle is loaded with features and had everything i had in my old disco and then some. The LR3 has power, distinctive styling, comfortable and reliable. I have driven in snow and the terrain response is incredible-- starting in second gear instead of first makes the truck more stable at take-off. My girlfriend is a sport car freak, but she love the LR3.

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  Fun in the Snow - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By caskier - August 30 - 2:33 pm

  Bought this car new in Feb 06 primarily to drive from LA to Mammoth Mtn and ski (300 miles each eay). Only problems involved a leak from the front differential after 6000 miles. Dealer replaced 3-times under warranty. Brakes are expensive to replace, but love the stopping power. RRS is great vehicle in the snow, traction and handling are great. I use a different set of wheels and snow/ice tires for the winter. Great heated seats. Back seat is not very comfortable, should be able to recline.