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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  Very Impressed - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Craig - July 8 - 9:50 pm

  The 2008 Land Rover LR2 is a great little car. I bought it 3 months ago and have put nearly 11,000 miles on it. Zero problems. Runs perfectly -- averages 22 mpg everyday -- 25 mpg on trips (no kidding). Comfortable with plenty of power -- cant believe its a six. Whats not to like about this vehicle! Get the nav upgrade -- the sound system is one of the best I have ever heard.

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  perfect truck - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By rba8888 - July 6 - 2:30 am

  I researched for a while for a new truck to replace my lifted Tahoe. Im very happpy with the truck. The reliablity is better than I expected. I didnt buy the Range Rover for fuel economy (in the real world driving wife gets 16 I get 22) I bought it for rough roads towing; well almost anything I want really (7000lbs). The audio system is stunning, I cant help but to smile everytime I turn something on. I cant help but to smile every time I think of the range rover. If you do need to take the Range Rover to the dealer for repair or PM. They take very good care of you. My dealer in Cincinnati is excellent! Over all the truck is great of value!

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  04 LR Disco in CA - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By 04 LR Disco in CA - June 23 - 12:36 am

  3rd eye tail light out after first 3 mos. Windshield washer pump didnt work from the beginning & has already been replaced with pump that works occasionally. Upper corners of front windshield leaked from beginning & has stained the headliner - now trying to get replaced. Also have problems with the front passenger compartment being soaked. Told it is a common occurrence with LRs so will need to get it drained (odd for it to be common on a $40k+ auto). Brake pads & rotors have already needed replacement and is costly (& not covered under warranty). Left front headlight has also gone out. Luckily, all these problems (minus brakes) are covered under 50k warranty

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  not so reliable - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By vince lombardi - June 20 - 4:10 am

  First Land Rover ive owned kind of disappointed. Its been in the shop too many times in the last year. Plastic Panels on the exterior fallen off 3x, breaks have squeek that dealership has not resolved. Its too bad because i like the ride, great on road trips, although automatic transition through gears could be smoother. There are cheap plastic pieces that cover the front seat tracks affixed to the floor that have cracked in various places, kinda cheap. I have to agree the gas mileage is far from ok, likely $100 to $150/wk in gas. tons of space in the rear w/o the 7 seater, lots of headroom and cabin space. A good friend of mine had his LR3 declared a "lemon"?? Be wary!

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  1st year status - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By 9k9 - June 4 - 4:03 am

  The cooler is great but it will run down the battery. We use it camping. A queen air bed just fits in the back and the LR tent is great. Gas mileage is not so good but we have a Fit for zipping about town. We get suspension faults about once every three months but stopping and resetting the car clears it. First trip was to LA from San Francisco down 5. Cruising at 100 was like being in a jet in first class. During last winter I hit patch of water about 6 inches deep at 50 mph. The car was rock solid and carried straight through. Off road it works well but be aware that steep slopes will cause you to have to reset it.

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  Best in Class - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By hpug - May 31 - 10:00 am

  We purchased the Freelander after test driving it, the Jeep Liberty, the Toyota RAV4, and the Honda CRV. The Freelander was in a class by itself with respect to the ride, comfort, and off-road ability. We have had a few electrical problems with the driver side window and the moonroof, and the speakers in the front doors vibrated, but the dealer fixed them rapidly and we have not had trouble since. We really like the vehicle and would consider getting another.

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  Perception is Everything - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Monte03 - May 22 - 5:16 am

  Buy it only if your intentions include offroading. Only then could you truly enjoy this vehicle. There are a plethora of better handling and more fuel efficient SUVs, but none that are as truly capable off road. Some people suggest the Touareg, but I would highly disagree. Every major component on the lower 50% of that SUV is susceptible to damage due to its independent suspension. One more suggestion to people who are buying this rig... Get the Old Man Emu steering stabilizer as a first order of business. Especially if yours comes with the 18" wheels. It will eliminate, for the most part, rut-tracking on the freeway and bump- steer.

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  Curiosity caravan - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Curiosity caravan - May 20 - 8:56 am

  The first day I bought it I went out looking for some off-road fun. Since then I have taken my family a crossed the country and back, on and off the road. The dealership I bought it from did not tell me the first owner hit a fire hydrant. That lead to problems for about a year, but it was all covered. Since then I have had no problems. It is not under warranty anymore. So I save money by doing all minor maintenance myself. Yes, the gas mileage stinks bad. To be honest that is the only bad thing I have to say about it. I will get another or rebuild when the time comes.

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  Weekend Vehicle - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By docvp - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Always wanted a range rover and have always owned a BMW. I initially brought a 2003, and driving out of the lot, the steering went in to major problems. I decided to wait for the 2004 model and paid a premium. 10 problems.1) Lumbar supports deflate) Navigation freezes 3) Fuel guage never reads full 4)HVAC fan in rear and front make loud vibration noise - dealer says there is no problem5) thekicker - air suspension, level control inactive for three weeks. In shop three times for that - I have driven a rental(which I had to pay for- Land Rover does not offer loaners) more than the rover in winter (thats why I brought it!)out of room....

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  2003-SE - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Happywife - May 4 - 2:00 am

  My wife traded her Volvo in for this vehicle because of the body style. She loves the car and likes the ride - she bought a SUV and if she wanted a different ride she would have bought a car instead. The car is fun to drive. Since we have only put 1,000 miles on the vehicle, the reliability is hard to judge at this point. The gas mileage could be improved; however, the purchaser should know before shopping that the mpg will be low.