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:

• 

  Good! but could have been Great - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By PC - June 7 - 5:43 pm

  I bought the LR2 inspite of its poor reliability reputation. It was the right size, price and looked great. I compared it to X3, RDX, RX350,CX7 and it drove and felt the best overall. I would have rated it excellent but for some irritating issues that seem to magnify each day. First off the gas mileage Ive been getting for in-city is 12.5. . Secondly there is no storage area for the driver. All my other cars had something on the dash or below the right arm to store sunglasses,CDs, papers. The bluetooth on this car does not sync w Smartphones which renders it useless. And the Cold Climate package gets you a windshield that produces glare from oncoming traffic. Other than that its great.

• 

  Upside down nightmare! - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By mary - June 7 - 1:23 pm

  Bought it used and thought I was buying a quality car. My mechanic told me was engine was ready to go and Ive been having coolant leakage. Currently owe 13,000, dealers will only give me $7,000 and I feel to guilty to sell it out right (would only get retail on it which is $10,000) knowing all of the problems these cars have. So, what do I do with this poorly made vehicle? Dont buy!

• 

  Couldnt Be Happier - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Couldnt Be Happier - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I traded in my Mercedes C Class to get back in to a truck (Ive had an Xterra, a Jeep, and a Toyota p/up in the past) and this Land Rover has a drive like nothing Ive ever owned before. The black duragrain in my "S" model is better than leather, I dont miss the sun roof b/c there is a ample light and headroom, and ride is suprisingly smooth considering the off- road prowess that the truck is known for. By the way, this truck has too much muscle to be referred to as an "SUV". Very happy with it!

• 

  What a pleasure. - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By knewton304 - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a truly remarkable automobile. Its off-road capabilities are legendary but now, its on-road manners and both interior and exterior appointments and finish are equal to its other abilities. Performance is vastly improved the car is now as nimble as most sports cars.

• 

  I want to love it, but it wont let me.. - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Combee1 - May 28 - 9:50 pm

  I was so excited to get the new LR3 that I refused to wait for an HSE and bought a fully loaded V8 SE model, w/ navi, off-road, and 7 passenger seating. We have had problems with this vehicle from the start. Among them has been several suspension faults (requiring new air compressors), a bad seal in the exhaust system, leaking sunroof, recalled gas tank, bad sensor for cooling system, rattling speakers, broken lathces on seats and on glove compartment, and excessivlely quick and dangerously uneven tire wear. It often takes several trips to Matheny LR in Jacksonville, FL to fix each problem. Their behavior borders on rude at times, and they certainly do not stand behind their products.

• 

  excellent early experience - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By happy - May 26 - 3:13 pm

  I have had the vehicle for just over two months and 3000 miles. I have been a long time SUV owner(14 years; five other vehicles), most recently in an FX 45. I spent considerable time "shopping" the Land Rover, BMW and Lexus vehicles. This vehicle was far and above the superior in the group. Recently took a 1200 mile trip with the family and found the vehicle to be quite comfortable and a pleasure to drive. At this point I would highly recommend strong consideration of this vehicle.

• 

  Rose with a thorn - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By S. Colson - May 24 - 11:53 pm

  Bought my supercharged RRS loaded, including factor DVD and adaptive cruise control which were options I really didnt have much interest in. Factory DVD system requires headphones with wires, but...they dont come with this $70k+ vehicle. Adaptive cruise control makes interstate trips a real joy...set your cruising speed and forget about putting your foot on the gas pedal or brake. Transmission downshifts around town for this heavy SUV take a toll on gas mileage. Seats are adjustable, but still a little too firm. Acceleration and exhaust note are great. Lots of looks and compliments on this red beauty with 20-inch wheels. Wife loves it too!

• 

  BRITS REVENGE FOR THE REVOLUTION - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By R H B - May 23 - 11:40 pm

  I got this vehicle for a good price but I still kick myself for not buying a CRV. The sunroof was replaced twice, brakes were replaced twice, and now the transmission is gone, BUT we have an extended warranty. One note on the front brakes, I am trying the Powerstop brakes and rotors, and Im hoping that will fix that problem. Overall Land Rover of Albuquerque has treated me good, and honored all warranty work. Land Rover of Albuquerque also helped out with a rental, but its sad when my wife thinks a Pontiac Vibe is better then the Land Rover....

• 

  A complex work of art - 2001 Land Rover Range Rover
  By theschurgers - May 23 - 10:23 pm

  This vehicle is quite complex, so there is higher chance of a failure. Body is extremely durable in a rollover. Absolutely beautiful interior. Body panel fit could be better. Engine is a very old Buick design with modern Bosch controls. Solid axle can provide rough ride. Great to tow horse trailer, exceptional off road. Very nimble in traffic and to park. Outstanding brakes. Very good handling for an SUV, air suspension is very adaptable. We love this car.

• 

  Worst Car of all Time - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By flyboyz123 - May 20 - 10:23 pm

  This is the worst car that I have ever owned in my life. 1.) very unreliable, less then 2 weeks after purchasing the car the air suspension went out. Grand total =$2,000 2.) less then 3 months after getting the suspension fixed the transmission went out. Grand total = $6,000 3.) Worst gas mileage on a vehicle I have ever seen I would not recommend this car to my worst enemy, it looks good and is comfortable but thats where the buck stops.