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 Car, Terrible reliability - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By Pameal - July 9 - 8:40 pm

  I love to drive the car, but I have not had the chance to enjoy it. In the 6 months that I have owned this car, It has been in the shop for 2 1/2 months of it. The service department has been very nice but no one can fix the vehicle.

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  Best Luxury SUV For The Money - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By Chicagos Car - June 25 - 5:23 pm

  Everyone expects a lot of vehicle at this price point, $40k - $50K. I had researched and shopped the Toyota Highlander, Buick Enclave, Mazda CX-9 and the Honda Pilot. For the bottom dollar cost - the LR3 had the most standard amenities and safety features by a long shot at this price point. At the upper levels of any of the models I looked at, they all came within a stones throw of my purchase price. This SUV is extremely secure in all driving conditions. Driving in downtown Chicago, this car handles stop and go traffic with ease. Very strong braking and sufficient acceleration with the V8. Highway driving is whisper quiet - and theres no other SUV that has a better driving position.

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  FANTASTIC RELIABILITY (266301 kms ) - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By td - June 23 - 6:03 am

  i bought my discovery just as it came off of a lease return. ive had many off road vehicles and have done my stint in the military and saw my share of off roading there! iv been very impressed with the reliablity of this vehicle and will proabably always have a discovery or other landrover in my stable. i travel all aross Canada on business with my disco, as well as hooking up with some off road clubs. it is awesome on ice roads,deep snow and mud! it goes through all this and still looks awesome for business meetings. i now have 266301kms and counting with only regular tune ups,and tire replacements! SIMPLE AMAZING! BUT,if you own one, you HAVE TO do the regular maintenance!

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  outstanding - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By charles brahambbbbbb - June 22 - 2:56 pm

  I have owned five different land rovers since 1992 this 2004 range rover is absolutly the best performing model. The power and performance are excellent and the off capability is outstanding, driving in the ice and snow is actually fun! If you own a gas station all the better.

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  So far, so very good! - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By SCRUM HALF - June 21 - 10:00 am

  This car is everything I wanted in a min-SUV and more. Only a couple minor complaints. First, watch your head when you get in. I have to remember to duck. Second, the drivers seat is fixed in vertical position. There is not much extra head room once you are in, and the rear-view mirror blocks a large portion of your outside field-of-view. Takes some getting used to. That said, the Freelanders on-road handling is superb. It drives like a sports car, and it seems to have plenty of power for my needs, even fully loaded with the family. It cost a little more than I wanted to spend, but I definitely feel bathed in luxury. Cant wait to try it off road.

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  TWO LR3S - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Steve - June 17 - 2:33 pm

  I purchased two LR3s new. One has been plagued with electrical problems, the other perfect...go figure. The dealer, as nice as can be, has not yet been able to correct cruise control and ABS problems on the troubled LR3. Im on my third trip to the dealer. Fortunately, they give you an LR3 free as a loaner. That said, they are wonderful cars..maybe the best overall vehicles Ive ever owned. I live in the mountains near Telluride, Colorado. Our home is off a rural dirt highway. I often use the suspension height lever to clear deep snow. You will love this vehicle..you will probably love your dealer (at least ours), but be prepared for some trying moments.

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  Excellent, with room for improvements! - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Joshm18 - May 28 - 2:10 am

  Over the past few years, Ive owned a lot of vehicles and many SUVs, so my review comes from owning a BMW X5, Audi Q7, Range Rover Sport and LR3, Tahoe, Lexus Rx330 and GX. All in all, its a great SUV. Comfortable, excellent ride - greatly improved for 2010. Love the new designs and new features both inside and out. Gas mileage is terrible, but thats something everyone should know prior to purchase. We did buy a Lexus RX450h, so the hybrid offsets the bad mileage with this car. I think some of the extra features (options) are nice. Only had the car about a month and so far, I love it with very few complaints

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  12000 miles of Driving Pleasure - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By RM - May 19 - 11:50 pm

  We recently went on a family vacation to the US (round trip was about 2200 miles) On the return trip we drove non stop for 17 hours with only four stops for fuel and creature comfort. I continue to be amazed by the LR3s smooth ride and comfort and felt relaxed after 17 hours. The features that were really handy during this trip were the very capable NAV. Voice command and bluetooth were very helpful and allowed me to concentrate on driving. Command shift minimized use of brakes on the highway. The flexibility of the HK sound system was a hit with the kids.

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  Great and Awesome Car - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Sierra Madre - April 30 - 12:26 pm

  If you are looking at cars like crossovers or mid sized suvs save yourself some time. This car is the bomb. Sure, its a gas hog and believe me we tested Camry hybrids and such but with the 2 year lease at LR its a great way to hold 2 more years while the manufacturers get their stuff together on hybrids. Its an awesome looking vehicle. My wife is driving this one and it replaced an 03 4 Runner. Get it!

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  Happy So Far!!! - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By Sharon - April 24 - 9:03 am

  I am having so much fun with this car! The interior is smaller than what I am used to (I have owned several SUVs in the past). But its just me so I dont need much room! It has plenty for what I need! I have had no problems whatsoever and am loving driving this car! I have read all about brake problems, transmission, etc. I think every type of car has its lemons that role off the line every once in awhile! Mine is not one and I am happy to see all of the good and realistic reviews on this vehicle!