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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  As long as its not raining - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Adam - June 13 - 8:13 pm

  I love my Rover Sport...Have had several BMW X5s in the past and they dont even come close. The exterior is great, interior, everything is within reach. I was quite concerned about reliability when I purchased but with almost 8000 miles, I have only had 2 problems. Sunroof leaks and dealer cannot seem to fix, have replaced seal and sunroof twice but still leaks in the rain and car wash (this seems to be very common with Rover from what I have read on line). Rear door seals falling off. Only draw back is everything has to be ordered by the dealer and takes a couple of weeks to arrive. Fuel mileage is not bad at all, I am averaging 18/19 city/hwy mix. Would definitely buy again!

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  My new love - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By jennifer - June 10 - 10:33 am

  Drove it in snow & rain and it handled great! Drove a BMW M3, so you can imagine the power, control & handling I need. RRS drives like a dream, its a luxury SUV that actually handles all the elements and gives you the power & control all at the same time. I miss my M3 but after driving the RRS, Ive found a new love. Also use to drive a Land Cruiser & compared to the RRS, the LC drives heavy & is hard to steer. It truly amazes me how easy the RRS steering is, its effortless. it doesnt feel heavy or huge. 1 thing that used to bug me were the lines in the windshield (for defrosting), but you get use to it. Also, its common knowledge not to buy an V8 SUV if you care about gas mileage!

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  Lovin it! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By tindallsmom - May 26 - 2:00 am

  I love this SUV! I must admit Land Rovers are an aquired taste, but once you aquire it youre hooked. I really like sitting up high-even my hubbys Z- 71 seems low to the ground to me now. It handles well and I feel very safe in it. It only gets 3 light poles per gallon :-) but we were aware of that before we purchased it, so its no big deal. The doors dont open very wide & I was concerned about being able to get my daughter in/out, but it hasnt been a problem. Overall,Im extremely pleased with our purchase.

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  the best suv on earth - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By suvmancar - May 15 - 10:00 am

  best suv ever made

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  Disco III? - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By autopower - May 3 - 2:40 am

  This LR3 was a loaner in great condition. Was looking for a Disco II but could not find one in the condition I wanted. The driving position is great. The Xenon headlamps are wonderful. I can attest to the outstanding off-road capability of the LR3 [thank you Land Rover Driving Experience]. I now have over 20000 miles on it, and no problems. I average about 17.5 mpg in mixed driving. The 3rd row is more tolerable for adults on short trips than my previous Acura MDX. I usually have the 3rd row folded flat with a mat over it for cargo duty. It does it all.

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  Weekend Fun - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Mark - May 1 - 10:10 am

  I bought the Disco used as a third vehicle for weekend fun. After driving across the Santa Cruz river and trudging through 2 feet of mud and silt... Im totally impressed if not shocked. So were the heavily modified trucks and Jeeps I drove past. Rocky terrain found here in Arizona is a non issue as my new backcountry driving experiences have taught me. This truck may not be refined (Ive owed a Lexus and a baby Benz) but its endearing, fun, versitile and more stares and positve comments than the shiny Lexus and little Red Benz. People just seem to gravitate towards its bold styling and appreciate its brutish stance. It guzzles gas no doubt, but the V8 sounds way cool, especially on start up

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  My third Land Rover - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Richard Williams - April 11 - 10:00 am

  The professional attitude of the Land Rover Centre. No problems with the auto so far.

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  Sporty European fun - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By beach bum - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive. Abundance of standard technical and performance features. Handling is superb. Dealership experience is excellent. My first SUV. I love the convertable and sporty feel/look. Good A/C - important in Miami. Handles well in heavy rain. Turns heads in South Beach. Easy to drive and to park. Wish I had it back in California.

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  What a GEM! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By babbs - April 2 - 10:00 am

  This is my first SUV, previously I have owned Saabs, Audis, and a BMW. My Freelander handles as well or even better than any of my cars ever have. I receive many compliments on the look of the car. I feel extremely safe driving in all conditions, it handles well in all weather. It stops on a dime, and has excellent turning capabilities for an SUV. I will always own a Freelander. The performance, reliability, warranty, style make it a must have for anybody and any lifestyle. Perfect for someone that wants an SUV without feeling like you are driving a huge car.

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  I Love my Quirky Land Rover Disco - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By sms65965 - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I grew up in the back of Land Rovers (what most people know today at Defenders), and the off-road heritage that has been passed down to todays LRs is just as mud, snow, sand, and rock gripping as in the past. The daily commute in a LR bears little resenblance to the original LR tractor/all around farm vehicle the Brits first developed, and it hasnt lost any of its utility. The LR Disco may now be a people-ferrying vehicle, but it is still first and foremost a utility vehicle.