DuelsLeaderboardGarageBlogCarsGlossaryBrowse

Land Rover Cars

Truck · 11 models

Land Rover

The Defender. The Range Rover. The Discovery. Nobody else has produced this many genuinely capable off-road luxury vehicles for this long.

Truck

Land Rover is the British SUV specialist whose lineage traces to the original Series 1 Land Rover of 1948. The brand has produced continuously capable off-road vehicles longer than any other manufacturer except Toyota Land Cruiser. Modern Land Rover sits within Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) under Tata Motors ownership, with a lineup spanning the Defender (the rugged off-roader), the Discovery (the family SUV), and the Range Rover sub-brand (the luxury SUV products including Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, and Range Rover Evoque). The original Defender ran from 1983 to 2016 with the same boxy shape and serious off-road capability that made the Series 1 famous. Production paused for several years before the new Defender (L663) launched in 2020 with a fully redesigned monocoque chassis (instead of the historic body-on-frame), modern interior, and continued off-road capability. The new Defender is more refined and easier to live with daily; purists debate whether it is "really" a Defender. The 90 (short wheelbase), 110 (long wheelbase), and 130 (extra-long wheelbase) trim out the modern lineup. The Range Rover has been the brand luxury SUV since 1970. The current L460 Range Rover (2022+) is the fifth generation. V8 (twin-turbo BMW-supplied) and electric variants are available. The Range Rover Sport is the smaller, more performance-focused luxury SUV. The Velar is the more design-forward mid-size luxury SUV. The Evoque is the smallest and most affordable Range Rover. The Discovery has been the family-oriented mid-size SUV since 1989. The current L462 Discovery uses a unibody platform and aluminum construction. Off-road capability is meaningful; daily refinement is closer to a luxury SUV than a hardcore rock crawler. On WhipJury, Land Rover submissions are heavy on Defenders (especially classic 90 and 110 examples), Range Rover variants, and the new L663 Defender. The Discovery 1 and 2 (the 1990s and early 2000s era) have a small but devoted following.

Land Rover models we cover

Defender
Defender
Discovery
Discovery
Discovery Sport
Discovery Sport
Freelander
Freelander
LR2
LR2
LR3
LR3
LR4
LR4
Range Rover
Range Rover
Range Rover Evoque
Range Rover Evoque
Range Rover Sport
Range Rover Sport
Range Rover Velar
Range Rover Velar

The Defender

The original Defender is one of the most iconic off-road vehicles ever produced. Body-on-frame construction, live axles front and rear, manual or automatic transmission, and a chassis essentially unchanged from the original Series 1 of 1948. Production ended in 2016 due to safety regulations the chassis could not meet. The new L663 Defender of 2020+ is a complete redesign with monocoque chassis but maintains the visual signature and continues meaningful off-road capability. Variants include 90 (short), 110 (medium), and 130 (long wheelbase with three rows of seats).

The Range Rover

The Range Rover defined the luxury SUV category in 1970. Original Range Rover (1970-1996) was the founding model. The P38 (1994-2002), L322 (2002-2012), L405 (2013-2022), and current L460 (2022+) represent successive generations. Each has refined the formula: the same combination of off-road capability and luxury that has defined the brand. The Range Rover Sport and Velar are smaller siblings with different focus.

Land Rover on WhipJury

Defender submissions (both classic and modern L663) are the most common Land Rover. Classic Range Rover examples (especially the Range Rover Classic of 1970-1996) reliably do well in voting. The Discovery and Range Rover Sport appear regularly. The community appreciates Land Rover history and the new Defender as a credible modern continuation.

Frequently asked questions about Land Rover

Is the new Defender as capable as the old one?
Yes, on most metrics. The L663 Defender uses Terrain Response 2 with multiple terrain modes, available locking differentials, air suspension with significant ground clearance, and aggressive approach and departure angles. It is more refined daily and more capable of high-speed off-road use than the original. The original Defender wins on simplicity and serviceability in remote areas.
Are Land Rovers reliable?
Mixed reputation. The 1990s and 2000s Range Rovers and Discoveries had documented electrical, air suspension, and cooling system issues. Modern Land Rovers (L663 Defender and L460 Range Rover) are more reliable but still expensive to maintain compared to Japanese SUV competitors. Specialist Land Rover service expertise is essential for older cars.
Why is the Defender so expensive?
The L663 Defender starts around $56,000 base and easily crosses $80,000 with options. The pricing reflects modern Land Rover positioning as a luxury brand, the extensive standard equipment, the off-road engineering content, and the supply constraints common to high-demand new vehicles. The original Defender was much cheaper but also far simpler.
What is the difference between Range Rover and Range Rover Sport?
Range Rover is the larger, more luxury-focused flagship. Range Rover Sport is smaller (shorter wheelbase, less interior space), more performance-oriented, and lower priced. Both share platform components but tune differently. The Range Rover prioritizes ride refinement; the Sport prioritizes handling. Both have V8 and electric variants.
Is Land Rover owned by Tata?
Yes. Tata Motors (the Indian conglomerate) acquired Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008. Both brands operate under the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) corporate structure. Tata investment has supported significant product development including the new Defender and the Range Rover Electric program.

Land Rover on the WhipJury blog

The Range Rover GT sits lower than any Range Rover before it, and the brand keeps calling it a car
The Range Rover GT sits lower than any Range Rover before it, and the brand keeps calling it a car

Range Rover posted a video on October 26 of the camouflaged GT finishing a test drive to the Nürburgring. It calls the electric GT its most aerodynamic model ever, with the lowest center of gravity of any Range Rover, and the video keeps calling it a car.

Range Rover doesn’t want to sell more cars. It wants to make each one worth more
Range Rover doesn’t want to sell more cars. It wants to make each one worth more

Range Rover's marketing director says the brand's job "really is not to sell lots and lots of cars" but to build value, with managing director Martin Limpert aiming to be "in the modern luxury business" through one-to-one bespoke commissions. It's also a smart answer to the Chinese copies problem.

Range Rover says the "Chinese copies are a compliment"
Range Rover says the "Chinese copies are a compliment"

Range Rover boss Martin Limpert says Chinese copies like the Jaecoo J7, nicknamed the Temu Range Rover, are a badge of honor. It's a change of tone from the company that beat Landwind in a Beijing court in 2021 over five copied design features on the Evoque.

Hyundai Wants to Build Trucks in America and Ship Them Overseas
Hyundai Wants to Build Trucks in America and Ship Them Overseas

Hyundai plans to build body-on-frame trucks and SUVs in the United States and export them overseas, CEO Jose Munoz said at the company's investor day in Seoul. It is part of a push toward 5.55 million global sales by 2030, with 500,000 units of new North American capacity.

More Truck makes

GMCHummerIneosJeepRamScout