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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  Loved this car - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By mali - October 5 - 9:06 am

  My parents first purchased this car, and at first I thought it was the ugliest thing they could have bought, but after a few years I really started getting attached and when I got my license my parents let me have it. Within the year I drove i but 18,000 miles on it and it already had 186k so it was at the end of it life, so expected there was wear and tear but mostly in good condition. What broke was the suspension (EAS fault) which probably costs more to replace than what the car is worth currently. I used this car to drive friends around, haul grain for the horses, and we took many family adventures in it threw the cascades. Over all it was pretty reliable

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  30,000 mile review - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover
  By OC Driver - October 3 - 11:13 pm

  I originally leased this vehicle for 30 months for a monthly cost of $1,375 (CA tax). The lease just expired and I bought the car (Chase financing 60 months $840 a month). I had owned Mercedes (E and S class)for 10 years and was nervous about getting into a LR. This has honestly been the most reliable and fulfilling vehicle I have ever owned (which is why I bought out the lease). Ive had two problems: electric mirrors got out of alignment (five minute fix) and driver side seat wiring failed (two day drop off). Service experience (Land Rover Newport Beach) is a joy - quick in/out - local Mercedes service was a good hour from drop off to rental car. I am very happy!

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  This is a great Rover! - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By JJF030 - October 2 - 11:36 am

  After owning 2 LR3s and 2 X5s I upgraded to the RR Sport. This is a great SUV, and is truly king of the mountain. Dont be deceived by the scary reliability ratings, Ive had more trouble out of Lexus and BMW products. The vehicles are sometimes quirky, but the issues are small and infrequent. Plus the dealer is great to work with and always gives you a Rover loaner. Plus, this is the best looking SUV on the market. I have never had so many compliments. I would recommend the RR Sport to anyone that appreciates a refined luxury SUV.

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  Impressive, but not perfect. - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By nomarkup - October 2 - 10:00 am

  MUCH better than 2002 Mercedes G500. Great ride. Beautiful detailing. But, navigation system horrible compared to Japanese DVD based systems.

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  Rather Be Walking - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Rather Be Walking - September 30 - 10:00 am

  Bought my 2003 Disc.SE new and experienced problems ever since. Replaced electronic control units in both sunroofs, fixed the drivers side window and front sunroof as they were stuck open, cigarette lighter and heated seats stopped working after 2 months, and gas tank door fixed several times-it refuses to stay closed. Tail lights burn out continuously, back door bolts rusted since month 2 and bolts under hood corroding. Vehicle is very loud. Control panel layout is awkward at best. After sale service was so bad that I would never go back to that dealership. Take a very long test drive before purchasing this vehicle. Cant wait to get rid of mine.

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  my car - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By sshokrian - September 30 - 10:00 am

  I find the navigation systom very easy to use, as well as the audio. compared to the 2004 Mercedes s500 which we bought in Feb, 2004 it is a snap. My lease will be up on that thing before I figue it out.

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  very poor quality & reliability - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Frustrated LR3 Owner - September 30 - 8:40 am

  I really want to like my LR3. It just wont let me. Ive had the transmission replaced (after it shut down my ABS, stability control, dropped the suspension to where it looked like a low rider), the alternator & battery (after it shut down my vehicle while it was still driving), and had a water leak fixed early on. Now I have water coming in from just about everywhere possible.....great quality

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  As good as it gets... - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By RoverLover - September 23 - 10:00 am

  If the price tag for this truck is intended to manage your expectations to the highest point, Land Rover has succeeded. Ive been a BMW owner for years, and when I saw (and read) about the German engineering that contributed to the re-design of the third- generation Range Rover I was intrigued. The BMW 4.4 liter V8 (tuned to the needs of the more weighty Rover than the 5 series) seems a plenty powerful match-up to the Rover. (Coming from the polar opposite ride, a 1997 M3, I cant be a good judge of handling, acceleration, etc. on comparison.) Actual fuel economy, reset for a 4-hour stretch of interstate with cruise on was 20.6 mpg.

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  RANGE ROVER - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By KMC - September 23 - 10:00 am

  BETTER THAN THE X5, AND ALMOST AS RELIABLE....BMWS FINEST ACHIEVMENT.

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jaime911 - September 21 - 11:23 am

  I purchased my vehicle back in March 2007. I love it! It rides great and makes me feel safe when I drive it. The extras in it are worth it! I recommend this vehicle to anyone!