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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  My baby buoy!!! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By maria - June 7 - 11:30 am

  I traded in my 05 ford mustang gt.For this 06 range rover sport. At first when i saw this vehicle it was love at first sight! To ever think i could afford a vehicle like this was just unimaginable. The ride, safety,and looks are out of this world. This is the best riding vehicle i have ever had and this makes 29 cars in my life time. We love it so much we thought of buying another one. For my husband. The horsepower is also 300 like the mustang so i didnt loose that.But the room is worth the trade. The options my range rover sport has is incredible too. Love the navigation system.The lights that move as you drive.Thats a plus too.This vehicle is the best! I cant rate it high enough! I just love it!

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  LR3 & ME! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Michael Stoll - June 4 - 6:26 pm

  In this case, the fourth time is a charm! Following a Discovery and two Range Rovers, I think theyve finally got it! Rides like a luxury car, stable on ice and snow, and all the bells and whistles you would expect, save the comment noted below regarding sound system. While hesitant in the past, I would give the LR3 two big "thumbs up"!

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  One was not enough - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By RovX2 - June 1 - 4:36 am

  We bought our Sport in Sept. for me. The ride is smooth and the pick up is excellent. I love our car, but my wife loves it more and I couldnt get her out of it so that I could drive it. So we just bought her one also. Two is definitely better than one.

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  2008 LR2 HSE - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By LTC - May 22 - 7:10 am

  I have owned it for just under 2 yrs. All service free and one quick recall item while in for service. Average 20 MPG with much stronger V6 than previous Freelander. It handled the record DC snowstorm with ease.

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  Love this SUV!!! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By John - May 18 - 12:53 am

  I love this SUV! It can not be compared with other mid-sized SUVs becasue its not. Not inside anyway! Our LR3 seats 7 large adults totally comfortably...even more comfortably than the Suburban....the biggest of the SUVs. But outside you wouldnt know it. The turning radius is just amazing as well. Parking is a sinch!

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  Love my Rover! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Kristen - May 11 - 10:16 am

  My husband bought me this car soon after we had our baby in December. I couldnt love it more. Its got amazing handling and pick up. The steering is incredible. Its full of cool offroad features that you can even use on road. I use my "snow" setting in stop and go traffic.

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  Luxury at its best - 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By 08m3_12rrs - May 8 - 10:09 am

  I purchased the RRS for my growing family. The drive quality is awesome. We looked at the Cayenne, X5, & Q7 and though all of these had great attributes the RRS took the cake. We wanted something that was going to give us the luxury of the Cayenne with the build and reliability of the X5 & Q7. The RRS has everything that you could ask for we opted for the HSE LUX which provided just what we needed not going into the Supercharged. That was too much for the wife and with owning an M3 we didn’t need that for our family. If you’re looking for luxury, reliability, and presence on the road this is your vehicle; plus it makes you feel very safe.

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  Best vehicle I ever owned - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Gary Bryan - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I have owned mercedes 500s and Ml430 and sl45o, This is the best easiest fun to drive vehicle I have ever owned.

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  Sporty SUV - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Dr. HAH - April 23 - 10:00 am

  After much research and shopping many top end sedans,SUVs and other cars this RR has been nothing but more of a pleasure to own and drive. Had a LandCruiser and thought it was excellent but this RR really puts everything about it to shame. The BMW engineering is incredible. For almost 5500 pounds it will get up and move. So far so good. Would highly recommend if money is not an issue.

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  Best over - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Donnie - April 17 - 4:46 pm

  Owned previous model, 2004 before interior update and this one is the best ever. Even the floor mats exude quality. Fit and finish is probably the best Ive seen in a long time. Owned Lexus LX470 and it is just a plastic Toyota upside this vehicle. The constrasting stitching, smooth drivetrain is second to none. Expensive, but worth every penny!