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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  Great Drive - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By MSIN - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Purchased two weeks ago and the car has been great. No problems at 700 miles. The car handles better than anything in its class. Engine is more than adequate. Harmon Kardon stereo sounds great.

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  Pleasantly surprised so far - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Curtis Hall - March 27 - 10:33 am

  I recently purchased my 2004 RR HSE in 4/08. I must say I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality and workmanship of the RR. I have had to take it to the dealership for the 37.5K service (free complimentary service). Nothing major but while at the dealership I did have a couple things repaired 1.) New dashboard readout console--mileage numbers began to fade. 2.) Problem with locking mechanism on rear hatch--problem fixed 3.) Transmission Failsafe Program came on--Sensor reset (that does make me a little nervous). Dealership repairs are expensive so look for a independent LR shop.

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  Love it so far - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By Skippy - March 26 - 8:00 pm

  When my wife and I went shopping we looked at all the competitors. Decided to look at the Range Rover Sport but liked the LR4 more because it was so roomy. (I am 62" tall.) Test drove and loved it. After 3 months I still do. Great performance. Poor gas mileage? Sure but that is the trade off I was willing to make for the ride and power. The visibility is really great. Inside it almost feels like a greenhouse with all the glass. I am pleased with the sunroof shade. I was wondering about that since it is not a complete blackout. It has turned out to be perfect. I will use this vehicle occasionally off road but honestly doubt that I will ever take it anywhere close to its limits

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  Freelander SE3 - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Scottocs15 - March 26 - 10:00 am

  All in all a great vehicle. It looks flashy(people at gas stations will come up to you and ask about it), and drives extremely well. The interior is nice, although it could use some improvements.

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  excellent car - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By rianxo - March 26 - 10:00 am

  The car is amazing

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  First Land Rover - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By dave and patti b - March 26 - 6:46 am

  We have a 2003 E Mercedes; the Land Rover rides better. Other considerations: Lexus GX too showy for the beach and surfing .Thought of waiting for the Mercedes 2006 but our E has been in the dealership so often the salespeople don’t even bother me anymore

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  4 months In - 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport
  By i. scott - March 25 - 3:50 pm

  Have four months and over 3000 miles on the Discovery so far. Found the ride and finish to be excellent. Fuel consumption is better than expected, short trips to and from work in the low 20s, highway between 26-28. Managed 30.9 on a long highway trip thru NC mountains! Havent taken off road yet, but expect to use the 4WD modes this winter. Interior gets lots of positive comments, rear seats for tall passengers is great. Looked at the Q5/7, Infinity QX line, Porsche Maycan & Cayenne, found the Discovery to fit all my needs for passenger room, cargo area, and towing, as well as fit and finsh. Did not expect it to be a speed demon, but the turbo kicks in nicely when needed. Ride is very comfortable on in-town roads, very smooth on the highway and a delight thru the mountain curves. The pano roof makes the interior very well lit and roomy during the day. I ordered the options and color I wanted, which took 3 months due to the end of European summer holidays, it has been well worth the wait.

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  King of the Road - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By upper midwest - March 21 - 11:23 am

  Was a Volvo wagon owner and follower but always admired Landrover. Was concerned about reliability, but after a bad dealership customer service experience at Volvo, I traded my vehicle in for a demo 2006 LR3. The ride is phenomenal. Im 61, 205 lbs and theres nothing like Landrover headroom, they are second to none. The seats are firm and supportive, and the instrumentation clear. An extremely technologically advanced vehicle as far as stereo, electronic gizmos i.e. rain sensor wipers, backup alarm, air suspension, ride dial and things Im still discovering! The lure was all servicing is complimentary during warranty. Cant wait for the Minnesota snows!

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  Rovin with my Lil Rover - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By emprise411 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Extremely pleased with the vehicle. Fun to drive, great comfort in seating, handling fine (not truck-like) for an SUV! Dealer treatment, though have the cheaper of the LRs, is exceptional! Good pick-up and acceleration, good braking, and I find I have plenty of cargo space for my needs! Nothing to dislike about this vehicle--so far!

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  One of the greatest SUVS ever - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By RRS enthusiast - March 20 - 6:43 pm

  I bought my Range Rover Sport back in July and had to search high and low for one and use a dealer who is not a new Land Rover dealer. My local dealer told me they couldnt get me one. The SUV itself is great, however there are a few minor adjustments that could be made to make it even better. But overall it is fun to drive, everyone who sees it is amazed by it and very few people have them which is better. I have owned numerous SUVs and this is the best by far. It definitely beats its big brother the HSE as well as it is sportier and more fun to drive