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:

• 

  the best on/off road truck i ever seen - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By blake - July 28 - 4:26 pm

  this truck is outstanding. it feels like u are connected to the road, there is no engine sound, u cant even feel the bumps on the road. it goes over it with confidence. i love the way it sits high and the comfort in the inside, and i love this truck and i am pleased that im a land rover owner

• 

  Outstanding vehicle - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By WELKA - July 21 - 8:43 pm

  I have owned my LR3 for 9 months now and have had not one problem. My dealership held one of its offroad events and you would not believe what these things can do. The biggest thing was after we finished doing some serious offroading, we road home in awesome comfort. Land Rover could not have done a better job of designing an interior space. Everything seems to be perfectly placed.

• 

  I Love This Truck - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Peter Taylor - July 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a truck - not a sedan! Dont make the mistake of confusing the two! This truck has been, over the past two years, simply the best handling, capable and fun to drive vehicles I have ever owned/driven. It handles very well on any surface, in any weather. The ride quality is superb! Easy to drive, it takes care of you. Ive found myself in precarious situations and have made it through unscathed! With plenty of power and pickup, Ive a confident feeling in any situation. To anyone who daily drives the DC streets, the offroad features make this vehicle a dream as it makes its way, effortlessly, through arguably the worse streets in the nation.

• 

  Great SUV/Land Rover - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Kathleen Wicker - July 17 - 2:00 am

  Very flexible vehicle, fun to drive, stylish and modern but with old world craftmanship.

• 

  LR3 Fun - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By mick51 - July 16 - 5:40 pm

  Fun to drive, comfortable, quiet for an SUV. I had a Discovery and was prepared to dislike the LR3 but have found it to be an excellent upgrade by Land Rover

• 

  Drive Around with Class & Style - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By roversocal - July 13 - 11:45 am

  The car is BEAUTIFUL!! I cant believe its mine for only 30k. I just stare it at sometimes. Neighbors think I am noveau riche. People everywhere look at you different when you step out of a Rover. Apart from a new Jag or Rolls Royce there is no other feeling of pride & prestige. Yes, it does have a few reliability issues but my friends who have 2009 and newer have 0 problems but paid 75k. The pros outweigh the cons. If you are thinking about buying 1, do it!! You live only once. Just dont take it as daily commuter and the drive-thru. Use it on weekends on special occassions

• 

  2nd time is a charm - 2000 Land Rover Range Rover
  By towman - June 21 - 10:00 am

  This the 2nd Range Rover I have owned. The first was a SE 4.0 1998. That model was under powered but other than that very reliable. The 4.6 HSE 2000 model is a great improvement. More power with about the same gas milage as the 4.0. Navigation system is much better than my wifes 740IL. Great highway car, supurb towing boats, and unmatched off road. This is not a car to just drive around town in. Buy it because you will use it for what it was designed for.

• 

  The Best SUV and Sport Car - 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By sobemen - June 14 - 7:10 am

  I traded in my Porsche Carrera S for this vehicle. I am delighted with the performance, handling and overall the elegant looks of this SUV. The finish quality is superb and the purchase experience was the best. I will keep this car for a long time as this fits and exceeds all my needs. I am extremely happy with my purchase decision and find myself "staring" at the vehicle often.

• 

  Perfect fit - 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
  By heathrow - June 12 - 10:16 pm

  Prestige, fully loaded, 4-door: This car manages to be playful, rugged and sexy at the same time. It feels incredibly fresh when inside, the cabin is airy and roomy, but it really drives like a much sportier, smaller car. I love that this is an informal, off-road ready car that can take a beating, but oozes luxury and freshness.

• 

  Remember wear the lock button is - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By elbert - June 12 - 10:00 am

  This car is wonderful does not have as much power as I would like but I was warned so I cant complain I do wish landrover would move the window and lock controlls from the center cosul to the doors like in every other car I have had.I do love the safty of this car and the felling that you can never get hurt.