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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  Very Happy with this vehicle - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By roverette - December 9 - 5:43 am

  Wow. After much research, I decided to purchase the Land Rover LR2. Its been a great choice for me. Its large enough to haul around what I need, and it still fits in the garage. Gas mileage has been averaging 22 mpg - that is a mix of highway and city driving. Comfortable interior, great visibility, tons of room.

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  Awesome SUV! - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By alberto martinez - December 6 - 11:33 pm

  Its been a fun experience driving the car. You will also get a lot of compliments -it looks great. The brakes are very good and it handles really well on curves for an SUV.

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  Just Awesome - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By goski - December 1 - 4:36 pm

  What powererful and smooth engine!! The ride is pure lux and the RR handles beautifully in the mountain environment and in the big city. Truly, the finest SUV on the planet!!

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  Drives like an S600 - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By destinfun - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I made a decision between buying a leased S600 sedan (11k miles) (Previously owned both a 1997 Range Rover which I still have & 2 new SL500 convertibles,among others) & the new 2003 Range Rover. After driving each for an extended period of time, I chose the 2003 Range Rover. It subjectively has ALL of the sophisticated electronic control & handling electronics & characteristics, as well as most all of the convenience & luxury features that are found in even the FINEST sedans the world has to offer. Add the off road features, the ability to carry loads effortlessly, the easy mobility thru traffic, the acceleration, & you have a NO BRAINER, imho. Believe it!

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  Number 1 fan !! - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By jaydav - December 1 - 1:50 am

  My perfect vehicle ... has performance, handling, capacity, styling and, so far, reliability. Have not as yet taken it off road, but good to know I could if needed. Im a long time Jaguar owner and this engine is as powerful and smooth as I expected...and as much fun to drive as my XK8 !!!

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  Horrible reliability - 2004 Land Rover Freelander
  By philashe - November 29 - 10:34 pm

  Bought the car at 63,000 miles. Donated the car to charity at 67,000 miles. Drove for 4,000 miles until oil cooler and transmission cooler failed within a week of each other. After the failures the car needed major engine and transmission work, estimated to be around $9000 to repair. This was after a $4000 service. Car cost $1 per mile in repairs on top of the regular expenses you expect (fuel, regular maintenance, insurance). Most third-party shops are unable to work on the vehicle, requiring trips to the dealer. Insurers consider this a luxury car and the premiums are very high. Very expensive car to try to keep running. Buy a bus pass and good walking shoes. Youll be left stranded.

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  MOUNTAIN ROVER - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Frank J - November 29 - 9:06 pm

  I purchased my RR with less then 24000 miles and now have 66000 on it. I have been to Sedona, AZ three times, Pheonix, AZ once, Big Sur/Carmel California once and Ouray,Silverton CO. twice with a first leg drive on Black Bear Pass (pass was washed out in early spring 2008). I love the RR, and so does my family. It is comfortable and quiet on the road, dependable except for a battery discharge problem when parked for an extended time, (I use a trickle charger).

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  New Owner LR$ - 2010 Land Rover LR4
  By LR4 Newbie - November 27 - 2:46 pm

  Looked at Range Rover when purchasing prior two vehicles, a Mercedes GL450 and before, a loaded Dodge Ram Hemi. Much negative re the brand. Needed new SUV, not want to go price level of GL450 though loved my 07. Took the dive and purchased LR4. Very much to like so far. Power cargo door would be nice, but all else extremely pleasing. Very well appointed and equipped. May add review after some months of ownership.

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  This Awesome Range Rover Beats My Old X5 - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By LovemyRRS - November 25 - 9:16 pm

  I was fairly satisfied with my old X5 BMW until I drove this awsome vehicle. It fits like a glove with a solid luxurious interior and confident road position. I was particularly impressed with performance during our first snow storm when I engaged the terrain response system. The Rover grabbed the road like a tank and showed no sign of slipping or sliding despite icy conditions. Any vehicle this complex is bound to have some adjustment issues, and the dealer has been very attentive. It stimulates autophile interest, and I have yet to see another one on the road.

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  Give em a second chance - 2008 Land Rover LR2
  By wilson - November 22 - 11:46 pm

  Why did we buy an 08 LR2? I love my wife and she never forgave me for dumping the 03. I drove a DKW cross country in the 60s and had less trouble than the 03. After several weeks of ownership I can say that I thoroughly enjoy the styling, ride, performance, and ergonomics of my wifes gray/alpaca LR2.Check back with me on reliability.