Most reliable Land Rovers - and the unreliable ones to avoid
Land Rover is known the world over for its iconic SUVs, which are both the epitome of luxury and the peak of off-road performance. In recent years, its luxury flagship, the Range Rover, has been joined by an all-new Defender, which replaces the brand's most iconic off-road model, the Land Rover 110, originally launched in 1983.
The brand has come a long way since then, introducing the city-orientated Evoque and larger Velar. The latest models come with mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology to improve efficiency, and a pure electric Range Rover Electric will be on sale soon.
The brand has had issues with reliability in the past, and has sat at the bottom of the What Car? brand reliability chart in previous years. However, in the latest survey it gained an overall score of 90.4%, which puts it in 26th place out of 30 brands. The latest models, such as the Defender, are proving impressively robust, as are the current and previous versions of the Range Rover Sport. In contrast, the older Discovery and Discovery Sport models have more than their fair share of problems.
Here we're looking at reliability data for Land Rover models aged up to five years old. Reliability information for older models is in our Most reliable used cars feature.
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Most reliable Land Rover models
1. Range Rover Sport (2014-2022)
Reliability rating 94.9%
Most common faults: Brakes 9%, bodywork 7%, engine 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%, engine electrics 2%, non-engine electrics 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 71% one day or less, 14% one day to a week
Like the latest version, the previous Range Rover Sport rides on the same underpinnings as its big brother, the 2013-2022 Range Rover. Much use was made of aluminium in both cars, but the Sport was smaller, lighter and sportier to drive. It has the same powerful engine options and luxuriously appointed interior, though.
The previous Range Rover Sport scores slightly better than the latest version because its issues were mostly sorted out in a day or less, while those of newer models took more than a week to correct. Overall, 28% of the vehicles reported on went wrong, with the brake system and bodywork the main complaints. It's reassuring to see that 100% of cars were fixed for free.
2. Land Rover Defender (2020-present)
Reliability rating 94.7%
Most common faults: Engine 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%, non-engine electrics 3%, air-con 2%, bodywork 2%, brakes 2%, interior trim 2%, steering 2%, suspension 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 53% more than a week, 41% less than a day
Land Rover had to work hard to create a worthy replacement for the original Defender. However, the resulting model is more practical, more refined and more capable off road than its illustrious predecessor. It's available in three body styles: the three-door Defender 90, the longer, five-door Defender 110, which is available as a five, six or seven-seater, and the even longer Defender 130, which comes with up to eight seats.
The best news of all is that the new Defender is proving impressively reliable. Not only is it the second-best Land Rover model for dependability, it also features in the top 10s for the most reliable seven-seaters and luxury models in our latest survey. According to owners, 22% of their vehicles had any problems, with the engine and infotainment system giving the most cause for concern. All remedial work was done for free and 41% of problems were put right in a day or less, but the other issues took more than seven days to fix.
Land Rover Defender leasing deals
3. Range Rover Sport (2022-present)
Reliability rating 94.2%
Most common faults: Hybrid battery pack 5%, exhaust 5%, non-engine electrics 5%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 100% more than a week
The Range Rover Sport is based on the same platform as the full-fat Range Rover, so it benefits from the bigger car’s luxurious interior, impressive off-roading ability and impressive engine line-up that includes a petrol V8, a diesel and a couple of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The big advantage it has over its big brother is that it packs all the kit and refinement into a more compact package that makes it more nimble to drive and more practical for narrow streets and car parking spaces.
The latest Range Rover Sport is proving a dependable option so far, too. It may be slow to fix — all the examples we were told about spent more than a week in the garage — but Land Rover covered the cost of all repairs, so no owners were left with unexpected bills. Overall, 16% of the vehicles reported on went wrong, with PHEV battery issues, exhaust system concerns and electrical issues the main headaches.
Range Rover Sport leasing deals
4. Range Rover (2013-2022)
Reliability rating 94.1%
Most common faults: Bodywork 13%, non-engine electrics 13%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 50% more than a week
The Range Rover is a true automotive icon, famous the world over as one of the essential luxury cars of the most well-off. The fourth-generation model has smart styling, a wonderfully opulent interior and great driving manners on and off the Tarmac. It's available with a range of powerful petrol and diesel engines and with plug-in hybrid technology on newer models.
Although the Range Rover had a fault rate of 27%, many of the issues were bodywork glitches that were quick and easy to remedy. Even better news is that Land Rover paid for all remedial work. It's just a shame that some cars took more than a week to put right.
=5. Range Rover Evoque (2019-present)
Reliability rating 90.5%
Most common faults: Air-con 6%, non-engine electrics 5%, hybrid battery pack 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%, bodywork 3%, brakes 3%, electric motor 3%, fuel / charging system 3%
Average repair cost: 92% £0, 8% £1000-£1500
Typical time off road: 70% more than a week, 27% one day or less
The latest Evoque looks fairly similar to the original, but there have been some worthwhile changes under its skin. It has a more sophisticated infotainment system, a range of more powerful engines with mild-hybrid technology, and there's a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version that can do shorter journeys on electric power alone.
The current Evoque is a better bet than the previous model if you're after a dependable family SUV. Owners told us 27% of their cars had a fault, with various electrical systems the main culprits. The vast majority of cars were fixed for free, but nearly three-quarters spent more than a week in the workshop.
Range Rover Evoque leasing deals
=5. Range Rover Velar (2017-present)
Reliability rating 90.5%
Most common faults: Bodywork 11%, engine 8%, interior trim 5%, 12-volt battery 3%, engine electrics 3%, exhaust 3%, sat-nav/infotainment system 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 60% more than a week, 27% one day or less
The Velar takes its name from the prototype for the very first Land Rover model. The word velare in Latin means to hide or cover up. The Velar is no shrinking violet, though. It's a sizeable family SUV that fills the price gap between the smaller Range Rover Evoque and the bigger Range Rover Sport. It's available with diesel power or as a petrol-engined plug-in hybrid.
Far fewer Velar owners told us about faults this year – 27%, compared with 46% last year. That said, minor bodywork issues were the most common gripe, and Land Rover paid for all the necessary remedial work. Although 27% of cars were fixed and back on the road within a day, nearly two-thirds sat in the garage for more than seven days.
Range Rover Velar leasing deals
Most unreliable Land Rover models
1. Land Rover Discovery Sport (2014-present)
Reliability rating 81.8%
Most common faults: Bodywork 11%, electric motor 9%, engine electrics 7%, hybrid battery pack 5%, non-engine electrics 5%, brakes 4%, exhaust 4%, gearbox 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
Average repair cost: 87% £0, 8% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 42% a day to a week, 39% more than a week
In spite of its name, the Discovery Sport is more of a luxurious family SUV than a sports SUV. A more compact and affordable alternative to the enormous Land Rover Discovery, it has plenty of room for five people, and all but the plug-in hybrid models can be had with a third row of seats for seven-seat practicality. On top of that it has a plush interior, impressive towing ability and supreme off-road skills.
However, the examples we were told about had issues in a wide range of areas, and 39% of them were out of action for more than a week. Overall, 42% of the Discovery Sport models reported on went wrong, with electric and bodywork problems the most common complaints. Land Rover covered the cost of most repairs, helping to take the sting out of the lengthy stints some vehicles spent in the workshop.
Land Rover Discovery Sport review
Land Rover Discovery Sport leasing deals
2. Land Rover Discovery (2017-present)
Reliability rating 84.9%
Most common faults: Air-con 8%, 12-volt battery 12%, non-engine electrics 8%, bodywork 4%, engine 4%, exhaust 4%, gearbox 4%, interior trim 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
Average repair cost: 92% £0, 8% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 54% more than a week, 39% one day to a week
A great option for transporting larger families in comfort, the Land Rover Discovery comes with seven seats as standard, and it has plenty of room in all three seating rows. With new prices starting a shade over £60,000, it's also more affordable than many seven-seater rivals, such as the Audi Q7, BMW X7 and Volvo XC90.
With a fault rate of 50%, it doesn't stack up against many of the alternatives — the XC90 has a higher reliability rating and fewer faults — but the Discovery does beat the Audi Q7, which as suffered with a high proportion of electrical issues. Most repairs on Discovery models were carried out for free, but more than half of the affected cars were out of action for more than a week. A range of electrical issues, ranging from problems with the 12-volt battery to the air-con, were the most common gripes.
Land Rover Discovery leasing deals
Reliability of Land Rover models aged up to five years old
| Rank | Make and model | Score |
| 1 | 2014-2022 Range Rover Sport | 94.9% |
| 2 | Land Rover Defender (2020-present) | 94.7% |
| 3 | Range Rover Sport (2022-present) | 94.2% |
| 4 | 2013-2022 Range Rover | 94.1% |
| 5 | Range Rover Evoque (2019-present) | 90.5% |
| 6 | Range Rover Velar (2017-present) | 90.5% |
| 7 | Land Rover Discovery (2017-present) | 84.9% |
| 8 | Land Rover Discovery Sport (2014-present) | 81.8% |
To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:
Most and least reliable cars overall
Most reliable car brands
Most reliable family cars
Most reliable executive cars
Most reliable luxury cars
Most reliable small SUVs
Most reliable family SUVs
Most reliable large SUVs
Most reliable seven-seaters
Most reliable electric cars
Most reliable electric SUVs
Most reliable sports cars
Most reliable diesel cars
Most reliable petrol cars
Most reliable hybrid cars
How the research was carried out
To compile the What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, we asked thousands of car owners to give us the lowdown on how reliable their car had been over the previous 24 months.
First we asked them to tell us if the car had suffered a fault, and, if so, how much each problem had cost to put right and how long it had kept the car off the road. The responses for these two factors were weighted and added up for each make and model, enabling us to create a unique reliability rating for each.
The latest What Car? Reliability Survey contains responses from 29,967 people, giving us enough data to report on 199 models aged up to five years old from 31 different car brands.
About the report author
Claire Evans has been a motoring journalist for more than 30 years, working on consumer issues for a great deal of that time. After a stint as the advice columnist for Carweek magazine in the 1990s, she also spent six years working on motoring content for Which?. It is here she oversaw the running of the charity's annual used car reliability survey.
Claire launched the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2017, and since then has helped thousands of buyers choose the most reliable new cars and SUVs, as well as the most dependable used cars.
