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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  SUPER - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By c. hughes - September 4 - 10:00 am

  I THINK ITS A SUPER CAR WITH GREAT STYLE AND RELIABILITY. NOT YOUR COMMON BORING. I LIKE THE SAFETY FEATURES AND BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING I WANT TO DO OR GO ANYWHERE I WISH. SHOULD HAVE HIGHER RATING!

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  Beauty and Beast - 2001 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Coolerking - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this to drive in comfort on the highway and never get stranded offroad. It excells at both. I hit a deer head-on at 65mph and was able to drive 80 miles home with all lights working and no steering problems-a very solid vehicle! Had the bladder leak on one of my suspension bags- replaced it with Gen III air bladders from Arnott and Bilstein shocks-now its awesome squared! Its just a real pleasure to drive it anywhere. I want the most bang for my buck and Ive got it with this. So far, except for more horsepower, the later model styles dont appeal to me as much as the P- 38. Turning radius and maneuverability is amazing. The first day I drove it I parallel parked it in ONE move!

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  Im Ridin Dirty - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Richard - September 1 - 3:46 pm

  I just purchased my Sport very recently; but Im already in love with it. My initial city/road mix is yielding 18 mpg, which is as good as my 6 year old Volvo S80...but a much cooler ride. I have more features than I ever imagined and even added a few extra items such as the side molding, wind deflectors and rear lamp guards. This is truly the way to roll; even if youll never get off road with it. As well, the service and treatment for purchasing a product like this was as expected. And the bottom line, the gas mileage is weak, but if you have to worry about gas prices when youre buying a SUV for $62k...you shouldnt be buying it. My favorite vehicle of 28 Ive had!!

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  I Love My Range Rover - 2011 Land Rover Range Rover
  By janwyl - September 1 - 12:54 am

  I had a 2003 Range Rover that over the past few years has proven to be...well less than reliable. After considering all alternatives, I couldnt find anything that offered the Range Rovers unique styling--especially the interior. So I took a bit of a chance on a new Range Rover. The new vehicle s significantly enhanced over the 2003. Better stereo, now with iPod integration. Bluetooth, needed horsepower (the 2003 was slow to accelerate on the highway), backup camera, etc. Mine is white, with an ivory and black interior. I love the vehicle, and so far, no problems.

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  Works great for me - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Keals - August 29 - 2:00 am

  This Landrover has been great. The front window heater did not work at first. I took it in and the fixed it. The ride is fun. It rides like a BMW. The leather seats and sunroof feels and look great. The Freelander is not so big that you cant park in a parking spot. It feels and drives like a large SUV. Being able to change the radio at the steerting wheel is a big plus.

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  zoob - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By zooby - August 29 - 2:00 am

  it is a very fun powerful car safe for the family

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  Love the car - Hate the constant service needs - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By bucky5412 - August 26 - 5:29 pm

  Ive put 37,000 km on my 2010 Range Rover Sport mostly driving 6 hours to my cottage in Quebec. Fantastic driving experience as it is heavy and a very comfortable ride - and attractive. The Harman Kardon sound system is the best Ive heard in a vehicle. It is very difficult to criticize the driving experience. The drawback is the numerous service aggravations which have motivated me to sell it prematurely. For a vehicle of this quality with 50,000 km, it has been in the shop far too many times.

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  Groovy ride - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By kramsnave - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased a Freelander S. So far so good. A very solid vehicle with a quiet engine, good acceleration, and plenty of room for four. The cargo space is fine with the rear seats folded forward. The design inside and out sets it apart from the bland-looking competition, making it worth the higher price tag. Plus, its fun to drive!

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  No Worries! - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By Vance - August 25 - 10:26 pm

  We needed a family utilitarian replacement SUV after all the negative safety issues with our Pathfinder. We stumbled across an 07 HSSE with less than 17K on it while looking at an 09. This was our first experience with Land Rover. We tried the Pilot and the Highlander, but then they are everywhere and very dull. This was love at first drive! Quite different than some of the negative comments read before hand. It was smooth on the road and very comfortable, while having tons of room in 3 rows. Better yet its not a "manly man" truck like a Tahoe or similar. And the plastics are fine. Much better than what we were expecting. Yes, gadgets are plenty, but read the manual. It works!

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  Great vehicle - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By bob - August 25 - 9:06 pm

  This is the greatest car I have ever owned and I have had it for a few months with no issues. It has great space whenever I need it. It is great to have third row seat that fold into the floor because I dont need it that often.