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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  after a year, not a single problem... - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover
  By iainmc - February 2 - 9:46 pm

  I am very surprised (especially considering my previous experience with a 98 rr hse) that i have not had a single problem with my 2008 rr hse. Its been great.

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  Looks great but disappointed! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By udman2 - February 2 - 2:30 am

  Love the looks. Had to change out the Continental Tires that were stock. 3 of the 4 had side wall issues. Dealership said must be abuse but I am 46, driven all prior cars with no accidents, no abuse and have done nothing but normal with this vehicle. Chromed wheels at same time. Looks great. Went off=road 2 times into real estate development on new roads just cleared. Both times in area where several other vehicles had 0 problems the RRS had issues and damage underneath. CHEAP< CHEAP ALLUMINUM shield (not steel) just crumples if contact anything. Underside sits so low (even w/ veh in hi) had damage at 2 - 3 mph over cleared area. 0 issues with Suburban.

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  A beautiful can of problems - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By mwatson - January 21 - 1:43 am

  For the first four months I absolutely loved this vehicle. It is hands down the most beautiful SUV on the road. Then the front differential went out while driving down the highway. Then the steering wheel adjuster started going crazy and locking into its lowest position. Then some gasket wore out. And I am told I have to replace the brake pads pretty much every 10-15 thousand miles. And now the electronic air suspension stopped working. And I have owned the car for a little less than three years. It is, however, fun to drive, its a gorgeous car, and you can take it to the best restaurant in town or to the beach without feeling out of place. Would I buy another one? Probably.

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  Read this before buying your Range Rover - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By hamid azadegan - January 11 - 1:43 pm

  This car has too many on board computers - 27 to be exact (as Ive been told) and mine has had thing go wrong with them which took the dealership three weeks to figure out what was wrong, and still at a little bit over 11k miles I have a list of another eight things that need fixing on my next visit to the dealership.

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  Major Suspension Problems - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By dmorningcall - January 10 - 10:00 am

  A beautiful SUV with major suspension issues. Car has been in the shop for over a month this year. Rear and front suspension failed. Sub frame bolts came loose!

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  Dealer support - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Anaheim Rover - December 20 - 8:46 am

  I bought a LR3 HSE about two weeks ago. So far, my experience has not been too good. I purchased the car on a Monday night, and the dealer said they needed two days to prep the car. I picked it up on Wednesday, and within minutes of driving off, noticed the Navigation System didnt work. So much for thoroughly prepping the car. This couldnt have been missed. It has now been two weeks, the car has been in the shop twice, and I am still waiting for, hopefully, the right part. Well see. The dealer seems very interested in selling cars, but their customer care / support is terrible

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  So they do live up to their Reputation, atleat the 03-05 - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By jma3 - December 16 - 8:53 am

  I bought a beautiful bronze color HSE with 49k miles. All was fine the first year until my second and third year gremlins started taking over- Please get yourself a factory or extended warranty for as long as you own this SUV. Coolant reservoir exploded without warning and light inside cabin came on only after damage was done- coolant hoses explode. Fuel pump, alternator, battery, thermostat, dashboard readout console, navigation, overheating, heater hose, and endless electrical issues ALL went out thru my ownership including headlamps not illuminating at times. My RR left me stranded 4-5 times on the road. I would only get a preowned again with a warrantly no matter the mileage.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By mike - December 8 - 4:23 pm

  Love the looks, great ride, outstanding in the snow. Cant beat the 3rd row seats, almost bought the Lexus 470, glad I didnt. Must have better fuel mileage.

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  Love the looks. - 2009 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Kevin - November 25 - 9:26 pm

  Its my 5th range rover. I think it will be the last. Fun to drive best looking SUV on the market. I have owned it 1 week. Its been in the shop twice. The dealer has had it longer than i have.

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  Great to drive, for 2 only though - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By johnmpc94 - November 2 - 2:40 pm

  Bought this SUV used, and have had no problems yet. Vehicle was recalled once, and we spent 1hr 30mins at the dealer, then left with the entire vehicle smelling like gas. Fast for a 2.5L V6, handles like a go-cart, and comfortable for the driver. Passengers in the back seat suffer. Seats at near 90 degree angles, and are hard as concrete. Not good for people who grocery-shop with the family, as the cargo area doesnt have enough room for two weeks worth of meals. Ive noticed lately that the back hatch is having trouble as well. When closed, the back glass doesnt go up correctly. Only thing wrong with it is the back left power window, which hasnt worked since we bought it. Otherwise great.