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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  awesome!!!!!! - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By d. garcia - December 31 - 2:00 am

  the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be

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  Awesome truck - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By CMHaverford - December 30 - 10:30 am

  Ive had Land Rover Discoverys for over 10 years and have always loved them. The LR3 takes the experience one step closer to a Range Rover. It drives very smoothly, more like a car than a truck, its fast, and very comfortable. Love the feel and look of the truck!

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  Wait unitl you have to sell it or trade - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By AXD - December 24 - 10:00 am

  The truth will come out when you try to sell it or trade it in value brings you to reality. These vehicles dont hold their value like a Mercedes or Lexus. Good Luck!!!!!!

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  So far so good - 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By New RR Owner - December 24 - 5:23 am

  Finally broke down and bought an RR- SC. Great power, confort and ride. Nice features tho the nav system could be more intuitive but love the 3d look. My 5 year old nephew said it best "this car is freakin awesome!"

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  fun - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By De Sass - December 23 - 9:36 pm

  I love my SE3. Its easy to get in and out of, it handles great and its just plain fun to drive. I have always driven pickups, so I was a little concerned about low seating, but I sit up high pretty well. I havent driven it off road yet, except for our driveway, which is dirt and stone uphill, lol. But it takes it much smoother than any of my trucks did, lol.

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  The Ultimate Rover - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Gary A. - December 20 - 9:20 am

  This vehicle performs incredibly on any road conditions.Very responsive both in steering, handling, and breaking. I traded in my LR-3 to get into this vehicle. Although the same engine, RR Sport handled better and felt lighter (though RR Sport is about 500 lbs. lighter).The interior is impecable and with the ease of control access in ergonomics and voice activation.I do miss some of the LR3 features such as the additional cup holders located at all side doors and center console.Additionally,the ashtray pullouts in the Sport are limited to only one which cannot accomodate coins.I really enjoy my RR Sport. Get this vehicle with the luxary and cold climate package.It looks cheap/dif without it.

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  impressive.. but .... - 2002 Land Rover Freelander
  By kate - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive been happy with the vehicle itself but unhappy with the quality and speed of the American servicing ...they dont seem to know what theyre doing and it is the consumer that has to foot the bill for their R&D

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  Free at last! - 2003 Land Rover Freelander
  By Jay D. - December 15 - 6:03 am

  At first I loved this car but as with many love affairs it wasnt long before the honeymoon was over. We did everything we were supposed to do to take care of this car but despite that it still was a nightmare. If it wasnt one thing it was another. Very expensive to repair and LRs customer service isnt very good (understatement). We were also told by them to trade it in before it was too late and thats exactly what we did. We are now proud Toyota owners. If you have one and it hasnt given you any trouble it wont be long before it will. GET RID OF IT! If you are thinking of buying one, STOP!

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  Great Ride Great Value - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By Canuck - December 14 - 10:20 am

  Despite some initial hesitation, I am glad I went for the LR3 HSE. Overall it is a great vehicle in any driving situations. The comfort and ride is superb even during long trips with kids and luggage. The flexibility of seating arrangements is second to none. The sense of security and off- road capability of the LR 3 place it in a class of its own. My wife and I went to the Land Rover off-road driving school in Montebello Quebec and loved it. LR3 is virtually unstoppable. It is not a SAV, Crossover/sedan on steriods it is a true SUV. If you are looking for sedan like performance..buy a sedan. V8 offers plenty of power under all normal driving conditions including passing and goign up hill.

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  The best car ifproblems not existed - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover
  By George - December 10 - 3:00 pm

  I love driving this car. The feeling , the interior design and quality, the speed of the supercharce+ 400 bhp, and space are top of the range . but mechnical probelms exists. rover company need to do something about it.