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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  Everything you want ++++ - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Richard - June 17 - 6:23 pm

  I have the 2006, Jag engine - I was a little suspicious at first but the 6 gears are smooth and give plenty of power when needed. I had my 2000 RR til this one and I am pleased to say "you still feel like you are driving a RR, but now it is refined and all the old frustrations and niggly designs have been corrected".

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  NO LIMITS - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By beltran - June 13 - 10:00 am

  The Discovery 2003 does have some inconvenient characteristics like the gas consumption and the turning radius….end; Maybe a range rover is too expensive, and maybe a hummer is a bit too big for driving in the city……You want to drive a luxurious and practical car for a nice price and feel UNLIMITED!!!!….Discovery is what you are looking for.

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  Loving my decision - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Charlotte Fan - June 12 - 9:20 pm

  I traded in a 2005 Cadillac Escalade for my 2005 LR3 and could not be more pleased. While the Cadillac may have more "bells and whistles", the LR3 has many more functional benefits. The ride is great and I love the feeling of knowing that road and weather conditions will never impede my ability to travel. A great looking luxury vehicle that has the ability to go "blue collar" when necessary.

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  The Greatest Small SUV on the Planet - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Rovaman - June 12 - 11:50 am

  The moment I steped into this SUV I could feel its quality. The test drive impressed me even more with the cars handling and steering beating all of its competetors. A MUST SEE.

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  Range Rover Supercharged - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover
  By MB - June 11 - 11:50 pm

  This car can go anywhere in style. Whether its a meeting in the city with clients or an off road excursion to the Outerbanks of NC with our two great danes. This is our second Range Rover.

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  Look Forward to Driving - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By ss68 - June 8 - 6:30 pm

  This is our 1st luxury SUV. We sat in a number of them at the Chicago Auto show and had made up our minds before driving it. The dealer let us use one for the weekend and it sealed the deal. Also had a auto show discount going on. So far we have put on about 2000 miles and have not had any issues. The stereo is amazing.

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  Best Compact SUV! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By patti - June 6 - 2:00 am

  I like this car - with the Great Trans and tight handling, its like a mini BMW! Outstanding dealer in Tysons Corner, VA - gave me a good deal and have a great service dept. No complaints. Dont buy the S, go at least for the SE - theres no comparison between the interiors and the overall feel from the inside between the two.

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  62000 mile report - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By mks - May 28 - 5:13 pm

  Still love it. All I have done is change the oil and tires. Average 21 mpg, comfortable and fun to drive. Best vehicle I have ever owned. Would buy another in a minute. Runs great, lots of great features and everthing is wo easy to use.

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  THE BEST 4 X 4 X FAR - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By NAABS - May 24 - 5:43 am

  IT IS THE BEST MACHINE IN THE WORLD. NOTHING COMES CLOSE TO IT. NOT ESCALADE, NOT HUMMER, NOT CAYENNE NOT NAVIGATOR AND CERTAINLY NOT THE EXPLORER. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER TO DRIVE THAN THIS.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Lake - May 20 - 10:00 am

  Best out there. I have owned quite a few different SUVs. This one does it all.