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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  damn good four wheel drive - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By RSPARKDOG - February 4 - 10:00 am

  i was off roading with some H2s, they couldnt hold a candle to my Discovery, i highly recommend driving one before buying any other SUV

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  Fun to drive plus much more - 2008 Land Rover LR3
  By kdflyer - February 1 - 11:43 pm

  Great vehicle, went from a fully loaded Toyota 4runner to LR3 and after way to many years in a Toyota found something more fun, limited owner group and great dealer support. I recommend changing tires to standard SUV tires and watch fuel economy go up by 1 - 2 miles per gallons and better ride and longer life. Put 2 extra pounds of pressure in tire and she really sails down the interstate. 3rd row is awesome design compared to everything else in this class. Looking forward to the LR4. Trade off from the Toyota is better space, better visibility and after changing tires better fuel economy. Drawbacks is number of dealers but quality has been great.

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  Silence is Golden - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By David Harland - January 31 - 12:46 pm

  This is a great car that I bought on the strength of the previous model. Its a great car ALL round, more economical than the 4.o ltr, faster and more stable with a host of features. One dissapointment, its noisier than the old model and more raunchy. Im sure lots of people like the throaty sound under acceleration but personally Id prefer a silent car in this class

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  In a class of its own - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Love my RR - January 29 - 6:23 am

  Though there are other so-called luxury SUVs, none is as ultimately luxurious and capable as the original, the Range Rover. Ive owned many vehicles and for an all-around do-everything car, the Range Rover is peerless. In almost two years, its only needed regular maintenance - the car doesnt even have a single squeak or rattle, its that solid. I dont normally write reviews on things, and this car compelled me to.

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  Freelander - The Best Of The Bunch - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By PaulR - January 27 - 10:00 am

  The Freelander is truly an incredible machine. It handles like a sports car and handles off-road situations with the best of them including big brother Discovery. With 8700 miles on the odometer its a pure pleasure to drive city or highway. Totally Satisfied!

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  All Wheel Drive Bentley - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Dr. Morton - January 23 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased the RRS SC and this SUV has blown my mind. I had seen them around, found them flashy and even considered buying one. However, I never became serious about it until a friend of mine brought his home. The first time I climbed into the RRS I was instantly impressed. The classy styling on the outside transitioned well into the interior. I was at the dealership the next week and now Im a proud owner of the RRS SC. If you can fit the bill, this car is worth adding to the collection. I drove the BMW 7 Series for years, and I dont think Ill ever go back.

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  Excellent AWD Medium SUV - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Stonefoxx - January 19 - 7:03 pm

  2200 miles so far, I test drove everything in the med. SUV class, BMW overcharges for every option- many standard features w/ LR2 including real leather seats. This by far was the best overall ride and comfort. I have had a minor issue with the audio 2x when I put the key in the audio was muted- after I took the "unit" (lr2s name for the remote key) out and put it back in all was well. I highly recommend this vehicle to any one looking for a safe med. SUV

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  Id buy another one - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By Nancy M - January 14 - 8:20 am

  I have both a Mercedes and Land Rover Freelander. The Land Rover is a lot of fun to drive. I am impressed with the manufacturer warranty and how I was treated when I had a minor problem. I will buy from Land Rover again!

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  Excellent car that will be missed - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By LandRoverWA - January 13 - 2:56 am

  Purchased new and kept for 4 years and 52,000 miles. No reliability issues, got between 17-20 mpg depending on how loaded the car was. The flat load floor with all rows of seats folded is excellent. Decent navigation system and excellent off-road capabilities. No regrets. I have no idea why CR rates this car so poorly, it was 20x more reliable and better than our 02 Disco II.

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  Good Little Rover - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Unforgiven82 - January 8 - 6:46 am

  I must say that the 03 Freelander is a great little car. With regular maintenance and checking of the fluids we have not had a bit of problems with it. Remember to check the water monthly, it runs quite abit hotter than the normal American Brands. We have not had any problems with ours it currently has 84,000 miles on it, and no major problems besides regular maintenance. Note that Land rover did Recall the fuel module and a stop light sensor and replaced/is required to have them replaced free of charge to us. Great Sporty little car! Ensure that dealer fully informs the buyer of the dos and donts. Dealers like their money/mechanical fees so be sure to ask your questions before buying.