2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2022 Ford Explorer presented drivers with an extensive lineup of options, including eight distinct models priced from $33,745 to $54,495, excluding an additional $1,495 destination charge. The lineup expanded in the previous year to incorporate the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trims, with the 2022 model year introducing the ST-Line for a sportier aesthetic. Our test model, the King Ranch, adorned with four-wheel drive (4WD), Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, brought the MSRP to $59,880, including the destination fee.

Visually, the Explorer King Ranch distinguished itself with King Ranch emblems, shiny 20-inch 10-spoke wheels, and quad exhaust outlets. However, beyond these features, it closely resembled other Explorer models. Ford based the Explorer on a rear-drive platform allowing for a longer, taller hood, short front overhang, rakish roofline, and a tapering greenhouse contributing to its athletic appearance. The blacked-out roof pillars created a floating roof effect, popular among SUV enthusiasts.

Inside, the King Ranch boasted exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts, chocolate brown over caramel color scheme, and King Ranch branding on the seats and center armrest. Yet, some interior materials felt inconsistent with the near $60,000 price tag, at times revealing the Explorer's simpler base trims.

Conversely, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a minimalist and reductive design ethos, reflecting a clean and simple aesthetic. Unfortunately, this might not have aligned with the flashy preferences of some luxury SUV buyers. The Range Rover Sport's boldest factory features were limited to Firenze Red paint and 23-inch diamond-turned, multi-spoke wheels. Our test vehicle, dressed in subdued Eiger Gray paint with silver 23-inch wheels and a subtle Black Exterior Pack, appeared sleek without the optional black-painted roof. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme paired with aluminum and shiny black trim exuded understated luxury.

The Range Rover Sport's new design featured premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and taillights utilizing surface LED technology for the first time. Its outstanding aerodynamics, with a coefficient of drag of 0.29, set a new standard for the brand. The interior integrated high-tech and sustainable materials like Ultrafabrics, though the Windsor leather upholstery stole the spotlight with its luxurious feel and intoxicating fragrance.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims featured a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and RWD or 4WD. This setup allowed for a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds and offered combined fuel efficiency of up to 24 mpg.

The Limited trim offered a hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine, achieving 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs, and a combined fuel efficiency of 27 mpg. The most powerful option was the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard in the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, delivering 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque with a towing capacity of 5,600 lbs and a fuel efficiency of 21 mpg combined. Our King Ranch 4WD averaged 20.6 mpg during testing, offering robust power and satisfying acceleration.

Riding the Explorer felt like piloting a traditional SUV but without the typical skittish ride over bumps. It proved capable off-road, though the Explorer Timberline models with higher ground clearance of almost 8.7 inches were better for challenging terrains. The King Ranch displayed athleticism in everyday driving with its responsive handling, and the ST model stood out for enthusiasts with sport-tuned components and a High-Performance option package.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed for refinement, comfort, and engaging driver experience but only partially succeeded. Its 3.0-liter inline-six engine came in two tunes: the SE P360 at 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, and the SE Dynamic P400 at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The powerful plug-in hybrid PHEV drivetrain in the Autobiography P440e offered 434 hp, 406 lb-ft of torque, and an estimated 51 miles of electric range.

A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine was also available in early 2023 models, towing up to 7,716 pounds. The P400 drivetrain delivered 21 mpg combined, and our testing achieved 22.3 mpg. Despite its impressive off-road capabilities and dynamic mode enhancements, the Range Rover Sport didn't match the agility of similarly priced sport-tuned SUVs from competitors. It displayed significant body roll in tight corners and lacked steering precision, although it excelled in off-road scenarios with high ground clearance and excellent suspension technology.

Families of four found ample comfort in the 2022 Ford Explorer, although its third-row seat was cramped, suitable mainly for children. The King Ranch trim came fully equipped with triple-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain’s chairs, massaging front seats, and 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. While the front seats were exceptionally comfortable, the third-row access and seating remained challenging for adults. Storage within the cabin could have been better, with few practical areas for small items.

The Explorer offered 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat. This expanded to 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 87.8 cubic feet with both rows down, making it versatile yet limited compared to larger SUVs.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the commanding driving position typical of its lineage, offering adjustable air suspension for easy entry and exit. The front seats, crafted from Windsor leather, were incredibly comfortable and featured 20-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. Rear seat space, though improved, remained tight, especially uncomfortable for taller passengers due to hard seatback panels and narrow door openings.

Cargo space in the Range Rover Sport measured 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the seats down. The luxury SUV provided additional storage solutions, such as a handy contraption for securing small items and netted pockets in the cargo area.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured the Sync 3 infotainment system, available with either an 8-inch horizontally mounted touchscreen or a 10.1-inch portrait-style screen. While the larger screen seemed like an afterthought, the technology package included FordPass Connect, 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, navigation, wireless charging, a surround-view camera, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system. Unfortunately, the Sync 3 system lagged behind the more advanced Sync 4 in newer Ford models, with voice recognition issues.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM, and an Online Pack. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system proved complicated and often unresponsive to user commands and voice prompts. The SUV's impressive Meridian audio system and next-generation Active Noise Cancellation added to its high-tech allure.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, showcasing its comprehensive safety features. These included Ford Co-Pilot360 with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. With post-collision braking and MyKey for young drivers, the Explorer’s safety package was robust, though it occasionally had issues with steering wheel sensitivity and moderate traffic braking.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered advanced safety systems such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. The SUV also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist allowed the Land Rover to park autonomously using a smartphone app. However, adaptive cruise control was slow to respond, and steering assist struggled on curves, requiring driver intervention.