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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  New LR4 LUX LOVE THIS SUV! - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By vimal1970 - May 17 - 12:03 pm

  I drove up from Virginia Beach to Richmond VA on 11/7/09 and bought a LR4 LUX. We just had a bad Noreaster here in Virginia Beach, I can say that the LR4 made us more comfortable driving through the heavy rains and floods. LR4 was for my kids and wifes safety...over the low mpg. The kids and wife were able to see everything and clearly. The ride is amazing...I am glad I bought this over the Q7, GL- 450/320, LX470. A very well thought out car with seating for 7 adults. If you are planning to buy Land Rover in mid-atlantic...Go to Richmond Land Rover.I am already looking into a possible 2011 Range Rover for the wife so I can get her LR4 for myself next year.

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  graet truck - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By John - May 10 - 10:13 pm

  Great Truck, Kids love the sun roofs, Quiet as you drive down the highway at 80. It goes through mud, rivers, snow and the country club to golf with four full sized men and their bags. Great truck

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  Elegant Beast - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Arizona Chariot - May 9 - 4:46 am

  I purchased a new 2010 Range Rover after looking at every high end SUV on the market. This is my second Range Rover and the workmanship and quality of the materials are outstanding. This is a truly elegant beast. I live and drive in Arizona where the roads and climate can be very harsh and challenging. I now have over 1,300 miles with NO problems. This is one of if not the best and most comfortable vehicle I have owned. It is a far cry from my previous Rover, Benz, Porsche or BMW SUVs, all great vehicles. This new 2010 Rover is clearly in a class of its own. The electronics are fantastic. Kind of reminds me a little of the avionics panel in my airplane. The Jaguar engine has great power.

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  Favorite vehicle to date! - 2008 Land Rover LR3
  By Barry - April 15 - 10:36 pm

  This is the first vehicle Ive owned that I actually like the more I drive it. I use it for every-day driving, hunting in EXTREME off-road conditions and even towing my 22 ski boat every now and then. I own many vehicles including off-road 4x4 trucks and Ive found the capabilities of the LR3 are MUCH better than the pickups for hunting - and way more comfortable! Driving horizontally on steep hillsides is unbelievably comfortable due to the air-suspension self- levelling system. This is my first Land Rover product but I think Im going to ditch the 08 Lexus and replace it with the 09 Range Rover for the "family" vehicle.

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  10:12 - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Chris Harvey - April 7 - 9:50 pm

  Excellent engine, body, and interior features. Strong acceleration, smooth ride. Sunroof in good position. Agile on turns, good acceleration.

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  LR3 Hard on Gas Mileage but great vehicl - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Lilly - March 23 - 10:56 am

  Bad gas mileage.But I love the car. Rides nice and operates well. The back up detection system is nice. Nice Ride, smooth.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Coloradan - March 18 - 10:23 am

  I love my LR3. My friends love my LR3. I get complimented often on my rig. This is my second Land Rover (Disco II), and I had great experiences with both. Dont buy into the reliability hyperbole. Land Rover makes a superior product.

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  Superb! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By DC Land Rover Owner - March 17 - 10:50 pm

  Had some reservations going into this purchase due to previous reports of poor reliability. The 2003 redesign appears to have fixed most bugs. I have not had any problems. This thing drives and performs flawlessly. I look forward to getting behind the wheel everyday! Note, gas mileage in city driving is quite atrocious, however, the bargain prices on these should more than offset the poor mileage.

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  Recommended! - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By lr3lvr - March 11 - 5:13 am

  We are completely happy with our LR3. Its a real head turner and not to be confused with any other. Ive owned other Land Rovers and this is the best by far!

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  Nice Sled - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Happy Camper - March 9 - 6:06 am

  I grabbed one of the first Sports to hit the lot in LA and have zero regrets. This SUV is a superb driving machine. But its not until you het the rain, mud, snow, and ice that you know you got what you paid for - its off-road prowess is unequalled. An unsurpassed engineering marvel! And it looks and drives great, too. Handles like a sport car and accelerates like one, also.