2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and contemporary design elements. Its boxy silhouette was reminiscent of traditional Land Rover models, yet it incorporated modern touches like angular headlights that aligned it with the brand's current lineup. Inside, the Defender's cabin was rugged and adventure-ready, with durable materials that set it apart from other Land Rover interiors. It shared more similarities with off-road vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, though it offered more refined soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles—90, 110, and 130—and a variety of trims, each catering to different preferences, from vintage aesthetics to modern aggressiveness.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a sportier, more athletic appearance within the Range Rover family. Its shorter wheelbase and chopped top contributed to a dynamic stance, although some angles made it appear taller and narrower than desired. The Range Rover Sport lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the latter offering the highest performance. The SV Edition Two featured carbon-fiber elements and a minimalist interior with red leather upholstery and illuminated accents. Despite its sporty mission, the Range Rover Sport maintained a luxurious ride, with high-quality materials and a cockpit-like feel, though it was slightly cramped for its size.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also had two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a formidable choice for rugged terrains.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model had a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim increased the plug-in hybrid's output to 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, while the SV Edition Two boasted a BMW-sourced twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 626 hp. The SV Edition Two was the most powerful Range Rover model, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The Range Rover Sport combined luxury with performance, offering a sport-tuned air suspension and advanced handling features.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside practical elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. It accommodated between five and eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided more seating capacity but limited space. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Defender 110 and 90 also provided ample cargo space, with practical hard plastic surfaces for easy cleaning.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, was a two-row, five-seater. It offered adequate headroom and legroom, though some competitors provided more space. The Range Rover Sport had 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with seats folded. While it lacked a split tailgate, power operation and an "access height" setting facilitated loading and unloading. The Range Rover Sport's towing capacity was competitive, with turbo-six and V8 models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While smaller than some competitors, the touchscreen was simple and aligned with the Defender's utilitarian persona. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport shared its screen setup with the larger Range Rover, featuring a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design had functional limitations, with most controls requiring touchscreen interaction. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers, offering a unique, albeit slightly gimmicky, experience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport also offered a robust suite of standard driver-assist features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention monitor. The 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.