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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  The Best SUV Ive Ever Owned - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Ms. E. - November 9 - 2:00 am

  More spacious and comfortable than a GX470 Lexus. I was really impressed at the quality and ride of this SUV. Ive been a long time Lexus owner and decided to switch after driving this vehicle. It is a dream.

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  Love the LR3 - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By grampulla - October 26 - 3:23 am

  Great car if youre buying it for the right reasons and not for a soccer mom/dad car. Might want to look elsewhere for that but if youre looking for an SUV that will support and active outdoors lifestyle or haul around 7 adults with no problem then this is your vehicle. I owned a 2000 Disco which I loved to hate but still decieded to take a chance on the LR3 and so far I am happy I did. Being a LR I did buy the extended warranty to 7yr/100000 and well see how it goes. Rear seats fold down completely flat and allow me to put up to 4-5 bikes in the back of the vehicle. I mounted fork mounts in the rear seats and now my bikes stay put.

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  range rover - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By westminister - October 26 - 2:13 am

  I had used ordinary land rovers almost 20 years ago and finally decided to go to the top of the line in this family and that was Range Rover Westminster limited edition. The car turned out to be exactly what can be expected of its performance, ride, stability, safety and speed. I did not have any high expectations of fuel efficiency. When you use a car like this, you are not concerned about fuel efficiency. But, I have been pleasantly surprised with my experience of getting 14 to 15 mpg in city driving and 18+ for highway driving (in spite of high speed and full blown air conditioning use).

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  great veh... - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By tstid - October 25 - 6:20 pm

  jsut purchased this month...great veh...owned ml, lexus...they dont compare...cant compare...the lr3 is in a league all by itself....roomy interior, great feel at the wheel...takes curves wtih a breeze...does well in crosswind and is very quite...true off road...looking for a true suv...it is the lr3

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  Got One - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Simper - October 25 - 3:20 am

  I just purchased the new RR Sport. Its excellent. The car looks and feels gutsz, but drives smoother than a truck. The interior feels like a combination of a BMW and a Range Rover. Very high quality, but now with a driver intended focus. Its pretty quick, nimble and sounds mean. Its definitely a guys drive. I could be happier.

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  Freelander - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Haiti - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I have experienced mountain trails with this car. It has taken me throught the worst of weather out here in Las Vegas. Like when it rains and we gwt a flood. I like this car because it provides a smooth drive. I think it could use a navigation system though. I give this car a 9.5 because it really can take you places. The only thing you really need to get done on the car is an oil change, and tires rotated, other than that I recommen this car LandRover Freelander to anyone.

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  Class leader again - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By UKrunr - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive also wanted an RR, and was not disappointed. The ride is superb, on/off road. The class, capabilities and presence are in a class of their own. The sound system is fantastic. Truly happy with the purchase.

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  The Best 4x4 Period. - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By elboss - October 18 - 2:00 am

  The best and second to none

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  Love This Car - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Schully - October 16 - 10:00 am

  After reading the mixed reviews posted on this message board, I have to admit I was a little skeptical about the Freelander. However I didnt want to rule it out until I drove it. During the test drive I realized that the people leaving the bad reviews must never have driven one. The second I put the car in drive, I was in love. Ford, Mazda and Jeep should not even be in the same class. There is no way to fully explain it. All I have to say is drive one for your self. I just picked up my new one yesterday and I am very very pleased. The only negitive thing I can say is that I wish there were arm rests.

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  A giant step for Land Rover - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By tjp74 - October 14 - 11:03 am

  This is no typical midlife facelift. I could see that Land Rover engineers and designers really poured their hearts into this new design. I could tell their efforts. Ive got the top of the line, HSE Lux plus package that has standard 5 camera surrounding monitoring system. Its got black premium leather with no cost optional Grand Black Lacquer wood trim that makes the whole interior look so gorgeous. The difference between LR3 interior is like night and day. I also looked at new Lexus GX460 and to me, there is no comparison. Ride and handling is very good. My previous car was Lexus GS350 AWD sport sedan. LR4 doesnt feel like big heavy SUV. And huge room for the 2nd and 3rd row passengers.