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 VEHICLE - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By TMILES - August 11 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS OUR SECOND DISCOVERY BOTH HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT VEHICLES,GREAT HIGHWAY RIDE,VERY STABLE IN BAD WEATHER AND NO PROBLEMS.

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  very happy - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Bret Green - August 6 - 1:00 pm

  my wife and I love it,it not only looks great but is very enjoyable to drive and are two boys love its looks and of course the dvd player,myself personally I love the 4 wheel drive system and the air suspension height adjustability

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  Needs a diesel engine! - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Ray Moss - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought my LR2 (called a Freelander 2 in England) in the UK. I wanted a diesel engine so I opted for the UK version. Its strong and gets about 35 MPG around town. The manual 6 speed is smooth. Ive been off road and up and down the highways. I love this vehicle.

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  2004 Review and response to - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By DONN - July 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my 2004 Range Rover in April and I could not be happier with it. As a car enthusiast, I have had many fine automobiles including the 2002 Toyota Landcruiser which I traded in for the RR. In response to the ill informed "M Waldner, re. Garbage", I would not put all that much consideration into an article written with words that are not in the English language, ie. sfter & suspenion. The Range Rover is an excellent vehicle given its BMW roots which have provided it with significantly increased reliability and performance. The only drawback I have been able to find is with the navigation system which I would rate as poor.

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  Better than ever? - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By LR318 - July 2 - 10:00 am

  Just got back from the Debut Night at the local Land Rover Dealership. The build quality seems incredible. The "Door Test" (see how sturdy the car is made based upon the sound made when the door is slammed shut) passed with fly colors. The car is so sturdy, it is so quiet and the materials seem to be top notch. I felt so safe in that car, even when the 300 HP kicked in, 80 mph in that car needs no hesitation. All the important buttons of AC/Heat,Radio, NAV, and other functions were within reach from driver seat, plenty of cup holders (I counted 10).Room of a minivan, capability of more than any other SUV, and I would not hesitate to trade my Discovery in for one of these! Yeah its that good!

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  500 miles and loving it - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Kman - June 27 - 11:16 am

  I recently purchased the new LR2 and must say that at 500 miles I love this vehicle. It may to a little too early to tell but I am confident this will set a new bar for LR. The vehicle has the 3 options packages (climate, lighting and tech) which I was at first apprehensive on paying for. However when you consider that Hondas and Suzukis come with leather, navigation and decent sound systems it only makes sense to get a Land Rover loaded.

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  range rover - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By mmmmmm - June 23 - 10:00 am

  even though this vehicle can be pricey, but its worth it. With its jaguar or bmw v8 engine( i dont know which one) and explorers designing it is REALLY worth it. This car has remarkable performance off-road, and on-road too.

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  Great Choice When Off-Road is a Priority - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Jean Orr - June 22 - 6:23 am

  Have owned since the end of August, & have put 6,000 miles on the vehicle. I bought it because Im a Real Estate Broker and sell large acreage properties upstate NY and wanted a good off-roader that wouldnt break the bank in the mpg department. Also, something with alittle snob appeal to impress my clients. This vehicle fits the bill perfectly--great off-road over hill and dale (and the back 40-- acres--that is), but has a wonderful on-pavement ride, my clients find it very comfortable, love the climate control, visibility, good acceleration, sound system, easy-to- use nav system, and, the interior finish is understated but elegant with nice wood accents. Has been mechanically perfect so far.

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  best 4x4xfar - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By v yepremian - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Drastic improvement over the older model. The car is smoother, more refined and of oustanding quality. The engine and the ride quality are simply outstanding.

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  Best by far - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By RAH - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Got to love land rover