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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  LR3 Review - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Darley - October 3 - 4:43 am

  This truck is driven mostly as a family shuttle and grocery getter. But theres the occasional roadtrip up and down the east coast, when I really make use of the 300HP and command feature. This truck comes alive at high speeds and the ride feel solid, but luxurious. Poor on gas, but what do you expect from a 3 ton truck. I suggest replace the air filter with a K & N for better fuel mileage and performance. I really enjoy the LR3s blend of the utilitarian look with the luxury amenities. If youre in the market for a purposeful luxury truck, the LR3 is the quentatiential vehicle for you. It doesnt scream poseur, ostentatious, or whatÂ’s the point like many competitors.

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  Warning Will Robinson! Danger! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Fed Up To Here! - September 21 - 6:46 pm

  As you can see by our rating we love everything except the reliabity. This car has been in the shop more than its been in our driveway! The LR3 was way over engineered. Keep the design and the luxury and get rid of the gizmos! Six computers? Come on guys! This car is so complex, the dealer couldnt figure it out! For example, the door locks lock and un lock at will. The stereo display will read total system shutdown, with the car running or not! All the dash lights will go out and the alarm will come on! On one accasion every warning light came on and the car quit and refused to start. Give me the car with a low range and a locking rear differantial and I would be happy.

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  Love it! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Rover Mom - September 19 - 4:33 am

  I bought this car brand new. I had an MB E Class. The Rover sport is cute seems a little small when all adults are in the vehicle. Ive been told the head rest are uncomfortable in the rear. I had a short in one of my headlights the 1st month I owned the car. I dropped it at the dealer they gave me a loaner, I picked it up 3 days later and never had the problem again. I just got rotors and brakes all around $1500, I never had such a high maintenance bill ever! I love the Rover sport I just wish it was a little more roomy, better on gas, and its a little slow to take off, have to work speed up. Im thinking about going to the full size HSE, but I wonder will it be worth it...

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  Perfect size for Mom, Baby and Outdoors - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By cjm - September 14 - 10:00 am

  After my husbands safari-equipped Discovery and driving many traditional SUVs... the Freelander meets all of our needs WITHOUT the worry of fitting in a parking garage. Dollar for dollar the Freelander makes the most financial sense... It drives like a passenger car, has the off-road capability of its brothers and can handle a family of four with all the gear accordingly.... additionally, aside from the service you can expect to find associated with the Land Rover name it is always nice to know your vehicle is not another cookie-cut product found in every garage in America.

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  Feels good......so far. - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Mack1 - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my HSE for about 3 months now. So far I really enjoy the SUV. Im a little reserved with my review because im fearful something will happen to change my entire opinion. I was actually riding from the mall the weekend with my wife and had to sporatically comment on how nice and enjoyable the truck is to drive. I think I used the phrase "its a pleasure to drive" and her reply was actually.."its a pleasure to ride in also"... I guess that sums it up ....

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  The drivers choice - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By ducati - August 8 - 2:00 am

  We compared the LR to the Jeep Liberty, Mazda Tribute, Honda CRV, Ford Escape, and Audi A4 Avant quattro. Out of those choices, only the Land Rover had excellent on-road manners (approaching that of a sport sedan) and off-road capability. It is truly an excellent blend for the real world user. I do think the dash is a bit ugly, but the quality of the leather (HSE) is 10 steps above the crap offered in the Liberty. For only a few more $$ than Liberty, and with 4.9% financing (3.9% for cloth S), this is the vehicle to own for those who like to drive. Interestingly enough, as we got down to our last drives, the Audi A4 Avant quattro was really the only competitor..

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  LR3 Review - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By zamer1230 - August 3 - 11:03 pm

  I just switched from a Mercedes 500 to the LR3 and while owning the LR3 may not be the most fun in the summertime... try getting thru a blizzard with it...youll be passing people as if it were flurrying out! The truck handles well for an SUV, and I have had most. The gas mileage is the only negative quality, but you are towing a great amount of weight daily...Kudos to the LR3!

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  Great Suv - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By AlfonsoKnoll - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Fun and practical for our family of 4.

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  Love it, bought another - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By michaels family - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Great on-road ride, good for commuting - stable, quiet, smooth, plenty of power. Off-road beach driving is a dream, barely know youre off-road. Styling, both ext and int, is right up our alley - conservative yet modern, comfortable, masculine but not over- the-top.

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  Would buy it again! - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By pressare - July 15 - 7:56 am

  Ive had the LR2 for a little over a month (February- March) in Cleveland Ohio, so saying that, Ive been impressed by how the truck both handles & performs in this harsh climate. I really like it & Ive owned a BMW & Jeeps & neither truck comes close. The fuel mileage is bad, but who cares, it probably cost me an extra $300-$400 year (worth it!)