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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  Range Rover The Best Lux SUV Period - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By amgbenz - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a great SUV the Luxuary is second to none for a Truck that is so great off road. Very relaxing and calm to drive, I love it!

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  very nice vehicle - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Riskit - December 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a very solid car. After 10000 miles nothing has failed. Average mpg on the road is 18.5 in town 16mpg. This is a very comfortable car to ride in with surprising performance for heavy vehicle.

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  Great Little SUV - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By JK - December 23 - 4:46 am

  This is a great little SUV - its definitely not a huge vehicle for hauling lots of stuff, but you know that when youre looking at a smaller SUV. We have owned this HSE for one year and it has handled very well in the snow, on a frozen lake and in general traffic. The disign is much improved over previous versions and it is generally a fun car to drive for the price.

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  24 months and still going strong - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Land Rover Lover - December 20 - 7:56 pm

  I have had my LR2 for 24 months now. This was my 1st land rover purchase but definitely wont be my last. The only problems I have had over the past 2 years have been very minor and very easily and quickly resolved by excellent service at my dealer. I still get many admiring looks and questions about my Tambora Flame colored LR2. I would have paid thousands more for a comparably equipped X3, Q5, or RX350. Considering that routine maintenance was also included sealed the deal. Overall, I have been very happy with my purchase and am always surprised to hear stories of "bad experiences" with LR2s since my experience has been the exact opposite (dependable, comfortable, and reliable).

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  Silver Freelander SE - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Reid - December 20 - 10:53 am

  Engineering "work-of-art". Quality build, exceeds my expectations in every area. Exceedingly good ride and handling. Excellent off road traction. Bigger than it looks though lacks large cargo area. Will likely stick with a Land Rover product. Highly Recommended!

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  LR3 - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By bkalhor - December 15 - 2:06 am

  This is my third LR and by far the best one to date!

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  Good Vehicle - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By Wonderful Vehicle - December 13 - 1:03 am

  Its a good vehicle we drive it up and down the east coast and can get 20.4 MPG. Its also nice with the over-the-head DVD player which makes the rides better. I like all of the features on the SUV. Its a very smooth ride.

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  Wow, Finally - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By tod - December 7 - 6:46 pm

  I finally found a Range Rover. I love teh sexy look. Just had to get one. Ride is great and unbelievable. Test drive and you will purchase it. I stil get a lot of attention even after two years of ownership. I love this truck. Drives comfortable like a luxury sedan.

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  Best SUV Ive owned - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By chazley - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased a 2003 Discovery SE. I have owned 3 Nissan Pathfinders, 1 Grand Cherokee, 1 Cherokee sport, 1 Ford Expedition and 1 Toyota 4 runner. The 2003 Discovery SE is in a class by it self! I highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Solid Performer - 2011 Land Rover LR4
  By Jeffrey Audet - December 5 - 8:41 pm

  Have had very few problems with this SUV. Excellent towing ability