The difference between a Land Rover and a Range Rover SUV can be confusing. What’s the difference? At a basic level, Land Rover is the company, while Range Rover is a kind of vehicle that the company makes. Land Rover, makes both Land Rovers and Range Rovers. To further complicate matters, both types of vehicles are all-wheel-drive SUVs with British heritage. They both are great off road, and they’re both called Rover. So, how do you tell the difference between them?
First some history: Land Rover was originally owned by a now-defunct British automaker called Rover Company. The first Land Rover debuted in 1948 as a tough vehicle, modeled after the Jeeps used in World War II. The vehicle was so popular it evolved into the Land Rover company. Land Rover launched the Range Rover SUV, a utilitarian, body-on-frame truck with outstanding off-road capability, in 1970. Land Rover was briefly owned by BMW in the 1990s and Ford in the 2000s. Both the Land Rover and Range Rover brands are now owned by Tata Motors, an Indian company. They have been owned by Tata since 2008. Here are a few ways to differentiate between Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs.
What is a Land Rover?
Land Rover is the brand that makes Land Rovers. They also make Range Rovers. The Land Rover is focused on utility, practicality, and off-road prowess. Land Rover currently sells two sport utility vehicles: the Discovery Sport and the Discovery. Unlike most Range Rover models, Land Rovers come with an optional third row to accommodate seven passengers. Land Rovers start around $37,800 and can go as high as $80,000 depending on how they are outfitted. Similar to Range Rovers, Land Rover vehicles boast luxury features and high-end cabins full of utility and comfort. The trucks’ sleek, muscular stance suggests that it can tackle tough terrain or power effortlessly down the highway.
Land Rover’s vehicles are particularly suited to adventure-seeking buyers and off-road driving. Models come standard with a Terrain Response system, which includes hill start assist, hill-descent control, and gradient acceleration control. Drive modes allow the driver to customize dynamics for grass, sand, gravel, mud ruts, snow, or rock crawling. Buyers can add an adaptive air suspension, two-speed transfer case and self-adjusting Terrain Response system. In spite of their robust off-road performance, Land Rovers remain luxury vehicles at heart. Land Rovers start at $37,800 for the Discovery. The Discovery Sport starts around $53,000. You can opt for luxurious additions like seating upgrades that include heated and ventilated front and second row seats, massaging front seats, heated third-row seats, and four-zone climate control. The brand will debut a third model, a revival of its Defender nameplate, later this year. It will sit at the top of the Land Rover line up portfolio and be a competitor to the Toyota Land Cruiser.
What is a Range Rover?
Range Rover is another brand of vehicle made by the company Jaguar Land Rover. Range Rovers tend to be more expensive than Land Rovers and are targeted at wealthy buyers. The Range Rover brand currently makes four SUVs of various sizes. They include:
- Evoque, a small SUV with lots of style
- The mid-size Velar and Range Rover Sport
- A full-size Range Rover.
Range Rover is known for combining refined interiors with capable off-road abilities. Range Rovers start in the mid $40,000 (the Evoque is the most affordable Range Rover) and prices can climb as high as $200,000 and more depending on how you choose to outfit your Range Rover. Range Rovers can also be equipped with a variety of engines, from the Evoque’s 246-horsepower turbo-four to the special edition Range Rover Autobiography’s supercharged V8.
Range Rovers are considered to be “urban luxury vehicles,” but the SUVs also come with a host of off-road technology that allows them to handle tough off-road situations, just like their Land Rover brothers. They have systems that can ford rivers, scale mountains, and cross deserts. Standard features on most Range Rovers include hill descent control, a Terrain Response system that tailors the vehicle’s dynamics to the terrain, and a single speed transfer case. These all-wheel-drive vehicles come with plenty of ground clearance, a wading depth of about two feet, and plenty of towing capacity. Buyers can add an adaptive air suspension, a rock crawl mode, and an upgraded terrain response system that adjusts automatically. All four Range Rover models seat five passengers across their two rows. The Range Rover Sport can seat seven with an optional third row. Some models also can be outfitted with an extended wheelbase.
What is a Land Cruiser?
The Land Cruiser may sound like its related to Land Rover, but it is entirely different. The Land Cruiser is made by Toyota and it is their top-of-the-line utility vehicle Land Cruisers get four-wheel-drive capability and powerful off-road capabilities. Toyota has manufactured the tough, body-on-frame vehicle for seven decades, occasionally debuting different body styles.
The Land Cruiser is offered with only one type of engine, a 381-horsepower V8. Distinguished by its power and quick acceleration, the Land Cruiser is one of the most capable models in its segment. It comes equipped with limited-slip differential, low-speed crawl control, and drive modes to handle a variety of terrain. The three-row SUV seats up to eight passengers – that’s one more person than Land Rover models accommodate. Although it’s not nearly as luxurious as Land Rover or Range Rover models, the Land Cruiser comes standard with leather upholstery, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats.
What is the Difference Between a Range Rover and a Land Rover?
Range Rover is a kind of SUV that Land Rover makes. Land Rover also makes Land Rover vehicles. Range Rovers tend to put more emphasis on luxury and performance, whereas Land Rovers tend to be more robust off-roaders. Range Rover makes four different models, and Land Rover makes two. All six nameplates vary in price, size and off-road capability. As a company, Land Rover has created distinct reputations for Range Rover and Land Rover vehicles. Land Rover vehicles are rugged and capable. Range Rover vehicles are luxurious and refined. Both are made to conquer unpaved terrain and tow boats and trailers. However, Range Rover models are higher end and more expensive than Land Rover trucks, and their customers are likelier to keep their vehicles on the road rather than taking them off-roading.
What is the difference between a Land Rover and a Land Cruiser?
Land Rover makes off-road SUVs under the Land Rover and Range Rover brand names. Even though it’s name sounds very similar, The Land Cruiser is an entirely separate vehicle made by Toyota. The Land Cruiser is a full-size SUV that can seat up to eight people.
What is the difference between a Range Rover and a Land Cruiser?
Range Rover is a luxury SUV brand. The Land Cruiser is the name of Toyota’s full-size SUV, the largest model in its lineup. Starting in the upper $80,000 range, the Land Cruiser is comparable in price to Range Rover’s large flagship SUV, the Range Rover. Toyota’s SUV is not as luxurious, but it’s capable and it accommodates more passengers due to its third row.
Which is bigger, a Land Rover or a Range Rover?
The Land Rover and Range Rover brands manufacture SUVs in a range of sizes across the compact, mid-size and full-size SUV segments. Range Rover models generally tend to be smaller than their Land Rover counterparts.
For example, Range Rover’s entry-level model, the Evoque, is more compact than Land Rover’s smallest model, the Discovery Sport. The Discovery Sport has more passenger room, cargo space, and towing capacity than the Evoque. The Range Rover Velar is smaller than the Land Rover Discovery, which comes with an optional third row. The Range Rover Sport and flagship Range Rover full-size SUV are both larger than the Land Rover Discovery.
Range Rover vs Land Rover vs Land Cruiser: Which is More Expensive?
The Toyota Land Cruiser starts at $85,165, about $4,000 less than the top-of-the-line Range Rover. Starting prices for Range Rover’s four-model lineup span $42,650 for the compact Evoque to $89,500 for the brand’s flagship full-size Range Rover SUV. The two models currently in Land Rover’s portfolio, the Discovery Sport and Discovery, start at $37,990 and $52,950, respectively.
Which is Right For You? Land Rover, Land Cruiser or Range Rover?
Together, the Land Rover, Range Rover and Land Cruiser names comprise seven different vehicles. Shoppers looking for off-road utility with British panache should consider one of Land Rover’s two models. Luxury-minded buyers who will mostly drive on pavement might be more interested in the Range Rover label. Buyers interested in rugged performance across a variety of unpaved terrain should keep the Toyota Land Cruiser on their shopping list.
Is Land Rover owned by Ford?
No, Land Rover is no longer owned by Ford. The Jaguar-Land Rover company is now owned by the Indian company, Tata Motors. Land Rover became an independent subsidiary of the now-defunct Rover Company in 1978. BMW Group acquired Land Rover and its Range Rover brand in 1994. Ford Motor Co. purchased Land Rover in 2000 to join luxury nameplates Jaguar, Volvo, and Aston Martin under its Premier Automotive Group. Ford sold the Jaguar, Land Rover, and Range Rover brands to Indian automaker Tata Motors in 2008. All three brands now comprise the Jaguar Land Rover company.