Verdict
Land Rovers pass their MOT first time on 75.1% of tests, against 68.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats 80% of cars on UK roads and ranks Land Rover 6th of 40 makes, well ahead of mainstream makes such as Ford and Vauxhall.
The Range Rovers do best: the Range Rover beats 93% of cars, the Range Rover Sport 91% and the Evoque 86%. The Discovery beats 81%, the Freelander 76%, the Discovery Sport 65% and the Defender 63%. Every model beats more than half of cars; the Velar does least well, beating 58%.
Land Rovers fail on emissions and leaks about half as often as a typical car, on suspension and tyres about a third less often, and on lights and electrics and visibility items such as wipers and mirrors more than a quarter less often. Steering is the exception, failing a little more often than typical, on about 1 in 37 tests.
For one car in detail, see the 2014 Evoque 2.2 diesel report.
Best Land Rover models
Beats = share of cars on UK roads it does better than.
- Range Rover Beats 93%
- Range Rover Sport Beats 91%
- Range Rover Evoque Beats 86%
- Discovery Beats 81%
- Freelander Beats 76%
Check most carefully
None: every Land Rover model beats at least half of cars.
Where it fails
Every Land Rover compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Land Rover models
Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.
| Model first registered | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery 1991–2023 | 71.3% | Beats 81% | A |
| Range Rover Evoque 2011–2023 | 83.4% | Beats 86% | A |
| Freelander 1998–2014 | 66.3% | Beats 76% | B |
| Defender 1984–2023 | 68.0% | Beats 63% | B |
| Range Rover Sport 2005–2022 | 78.8% | Beats 91% | A |
| Range Rover 1990–2023 | 77.3% | Beats 93% | A |
| Discovery Sport 2015–2021 | 82.2% | Beats 65% | B |
| Range Rover Velar 2017–2022 | 84.4% | Beats 58% | C |
FAQ
What is Land Rover's MOT pass rate?
75.1% of Land Rover MOT tests were passed first time, from 7.3 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 68.7%, so Land Rover is well above average.
Are Land Rovers reliable?
On MOT results, yes: Land Rover beats 80% of cars on UK roads and ranks 6th of 40 makes, and every model beats more than half of cars. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Land Rover models are most reliable?
The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport each beat more than nine in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and the Range Rover Evoque close to nine in ten.
Which Land Rover model does worst?
The Velar, though it still beats nearly six in ten cars. The Defender and Discovery Sport beat about two in three.
What are the most common MOT failures on Land Rovers?
Lights and electrics (about 1 in 10 tests), brakes and suspension (each about 1 in 14), all less often than on a typical car. Only steering fails a little more often than typical.