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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  Land Rover is tops - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By klebsack - January 23 - 1:43 pm

  This is a truly awesome vehicle. This is the first LandRover I have owned but will not be the last. It is fun to drive and exceeds my expectations of an SUV. I drove it on a LandRover course and was amazed at what it is capable of. It was definately a thrill to see its manuverability on an off road enviroment.

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  The best vehicle I have ever driven - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Broham - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Best truck I have ever driven. It has a combination of speed and handling that I have not seen in other SUVs I have driven.

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  absoloutely wonderful - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By loooooove it - January 12 - 3:46 am

  After doing much research on which vehicle I should get for my 16 year old I finally decided on a landrover discovery. I found one at a wonderful price and its still running strong after 120,000 miles. Regardless of what the other reviews say it is a very reliable vehicle... Those that have repairs all the time just dont know how to take care of a vehicle. My son loves the double sunroofs and the ability to haul his friends around town. This is a wonderful vehicle for any teen.

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  Freelander-Best in my Experience - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By LRMOM - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I have owned/driven "SUVs" for 23 years (Blazer-K5, Jeep-Cherokee, Pathfinder), but the Freelander clearly performs above the rest for handling, pure utility, and fun to drive. After 20,000 miles, not one mechanical issue. The cargo room is small, but will suffice for runs to the hardware, hauling one piece of furniture, or a trip for four who pack light. I would buy this car again without question.

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  Consumer - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Clinto G. Smith - January 9 - 6:13 pm

  Excellent in performance, have owned FX 35 (2004) and Hummer (2005) and no comparison in performande,

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  N - 2010 Land Rover LR2
  By Dirky - January 8 - 4:36 am

  MPG during a 600 mile trip on highway was 27MPG. City is about 22 so far

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  Clearly a Bimmer - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By timphy - January 6 - 10:00 am

  The new Range Rover is by far the best SUV I have owned (and there have been many). The interior design is like a well-done Manhattan living room with its cherrywood (not that plastic-looking veneer crap) and buttery leather with contrasting piping. The 19" wheels are stout and lend way to great handling for a truck. One would have to be trying extremely hard to roll this machine. I have the same 4.4L V8 BMW powerplant in two other cars and it is bullet-proof, quite smooth, and reliable. Just about everything else save the box-design of the body is easily recognised as BMW as well, again speaking volumes about the expected reliability and thoughful design.

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  New - 2010 Land Rover LR2
  By LR2 Owner - January 5 - 1:03 am

  I have had my LR2 for a few days now and drove it from New Jersey to Florida and me and my wife are very happy. I have owned 8 cars in the past 10 years and this one is nice! I bought the car with 2000 miles on it and put about 1000 on it during our drive down. Dont listen to all the BS people put on here about how bad it is. Go Google the number one reliable car "Honda accord" and add problems into the search and you will see bad stuff. All cars have problems. The Landrover line of cars are nice and built solid. All newer cars have electrical issues and if you dont like it then purchase an antique car.

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  Great Little SUV - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By kimmarsh - January 4 - 8:26 pm

  Ive had no trouble from my 2004 HSE. I consistently get 19-21 mpg and mechanically, its been a great vehicle. The ride is fantastic and the fit and finish on my vehicle is great!

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  Amazing Land Rover - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By MaineRover - December 27 - 7:33 am

  After having test driven the LR3, I was ready to be underwhelmed by the LR4. A test drive sold me, after a few weeks of ownership - love it. The LR4 is much better riding and handling than the LR3, hopefully reliability will be improved also. On road, it is gutsy, responsive and not too tippy (no more than my old 4Runner or FJ). Off road it is sick. Snow and ice are all I have had a chance to play in yet, and this thing is sticky and sure footed. Recommend the upgrade to HSE package, esp for colder climates. Have not had passengers in the 3rd row seats yet, so will see if they live up to the billing. Finally, the tax benefits of the LR4 are significant. Makes it easier on the wallet