Many people think that Land Rover and Range Rover are two different brands. While that is true on the surface, these two come from the same company called Jaguar Land Rover, which is a subsidiary of Tata Motors.

In the past, Land Rovers had major differences from Range Rovers but today, they have come much closer. Yet, there are still a number of key points which distinguish them and position them towards a slightly different customer base. So, Land Rover VS Range Rover? What’s the difference? 

The Origin

Land Rover is a British brand of tough and robust off-roaders that opened its doors in 1948 — almost 80 years ago. Range Rovers, on the other hand, haven’t been around as long. The first Range Rover “Classic” (the Classic was added to the name only later, in order to distinguish it from its successors) appeared in 1969. This is where we get to the origin of Range Rover.

In the 1960s, Land Rover was known for strictly utilitarian vehicles, such as the Land Rover Series II. However, they wanted to offer a model that would appeal more to those looking for a desirable posh vehicle, and thus, the Land Rover Range Rover was born. It was produced for roughly 25 years before being replaced by the second generation model. Although it is fair to say that it went through several updates in the meantime.

Simply put, Range Rovers are a subcategory or a model line of Land Rover models. In the years following the introduction of the first “Land Rover Range Rover”, the model range has increased dramatically. Today, there are more Range Rover models than Land Rovers.

Land Rover VS Range Rover — Main Differences?

Originally, Land Rover intended the Range Rover model line to be more luxurious and less focused on the off-road capabilities. Look at the 1970s Land Rover models and compare them to the original Land Rover Range Rover and you will quickly grasp how dramatic the difference was between the two.

Sure, the more upscale Range Rover was also capable off the road, but that was not its main focus. It was not stripped down to the basics like the Series II, for example. The word luxury was pretty much unknown in the world of standard Land Rovers.

Today, the differences are much smaller. The Land Rover models such as the Defender still offer unrivaled qualities off the road, but they have immensely improved in their comfort and luxury. They are now so refined that they almost feel like an entirely different brand, but the off-road legacy is still there.

To sum up the differences, Land Rovers are more affordable, with a larger focus on off-road, and appeal to a more utilitarian customer base, on average, compared to the Range Rover line. On the other hand, Range Rovers have been historically suited for those that wanted a bit more luxury from their Land Rover and something more appealing in terms of design.

Model Rundown

To get a better understanding of what models Land Rover offers, and how the quasi-sub-brand Range Rover differs, here is a short rundown of all models currently offered by the manufacturer, starting with the classic Land Rover models

Discovery Sport

The entry model to the brand, the Discovery Sport is the most affordable of all models on this list. For its size, it is quite practical and is good off the road. Do not get yourself fooled by the Sport badge, while it handles well, especially for an SUV, it is a comfortable family hauler and not a car for weekend drives.

Land Rover Defender

The Defender is the model that started it all. The most capable off-road vehicle of the brand. It has gone through a thorough update with an entirely new generation just recently. Its design is modern, but you can clearly tell what its predecessors were. The styling is very unique and shows how this model tries to be the best off-road on the market while being luxurious and usable as a daily driver as well.

As the model can be had in unconventional configurations, including s a three-door SUV with a powerful V8 in the Defender 90 V8 specification, it also appeals to those that are looking for an SUV that differentiates itself from the rest.

Land Rover Discovery

The Discovery is a model which could be summed up as a more family-friendly Defender. It is almost just as good of an off-roader but is more stylish and comfortable. It is a rival to luxurious SUVs such as the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, as it belongs to the mid-size luxury SUV category, where it is very popular. 

In comparison with the first Discovery Series I, it is unbelievable how much progress the model has made towards comfort while keeping all of its off-road abilities including one of the best all-wheel drive systems on the market.

Range Rover

Land Rover positions its models towards luxury within the “Range Rover Family” lineup, while classic Land Rovers belong to the Discovery and Defender families. Here is the complete Range Rover lineup.

Range Rover

This is the largest model offered by Land Rover and also the most luxurious one, hence its name, which is simply Range Rover. Understandably, this can be quite confusing for those unfamiliar with the Land Rover VS Range Rover problem. 

With a starting price of over a $100,000, it tries to be on par with some of the most luxurious sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and even surpasses it in some respects. Just like the Defender is the pinnacle of Land Rover off-road models, this is the top-of-the-range Range Rover model with a focus on luxury.

Range Rover Sport

The Range Rover Sport stands one class below the Range Rover and is sportier and more appealing to the younger audience. While being amazing in terms of luxury, it is just somewhat less serious, especially with the SVR trim line equipped with the most powerful engine Land Rover offers. 

It comes with a 5.0-liter V8 which is supercharged to produce 575 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft of torque. Of course, the model also comes with a more reserved 3.0L inline-6, which can be found in the base model.

Range Rover Velar

The Velar is the most style-focused model in the range. Its silhouette is somewhere between a conventional SUV and a stylish SUV coupe. It is also arguably the best “bang for the buck” as it gets quite close to the higher tier Ranger Rover models while keeping the price tag lower. It is plush even on bad roads, handles well in corners, and feels extremely modern with a sleek interior and retracting door handles on the outside.

Range Rover Evoque

Being the most affordable Range Rover, one would expect the Evoque to cut corners, but that could not be farther from the truth. The Evoque is posh and luxurious. It feels like a smaller version of the Range Rover Sport. It handles extremely well and is surprisingly exciting to drive.

Land Rover VS Range Rover — So Similar, Yet So Different

The “Land Rover VS Range Rover” issue seems to be quite elaborate, but it boils down to very simple differences. If you are looking for more of a utilitarian vehicle with unrivaled off-road abilities, a slightly lower price, or the iconic design reminiscent of the first Land Rovers, the Land Rover lineup is a simple choice to make. 

On the contrary, if you want to turn more heads on the streets and get more luxury at the expense of slightly worse but still amazing off-road abilities, go get one of the Range Rover models, or as they should be properly called, Land Rover Range Rover models. With such a long name, it is understandable that many people simplify it to just Range Rover, which is one of the reasons for the confusion. Now you know!