Taking a look at the brand’s long history, it’s only natural to mention that it all started in the United Kingdom. Range Rover became a well-known and reliable vehicle on and off road since its original debut in 1970. The name Ranger Rover is still one of the most iconic off-road luxury vehicles.

The three present generations of Range Rover 4x4s are all known for their off-road capabilities. The first generation, known only as “Range Rover Classic” was the igniter for the Range Rover craze. The following generation, named P38A – to differentiate from the first Range Rover – was also extremely popular amongst off-road enthusiast and not only. All the previous generations brought us closer to today’s generation of Land Rover luxury 4×4 vehicles, the L322.

The newest L322 models got off the production line in 2009 and were introduced to the general public at the New York Auto Show. As it was to be expected, Land Rover managed to mix their iconic traditional innovations with modern day gadgets, thus delivering a driver-centered vehicle able to deliver high performance on and off road.

The L322 received a few improvements on the exterior, that only enhanced it’s 4×4 off-road looks. The rear bumper, the car’s grille, the LED taillights and LED headlights were heavily modified.

However, not only the exterior received and upgrade. Performance overhauls also worth mentioning, since the under the hood improvements include two new motorization. The two brand new engines have increased fuel efficiency which naturally makes it a lot easier on the petrol expenses. Also, a monocoque structural frame construction to enhance handling was added besides a four corner suspension that allows adjustment in ride height.

Also, at it became customary with the new Land Rover models, the manual transmission was replaced by a fully automatic transmission. On the inside, the old gauges were replaced by and LCD display which gives the L322 a more fashionable appearance besides offering the driver useful on-road information about the car.

The Irish company Valeo Vision System equipped Range Rover L322 with an impressive multi-camera system that gives the driver a detailed visual around the vehicle, thus minimizing most of the potential accidents.

Range Rover L322 is a reliable on and off road luxury car, and the Land Rover name vouches for its reliability. This being said, if you have the money and want to get yourself the best 4×4 available on the market today, then the L322 is one of the best choices you can make.

There are more motorizations for the Sport, that is primary powered by a 4.2 litre Jaguar AJ-V8 engine that provides 390hp (supercharged). Another motorization is the 4.4 litre variant that produces 320hp and it’s adapted to produce greater torque. These petrol engines are equipped with a sump and oil pickup system which allows operation at extreme angles. Another variant is the 2.7 litre TD V6 turbo diesel that produces 190 hp. The Sport and Vogue models that debuted in 2007 share a 3.6 litre twin turbodiesel TD V8. All Range Rover Sport models feature a 6 speed automatic transmission with Command Shift which allows the driver to sequentially manipulate gear changes.

The Sport model was designed to give the driver a unique off-road experience, trough the dynamic response active anti-sway electro-hydraulic bars. These detect cornering forces, and activate/deactivate according to them. Another plus that makes driving this Rover a pleasure, is the speed sensitive steering system adopted from Jaguar. This is a standard feature on all models.   

Yet another plus is the ACC (Active Cruise Control) with Forward Alert system. Thanks to this, the incorporated front bumper radar detects the ahead vehicles and adapts the speed accordingly.

Range Rover Sport has long been criticized by activists who claim that the vehicle is not at all eco-friendly – this lead to a temporary delay of production when protesters infiltrated and assembly facility. Greenpeace activists stated that while the Land Rover Defender range is typically used for off-road on a regular basis, the Range Rover Sport was intended primarily for on road performance, and the un-friendliness towards the environment is not justified.

Even if the Sport was intended mainly for on road use, the vehicle is also off-road ready, as it is to be expected from a Range Rover. Due to this, a number of off-road modifications can be made. To cite just a few extras that can be added: trailer harness kit, side steps, decals and auxiliary lightning.

As it can be clearly seen, Range Rover Sport is an off-road beast masked under a sports SUV exterior. Even if it’s considered to be not so environmentally friendly and a luxury car, if you want to buy a new 4×4 and you can afford a Range Rover Sport ( over $40,000) then this is your best choice, since you’ll get a safe, sturdy and luxurious car, which can get you literally anywhere.

Land Rover Discovery 3 ( marketed as LR3 in North America) was introduced in early 2004 and represented Land Rover’s rebirth in the “medium affordable” sector. Discovery 3 is a car designed with novelty in mind, while keeping all the old Land Rover aspects original. So, you get the same feel at a whole different level, all within an affordable price.

There can be many technicalities to be told about Discovery 3, but one word should suffice to describe the car “adequate”. This is mainly because Discovery 3 is exactly what you would expect it to be, that is a 4×4 5 door SUV.

Taking under consideration that Discovery was build during Ford’s lead, you can expect a sturdy car, that’s not too loud but not too quiet either, and which can cruise at respectable speeds offering its passengers plenty of room.

The engine is appropriate for the load of the car, and is complemented by the 6 speed automatic or manual gearbox. Disco 3 shouldn’t be regarded as a sports car, but rather as the car you know you can rely on – most drivers see it as a very friendly car with which you simply fall in love.

As this car represented the rebirth of Land Rover, its interior was redesigned as well. It’s not as luxurious as the interior of a Range Rover, but it’s still lovely and well-sorted. The first car of the series had some minor problems with door seals, but the later models had this problem fixed, which is a bonus.

When it comes to 4×4, Discovery 3 adopted both a monocoque chassis and ladder frame chassis. Of course, this makes it extremely heavy, but this Land Rover managed to be one of the best drives in its class.

As it is to be expected, this car has a pretty big appetite when it comes to gas, but, all the SUV’s do that.  But, you shouldn’t expect more than 30mpg from the TDV6 for example, and this is still a pretty acceptable number for its weight.

Of course, staying true to its name, Discovery 3 is a car meant to also go off-road. This is why you can modify it adequately. Considering that the car is still relatively new ( only 5 years since it’s been introduced on the market) you can expect to find all the parts you would want for it. It is really easy to find ARB which bumpers, Nudge Bar, Lamp protectors, CARB Jerry cans and NATO style water cans, aluminum bridging ladders, aluminum sand ladders, auxiliary lighting, hi-lift jack, and lots of vehicle mounted accessories including trailer harness kit, dog guard, side steps, lower body guard, decals, etc.

Overall, if you want a reliable and affordable Land Rover, the Discovery 3 is the best choice, on and off road.

Besides the rear door’s outer skin, every body panel was new, and Discovery’s rear body was heavily modified to improve the off-road capabilities and the load space of the car. However, the changes that matter are the ones made to the engine. The 2495 CC Td5 engine was introduced in Discovery II and this new engine was smoother and produced more torque at lower revs than the 300Tdi predecessor. One thing you should know is the fact this engine isn’t BMW – it’s derived from the Rover L-series engine developed by Land Rover.

Taking under consideration the “facelifts” and engine modifications, it’s easy to see why Discovery II became a very popular car, bought by families, off-road enthusiasts and pretty much everyone else. Considering the options available when it was launched (aka the more agricultural Defender series) it’s easy to see why Discovery II was seen as the best four-wheel drive for heavy going and not only. Even on today’s market Discovery II, is seen as a reliable used car – especially when compared to its predecessor (Discovery I is known to have its mechanical and electronic problems). However, as any used car, Discovery II can cause some problems, so it’s always better to opt for a full service history, and go for models that were built after 2000. Normally you would expect the first models of the series to be top-notch, but with Discovery II, it seems that they took the time and tweaked it along the way. Even so, maintenance needs to be done properly – but that’s normal for all used cars.

Needless to say, Discovery II is a great 4×4 and has been long praised for its on-road and off-road capabilities. Even today, most owners are more than happy with their 4×4, and take great pride in owning one. Plus, like its predecessor, Discovery II was built to last and to withstand any type of environment – you might have a few minor problems, but you can be sure that it will never let you down. There are quite a lot of modifications that can be made on this car, and since it’s meant to be an off-road vehicle, you can be sure to find more than a few options on this chapter. You will still find on the market lots of parts for a Discovery II, including ARB locking differential, ARB Bull Bar, CARB jerry cans and NATO style water cans, aluminum bridging ladders, aluminum sand ladders, hi-lift jack, roof racks, old man EMU springs and shocks, snorkel kit, auxiliary lighting, K&N performance air filters and much more. So, you can have your car ready for an off road expedition in no-time.

The first Discovery was initially a three door car, but the following year in 1990, a five door version became available.  If you want to buy the sturdy Land Rover Discovery 1, then you should consider the versions produced after 1994, these having a 2.5 liter TDI diesel engine, or a 3.5 Liter V8 engine, thus making it perfect if you want to go off road. Try to stay away from the 2.0 liter Discovery since even if it doesn’t “eat” as much gas as the 2.5 or 3.5 models, the engine isn’t suited for the heavy Discovery body and it tends to be underpowered by it.  Truth be told, the 2.0 model was only introduced to attract fleet users and only because less taxes needed to be paid on cars with such engines – so stay away from it!

Land Rover Discovery 1 was discontinued in 1998, but it’s still a favorite among SUV enthusiasts all over the globe thanks to its heavy payload and tough off-road work.  So, if you want a reliable car ready to take you literally anywhere, but you don’t have the money for a brand new 4×4, then you should choose Discovery 1. It might not have all the new facilities you find in today’s SUV’s, but it’s the best choice you can make if you want a 100% hardcore and real SUV.

It is not uncommon to see Discovery 1 modified with larger tires, suspension lifts, bull bars and traction differentials. This is due to the fact that it’s the most sought-after 4×4 vehicle on the market, even today. The modifications that can be made are many, but you should know that you will find more parts for the models produced between 1993 and 1998.

As already said, you can fit lots of equipment on the car, and modify it to the maximum – especially if you are an avid off-road fan that doesn’t like to stay on the asphalt too much. For the Land Rover Discovery 1 ( ’93-’98) you can easily find TerraFirma Off Road Suspensions, ARB locking differentials, differential protectors, roof racks, ARB front bumpers, auxiliary lighting, rear lamp guards, K&N performance air filters. You can also easily find online a wide variety of vehicle mounted accessories like side steps, dog guard, cargo liner, trailer harness kit and decals.

As you can see, the Discovery 1 is still a very popular and viable option if you are looking for a highly modifiable, highly reliable, all terrain vehicle, that handles well on and off road.

During the years, the manufacturer exchanged owners. The first owner was Rover, between 1983 and 1994, then BMW from ’94 to 2000, and then Ford Motors till 2008; since 2008 Land Rover is part of Tata Motors India. Nevertheless, all the changes in ownership didn’t affect the quality of the vehicles produced at all, and today we are going to take a closer look at the 4×4 that made history since ’83 until ’08, the Land Rover Defender.

The Land Rover that we know today as Defender was first produced in 1983 under the name Land Rover One Ten (or 110) a name given to reflect the 110inch length of the wheelbase. Land Rover Ninety, with its 93 inch wheelbase and Land Rover 127 soon followed. The name “Defender” was given to the 90, 110 and 127 in the ’90, to distinguish these models from the Discovery and Range Rover series.

The much appreciated series Defender has lots of motorizations, and body styles.  A quick recap of the body styles: 3-door station wagon (Ninety), 3-door van (Ninety), 2-door pickup (Ninety) and 5-door station wagon (One Ten).  The motorizations for these models are: 2.3 L 75 hp (56 kW) I4 petrol (1983–1985), 2.3 L 62 hp (46 kW) I4 diesel (1983), 2.5 L 68 hp (51 kW) I4 diesel (1984–1993), 2.5 L 83 hp (62 kW) I4 petrol (1985–1993), 2.5 L 85 hp (63 kW) I4 Turbo diesel (1986–1990), 3.5 L 113 hp (84 kW) V8 petrol (1983–1986) and 3.5 L 134 hp (100 kW) V8 petrol (1986–1993). The transmissions the Defender series offers are LT77 5 speed manual,R380 5 speed manual,ZF4-HP22 4 speed automatic and GFT MT-82 6-speed manual.

Technical details left aside, the Defender series was highly popular thanks to its modern engines, transmissions and interiors – though the interiors are not as luxurious as the ones Range Rovers have.  This made them very appreciated by off-road enthusiasts, and Defender became one of the most used 4×4 vehicles of all times. The Defender series is capable of tacking a gradient of 45 degrees, a departure angle of 53 degrees, and approach angle of up to 50 degrees and a ramp break-over of up to 25 degrees.  Needless to say, if you are looking for an exceptional off-road vehicle that’s not hard on your pocket, then all of Defender’s models are more than perfect.

These vehicles are highly customizable for the off-road, and you can easily find Terrafirma Off Road Suspension, ARB locking differential, ARB front bumper, Differential Protectors, Maximum protection Differential Protectors, Front steering protector (skid plate), Old Man EMU springs and shocks, CARB Jerry cans and NATO style water cans (20 L), Aluminum bridging ladders, Aluminum sand ladders, Hi-Lift Jack, Auxiliary lighting, Wing top protectors, Nudge Bar/Grille Guards, K&N performance air filters and a wide range of vehicle mounted accessories for the Defender series.

 During its long history, Land Rover was seen in all the corners of the globe, either as a competitor and winner of the Camel Trophy, a family car, a military vehicle, ambulance, mobile home, off-road favorite for adventurers, and the list can go on and on.

If you plan to choose a Land Rover, then almost all the vehicles are safe bets, the only thing that should concern you is the money you are willing to spend.  Needless to say, older cars, like the one in the Discovery series can be bought at a lower price, but still deliver high performances. Newer models like the Freelander and Defender series cost a bit more, and of course, these too have high off-road capabilities. If you are interested in a luxurious 4×4 then you will have to dig a bit into your bank account and buy a Range Rover – the high-end Land Rover vehicles.  No matter what you choose, you will find that when it comes to off-road and 4×4 Land Rover has the supremacy over its competitors, and that, as all 4×4 vehicles, Land Rovers have a taste for petrol – some more, some less.

These being said, let’s take a quick closer look at the various Land Rover models.

The Discovery series manufactured from ’89 on, is a mid-sized 4×4 with off-road capabilities. The first models in the series are not recommended and our suggestion would be to buy a Discovery manufactured after ’94. If you plan on going off-road a lot, then you should know that Discovery series 1 is highly customizable and even to date a very sought after 4×4 – plus, it’s not that expensive so it’s your best choice if you’re on a tight budget.

Land Rover Freelander is also a highly capable off-roader, manufactured from ’96 on and it can be seen as a lifestyle 4WD, which means that it’s perfect if you want to use in town, but more than adequate if you want to go off road with it. Because it’s very friendly, it’s a best choice for families that want a car to take them shopping and hiking at the same time. However, stay away from the K-series from Freelander 1 as they are known to be problematic engines.

The Range Rover series is the high-end of Land Rovers, being luxury 4×4 vehicles. The production started in 1970 and never stopped. There is not much to say about the Range Rover. It’s a very luxurious car, with high-end finishes, that handles extremely well on and off-road, and it’s highly recommended if you are willing to spend a little on a 4×4. As all Land Rover vehicles, it’s highly customizable in terms of off-road.

Land Rover Defender is THE four wheel drive off-road utility vehicle. This car has been manufactured since 1983 and has been used everywhere, thanks to its high off-road capabilities and friendliness. Though not as luxurious as the Range Rover, the Defender is a highly reliable vehicle that can be customized for off-road expeditions and it’s been a favorite of the British Army.

Alan and I have decided to drive to Estepona through France and Spain, while others are travelling by ferry from Portsmouth to Santander/Bilbao depending on which ferry operator they go with.

Alan and I enjoy the drive up through France and Spain and there is very little difference in the fuel, hotel and toll charges and the cost of the ferry.

The hotels in France and Spain are booked. Euros purchased, banks and credit card companies informed of my travels and that I mat be using my cards while I am away. I have found that it is better to phone the banks and credit card companies rather than write to them.

I have had my Land Rover Discovery serviced and a thorough check of my tyres, including the spare. I also had a good check underneath while it was up on the ramp.

A couple of days before I go, the hand brake will be stripped down and cleaned as on my last trip to the Alps in May 2009, the dirt in the hand brake caused the hand brake to squeal. Being controlled electronically the hand brake comes on automatically when you switch off the engine.

Everything else is good to go, ready for me to pack the Discovery nearer the time. We are leaving Northern Ireland on Saturday 17th April night crossing so that we are nice and fresh to start our long drive to Estepona that will take 3 days. Looking forward to it for all you that are reading this in Artic conditions It is 23-25 degree C in Marrakech as I write this.

Part of the preparation is car insurance to cover you in Morocco. The insurance company I am with will provide me with a Green Card for the dates that I request to be covered from for a small charge. 
Most insurance companies will not cover you. If your insurance company will not cover you for Morocco you can purchase local insurance at Tangiers. 

“Warning UK European Insurance does not cover for Morocco”

I have taken out AA Breakdown cover for UK and Europe. Hopefully I will never need it. If I didn’t have it you can be sure that I would need it. (Also it would be very expensive to get your Land Rover back without the cover).
I will also be taking out travel insurance and medical insurance.

Maps 
I have up to date maps for France, Spain and Morocco. I have also up dated my Land Rover Sat Nav with the latest maps for UK and Europe.
I have also update my Tom Tom Sat Nav with the Latest maps of UK and Europe. Tom Tom now have a map covering Morocco.

Equipment
I have been busy sorting out the equipment that I will be taking with me and  have been making sure that everything is serviceable. All my Gas stoves are working and replenish my stock of gas canisters.
Ensuring that my OzRv3 tent has no holes, the frame is ok and that all zips are working. That my camp bed, sleeping bag and air mattress is ok.
Check my cool boxes are working. In fact I check every bit of kit I take.