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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  Grey Ghost - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Charles Woodall - November 17 - 12:43 pm

  It handles well. I like the height and view. This is my third Rover. They only get better. The workhorse is still there but the creature comforts are superb. I would recommend it highly

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  No regrets whatsoever!! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By David - November 12 - 8:50 am

  I bought my LR3 SE recently from a used car dealership who posted the car on eBay. I had CARCHEX.com review the car before the purchase and shipment. I saved about $10K than if I had bought it at my local Land Rover dealership. The car is the envy of my friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I love the navigation, the large spacing, power and handling, and the amazing internal and external styling. The mileage is a definite issue; however I leverage my old car during the weekdays, i.e. for going to work. I drive my LR3 primarily on weekends, i.e., dinner date and going to church. This way I save on gas as well as preserve the value of my vehicle.

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  Best SUV in the world!!! - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By KROVER - November 11 - 11:10 pm

  SUV with character! I cannot describe how rock solid this vehicle feels. Build quality is excellent, feels like it was carved from stone.

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  owner - 2005 Land Rover Freelander
  By S Tidline - November 5 - 12:23 pm

  I have a 2003 Freelander. I love the vehicle. I had a Discovery and sold it because it was too big and cost too much to maintain. The Freelander drives very smooth. It is comfortable and really nice. The other great thing about this car vs. the DIscovery is is use 87 grade unleaded gas! I love the car and hope to only upgrade to a later model one day!

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  Great Little SUV - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By mks - November 4 - 9:33 pm

  Havent been this happy with a vehicle in a long time. Luxury, fun and practical all in one. Averaging about 19 mpg with an average speed of only about 35 mph combined driving. Have a fully loaded SE that I got for several K less than the wifes hybrid Highlander and like it much better. Feels more solid and handles much better. Love the stereo and Nav system. Very sure footed in the snow and smooth on the highway. Just fun to drive.

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  My Freelander02 - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By Oscar Rios - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a Premium SUV in all aspects, however it can take a lot of gas if you dont change those spark plugs yearly. the sound system is awsome and the offroad capability is remarkable i love it. parts are hard to find most of the breaks and other suff are dealer items you can find them in exclusive auto parts. have fun with your landrover!

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  Range Rover - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Chris Cantale - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Best joice I ever made, Rides like a dream, looks like a dream. I had to pinch myself when I bought one because I thought I was dreaming. I highly suggest buying one. Its a little expensive but it was worth every penny!

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  New and loving it so far - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By sww - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Finally bit the bullet and made a decision and glad I did. So far the LR2 has been great fun to drive and is a very comfortable ride. I purchased the cold climate package (love the seat heaters), Nav and stereo upgrade (I think they have me hooked on Sirius) and the lighting package, which might be my favourite part. The lighting package is like having a stadiums worth of spotlights behind you showing you the way. Added on the roof rails (they should be standard)

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  Best small SUV ever! Style and Fun!! - 2013 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
  By smoorenc - November 2 - 1:51 pm

  We have had our Evoque for 1 year now. I cant get it away from my wife. This car is such fun to drive and we have never had any issues with it. I can tell you unless something drastic changes we will be purchasing another one in 2 years. Quick and maneuverable are 2 words that come to mind. Plenty of power and zip.

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  Excellent. I dont miss my Mercedes CLS - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By Daniel - October 29 - 4:03 am

  I just purchased LR2 with all available options a week ago, so I cannot comment on reliability. Safety: Ive seem some crash photos from UK, and LR2 seems to be a solid truck. Power: 230HP/234lb.ft. Number isnt impressive, but thats how the engine should be for SUVs;Torque. Plenty quick. Warranty: Meets STD 4yr/50K. Maintenance included for 4 years is very nice. Other things: Its unbelievably quiet for an SUV, its tech upgrades work well.(great nav system, bluetooth, etc.) Unbeatable off-road capability. Exterior looks top-class and interior is small but luxurious and super comfortable. I dont miss my 2006 V8 Mercedes CLS (trade-in) at all. Not as fast, but I love the new LR2