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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  Rockin - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Philip - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Holy man this car rocks

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  Worlds finest SUV - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By MARK HOWARD - September 24 - 1:06 am

  I read all the hype but I had my doubts so I went for a test drive. The salesman drove no more than 50 feet to the dealership test track which is rocky and narrow with tight, steep off-camber turns. I was amazed my wife was like a kid on a theme park ride. "Lets do it again! Come on, lets do it again!" One we headed out the drive way the controls were in my hands. My first impression was the comfort and drive feel of a large luxury sedan. I had to have it and bought it that day. I could wait to get it off-road so I racked up the "break-in" miles in a couple of days and headed for the dirt. Nothing compares or even comes close to the off- road performance of an LR3. Buy it!

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  Missed some details....but a great truck - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Bammer - September 16 - 12:36 pm

  Ive had my LR3 for four months, having traded in a Range Rover. Overall Im happy with the car, but there are some ponderous details they overlooked, like you have to hold the wipers away from the window while washing. You need three hands to wash the windows. The lack of front tilt on the seats is ridiculous as has been mentioned before. Ive added mud flaps because the wheel wells dont catch anything the tires run through. The black door panels "chalk" in less than a week, turning a whitish hue which no amount of cleaning seems to stop. The radio accessory plug in the rear of the center console???? I carry my iPod in front not in back, so I had to snake a cable to the front.

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  RIP OFF!!! - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Jean - September 15 - 4:36 am

  this car was a total problem almost right from the start. we didnt listen to all the talk about the air suspension problems dealing w/this car and low and behold when we bought it, after the lemon-law didnt apply, we had major troubles w/the air suspension becoming inactive (we had to take it in 4 TIMES!!) whats worse is customer service wont even help us with the problem. they wont offer us a fair trade in or a good price on a new one even though it was completely their fault. big car companies should know that when you spend this much on a car you pay for good performance and service. we didnt receive either. save yourself a lot of trouble and purchase a Lexus.

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  love my LR2 - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By gerd Budden - September 11 - 3:26 pm

  I leased the car Sept 07 and drive about 15k a year. We had a lot of snow this winter in Oregon. the 4-wheel drive system is outstanding. often I was the only driver in my family, could go everywhere. there are no blind spots, the finishing is superb. this is a quality car that pleases. I took some trips and got up to 26.9 miles on the freeway. I give it a 10

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  WOW! WHAT A RIDE! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By OGBOLO - September 8 - 10:00 am

  I cannot say anything but GREAT things about this vehicle. Coming from an Explorer for 7 years, the Discovery is unebelievable. This is a smooth car on and off road. Lots of power to tackle anything.

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  High cost to maintain - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By DES - September 7 - 5:43 pm

  I got my LR about 2 years ago. The reason I traded in my 96 Cherokee was I was worried it was going to start costing too much in repairs. Should have stuck it out because I have spent around $1000 already on my Freelander which is probably more than I would have spent on my Cherokee and I didnt have a car payment. I have had the brake pads and rotors replaced twice already. The dealer says it is normal for the Freelander because of the weight. Not good. Also the windshield wipers stopped working. Drivers side in a snow storm and passenger side in the pouring rain. No big deal to fix, but not a good sign of quality in my opinion. Wish I had driven my old Cherokee for a few more years.

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  Discovery-atic - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By abombard - September 7 - 11:01 am

  Well, I have owned three Discoveries now; a 98, 2000, and 2003. I have had problems with every one I have owned, in fact, the one I currently own is being repaired - the tail light spontaneously caught on fire. The crazy thing is, I would buy another one; although I would like my next LR to be a Defender. I love the way they feel on and off road - particullarly off road.

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  Best in Class - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By speedracer - September 2 - 2:00 am

  The Freelander is hands down the best vehicle in the small SUV class. The V6 is powerful and is mated with a steptronic transmission which allows you to shift if you want to, otherwise just leave it in drive and go. There is also a sport option which allows for a more lively driving experience with increased engine revs. On the road the suspension is great and gives a smooth right. The steering is tight and responsive, similar to what you would expect in a BMW sedan. The Freelander is excellent off road as well and can go through some rough terrain with aplomb. The driving seat is excellent and gives a great view of the road. Brakes are responsive.

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  Land Rover Freelander - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By scherf93 - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck. I was nervous going from a sports car to an SUV, but the Freelander is not as large as full-size SUV. I feel really comfortable driving it.