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 - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Geoff B - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Freelander is an excellent SUV. Performs well for both on road an off- road applications. Surprisingly more able than expected off-road. Has great driving position. Major draw-back is poor fuel economy combined with small fuel tank limiting range.

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  Puzzled? - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Puzzled - August 20 - 4:53 am

  2 weeks of having the car, the driver seat no longer moves forward- backwards. My wife couldnt drive it since the seat was stuck farther back that her foot is unable to reach the pedals. Funny! Took it to the dealer and was told they had to order a new motor. Came the new motor after couple of weeks and had it installed. The driver seat still didnt work. LR service then told me that it must be the programming. They were puzzled on how to resolve the issue and kept my car for 2 weeks. Talk about reliability! Now Im second guessing if this car was truly worth it.

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  Rover is most reliable - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By BMW Engine 2005 Rove - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I hear and read so many reviews of people stating this car is terrible. I got to tell you in my opinion my car has had zero problems besides a cup holder breaking and I am sure that was from me putting something to large in there. Just for the public wanted you to hear a positive review that this is a head Turner/ reliable/ fun SUV and in my opinion the most enjoyable car I have ever had.

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  2004 Freelander-A Must Have - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Lrover1 - August 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive traveled in Europe quite often, and noticed Freelanders on almost every corner. I decided to test out the European best seller and was quite impressed. Land Rover did a great job with its 04 design. It is very impressive off-road!

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  Leaked oil in first month - 2014 Land Rover LR4
  By Mark Kalogeras - August 15 - 12:56 am

  I bought a new Discovery in December 2014. In January, it started leaking oil. We took it back to LandRover and they needed 3 weeks to fix the engine, a major component of the engine had to be replaced. I really do not want the car back--it was obvious that it had significant defects when it left the factory. I asked LandRover to replace the car but so far they have refused and have not offered any other compensation for the fact that they sold me a defective car and all the hassle, grief and inconvenience associated with the whole mess. Obviously, if I had any idea this would happen, I would not have purchased a LandRover. Buyer beware.

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  LR4 after 13,000 miles - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By lr4fan - August 14 - 8:50 pm

  The LR4 is one of the most practical and useful automobiles available for persons interested in off road capabilities, adult seating for up to 7 and civilized handling and ride manners. The ride is firm but does not cause road fatigue on bumpy or uneven pavement. The interior is spacious and the seating is plush but not overdone. Heated seats and steering wheel have come in handy this winter (global warming aside). Rear view camera and front/rear parking sensors are handy in parking lots. This suv is easy to drive and has a small turning radius. The nav and ipod electronics have worked well. There have been no problems or warranty work. Gas mileage: 16-17 in town and 20 on highway.

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  LR3 review - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By dannyh5173 - August 13 - 6:33 am

  Did the LR Experience, a day that you can test your vehicle off-road - even on standard tyres, the LR3 can beat almost anything! Great drive, ultra- quiet engine, air ride, Jaguar engine, Bentleys (ZF) automatic 6-speed transmission, loads of cargo space, ... GREAT!

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  Lives up to its price tag - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Cwright - August 12 - 7:56 pm

  Although it is a little expensive compared to its competitors, the Land Rover Freelander deserves its price tag. It is very well built and like no other 4x4 out there.

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  Great Car - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By william kimball - August 11 - 12:33 pm

  I think it is one of the best cars I have ever purchased. It goes through snow like a knife through butter.Very comfortable , stereo is great , fun to drive and I feel very safe in it. I think it is the best value from Lexes to Mercedes. The power of the car is awsome.

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  The best by far - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By AlexRomero - August 10 - 10:26 pm

  Nothing beats a Rover to get me to the slopes and up my hill in Catskill in the winter. Great vehicle.