2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV was designed to blend seamlessly with its non-hybrid counterparts. Aside from a subtle “P400e” badge on the tailgate, it featured no gratuitous styling changes or aerodynamic modifications. The charging port was cleverly integrated into the grille, making it nearly invisible unless pointed out. This approach underscored Land Rover's commitment to maintaining the vehicle's aesthetic appeal, even with the added complexity of a hybrid powertrain.

Inside, the Range Rover Sport PHEV exuded luxury with high-quality materials throughout the cabin. The test vehicle, priced at $93,200 with options, included features like Firenze Red paint, a black roof, and 21-inch aluminum wheels, which enhanced its visual presence. The interior was equally impressive, with excellent front-seat comfort and a panoramic glass roof that brightened the black-on-black interior.

The 2021 BMW X5 continued BMW's tradition of high-quality craftsmanship. The X5's design was unmistakably BMW, from the kidney grille to the body shape, ensuring it stood out as a luxury SUV. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and various trim options, including the sporty M Sport styling, which added body-color trim and high-gloss black accents. Depending on the trim level, the X5 could ride on wheels ranging from 19 to 22 inches.

Inside, the X5's interior was a mix of familiar BMW elements, with nearly every switch, dial, and display sourced from the BMW parts bin. While this created a sense of sameness, it didn't detract from the overall quality. The cabin featured leather and soft-touch materials, though there was an abundance of black plastic that easily collected dust. M Sport models added unique styling elements, including an M sports steering wheel and model-exclusive interior trim strips.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a 141-hp electric motor and a 13-kWh battery, producing a total of 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. Land Rover claimed an all-electric driving range of up to 31 miles, but real-world testing revealed challenges in achieving this range. The SUV defaulted to gas-electric hybrid mode, and attempts to use pure electric mode often resulted in the gas engine kicking in unexpectedly. Despite these issues, the Range Rover Sport PHEV delivered quick acceleration and a comfortable ride, thanks to its adaptive air suspension and various driving modes. However, the regenerative brakes were grabby, making smooth stops difficult.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M50i came with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, delivering 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M offered even more power, with 600 horsepower from its twin-turbo V8, increasing to 617 horsepower with the Competition Package. The X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid model combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kWh battery, producing 389 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It offered up to 30 miles of all-electric range and seamless transitions between power modes. However, the X5's steering dynamics were less engaging than expected, and the SUV's handling at higher speeds felt disconnected.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV had a higher price tag and less cargo space due to the battery placement beneath the raised cargo floor. This reduced the already tight 27.5-cubic-foot space behind the back seat, making it challenging to secure items. However, the SUV comfortably accommodated five passengers, with excellent front-seat comfort and a tall riding position for rear-seat passengers. The optional refrigerated center console bin reduced practical storage, but the dual-glove-box design helped. The panoramic glass roof and 4-zone automatic climate control added to the interior's appeal.

The 2021 BMW X5 made efficient use of space, with cupholders positioned at the front of the center console and a wireless phone charging pad out of the driver's line of sight. The front seats were comfortable for short trips but felt hard after extended periods. Rear seats were spacious enough for kids and two adults, with an available third row for additional seating. The X5's split liftgate and vehicle height adjustment button made loading cargo easier. The X5 xDrive45e offered slightly less cargo space than the traditional X5, but the difference was negligible for most buyers.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which could be challenging to use. Despite spending time setting up the system, it occasionally behaved unpredictably, showing information not requested or exhibiting delayed reactions. The lack of haptic feedback from the touchscreen added to the frustration. While the system provided easy access to primary stereo and climate functions, it required patience and familiarity to operate effectively.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was easy to use once familiar.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including a new steering-assist system in the optional Driver Assist Package. However, the SUV's higher center of gravity and adaptive air suspension resulted in head-toss over uneven pavement. The lane-keeping assist system worked too abruptly, leading to its deactivation during testing. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the Range Rover Sport's nearly 5,500-pound weight provided a sense of security in collisions.

The 2021 BMW X5 included standard safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera. However, the Driving Assistance Professional Package's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems had issues, particularly in bright sunlight and light rain. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.