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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  Great SUV! - 2014 Land Rover Range Rover
  By nautictalk - June 16 - 5:07 pm

  Long time owner of RRs. Just sold my 2006 SC edition and it was the best car I have ever owned. Reliabilty throughout my ownership was stellar. Never had a significant issue. I currently also own a BMW 750 and 650. And have owned other premium vehicles in the past. And as I said the RR was the best of the lot. I just took delivery of a 2014 full size RR SC with every option except the towing package. This is by far the best RR. Its fast, comfy and execution in materials and fit/finish is flawless. I love it. That being said, there are a few areas of improvement needed. Should be no Eco auto on. Navigation could be improved. And rear hatch cover can be improved. Great SUV!

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  Only minor problems - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By sam818 - June 14 - 2:00 am

  Great all round; but a few minor problems: steering wheel adjust will not go up/down, radio always reverts to "no tune" after being parked; strange "static" crackle in the voice of the navigation system. Engine and transmission roar is a little more than expected.

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  150K Miles and completely reliable - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By erniki - June 13 - 11:23 pm

  Single owner, mostly highway miles, and this SUV deserves all the credit as a reliable, safe, and stylish SUV. Have just over 150K miles and have had 3 repairs on the SUV since first purchasing in 2004. 1) Cup Holder 2) Sunglasses Holder 3) O2 Sensor Routine Maintence on the SUV includes: 1) Every 5,000 miles change 0w40 Mobile 1 2) Tires 3) Serpentine Belt 4) Transmission and coolant flush 5) Brakes ** Do not take to Range Rover Dealer ** Since ford purchsed in 2003, the parts are regularly available at most auto mechanics at half the hourly rate. Love this truck, could not imagine ever going back to a Tahoe. Curp appeal, safety, and comfort at its best.

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  It is a great city and country car - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By L Lettice Carroll - June 13 - 6:36 am

  I purchased this car after driving a Toyota Highlander for 5 years this car was a bit of a change for me that took awhile to get used to. We drive from LA north for 200 miles and back again frequently. We have found that this car is a delight to drive both in the city and the country where we need the 4 wheel drive. It zips around the city and really does climb the slippery muddy roads on our property. I feel very safe in all sorts of driving situations.

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  Class Action Suit anyone?! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By AKfreelander - June 10 - 2:33 pm

  Bought the Freelander (FL) in 03, and, loved it. As you can see from the other reviews, great car when its not in the shop. Went to the dealership for all service, oil changes, etc. Six months ago, I started having overheating problems. Dealer changed out the coolant tank, etc. Kept having the problem over and over until two weeks ago when the car would not start. Towed it into the dealer, needs a new engine. $8400 estimate. Do the research! This car is a lemon. The engine will blow out ~65K, good luck talking to LR if you are out of warranty. Its a money black hole.

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  Outstanding Car - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Bruce Brown - June 10 - 2:33 pm

  The LR3 has the versatility I need in a family car with the smooth and solid ride of a luxury sedan. The Jaguar 4.4 liter engine is quiet and strong enough for this heavy car and the transmission is flawless. The interior is perfectly designed, with the distinctively high Land Rover seating position and elegant controls. Both the second and third row have more usable space than any other car or SUV in this class -- I can fit three car seats in the second row and two adults in the third. Zero service problems after 6K miles. You should not expect this heavy and solid car to get good mileage and, alas, it does not. But other than that understandable shortcoming, this is a terrific car.

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  Concerned, Happy So Far! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By paulr - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I always liked the exterior design of the Land Rover. I have clients who are mechanics and they said stay away from these vehicles. Therefore I leased my wife one b/c she loves it and does to date. I hedged my bet by leasing and keeping ownership under warranty. I must say I love driving it on the weekends. Lots of fun, I cant wait to go off-road if my wife lets me. Very happy thus far!

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  Concerned, Happy So Far! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By PaulR - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I always liked the exterior design of the Land Rover. I have clients who are mechanics and they said stay away from these vehicles. Therefore I leased my wife one b/c she loves it and does to date. I hedged my bet by leasing and keeping ownership under warranty. I must say I love driving it on the weekends. Lots of fun, I cant wait to go off-road if my wife lets me. Very happy thus far!

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  Love mine, with reservations - 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
  By bonuspoints - June 5 - 10:42 am

  I bought this, the first time, on a whim. Driving by the dealer, I saw one and bought it on the spot. Fully loaded Dynamic at almost $60k. The first one was immediately a lemon, so it was replaced. After six months, the latest one has been a joy to drive. Great performance, great style, very practical in most ways.

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  Whats all the fuss? - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By markrayburn - June 4 - 10:01 pm

  Ive owned a few Discos and have loved them all. There may be some troubling anomalies out there but Ive not found one. Regular maintenance seems to be the key element, and catching anything suspect early on. My 2004 SE has 202k miles and is clean as can be. Fixed early signs of lifter noise right away (at 100k) by doing an oil cleaning flush and new Castrol. Been silent since. I replaced a right CV joint on my 96 SE7 (my favorite because they were still putting 5-speed manuals in them). It drove my family for 265k until I was forced off the road one day at 65mph and rolled 6 times. I could still open all 5 doors. Landed on its wheel. Amazing. Had two others. Loved em all.