2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2024 Mazda CX-50

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 was a more rugged alternative to the Mazda CX-5, with a design that emphasized its broader and longer dimensions. It featured square wheel arches and faux air vents, giving it a robust appearance. The CX-50 was available in eight trim levels, with the 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition standing out for its all-terrain tires and distinctive styling elements. Despite its rugged looks, the CX-50's interior was refined, with a pleasing design and high-quality materials, although it didn't fully achieve Mazda's upscale aspirations.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was styled to emphasize its sporty nature within the Range Rover family. It had a taller stance but maintained an athletic appearance with large air intakes and fake vents. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured carbon-fiber elements and a subtle exterior. Inside, the Range Rover Sport had a minimalist design with luxurious materials, although the high console and dash created a more enclosed feel. The interior was adorned with unique features like illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters and sport seats with light-up inserts.

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 offered a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with turbocharging available on higher trims. The base engine produced 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged version delivered up to 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. All models came with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with various driving modes. The CX-50 was a competent daily driver, but its handling was less sporty than the CX-5, and the all-terrain tires on the Meridian Edition added noise and reduced grip.

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, while the Dynamic SE offered a higher output and a plug-in hybrid option. The Autobiography trim featured a more powerful plug-in hybrid and a twin-turbo V8. The SV Edition 2, with its 626 hp V8, was the most powerful Range Rover ever, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The Range Rover Sport excelled in both performance and comfort, with features like four-wheel steering and brake-based torque vectoring enhancing its agility.

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 had similar passenger space to the CX-5, with slightly less headroom but more legroom. It offered 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 56.3 cubic feet with them folded. While it trailed competitors in cargo space, the power liftgate improved access. The interior layout was sensible, with adequate storage space and a substantial shifter and rotary infotainment controller on the center console.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered ample room for five passengers. It had 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Range Rover Sport's towing capacity was impressive, with turbo-six and V8 models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds. The interior featured deep door pockets and large cupholders, while the air suspension's "access height" setting made loading cargo easier.

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 featured a 10.25-inch infotainment screen controlled by a rotary controller. While it lacked a touchscreen, it offered wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Higher trims included wireless phone charging and a Bose audio system. The infotainment system was straightforward but felt dated, appealing to buyers who preferred simplicity over excessive tech.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design had functional limitations, but the Pivi Pro system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention. It offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included rear automatic braking and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with a full array of standard driver-assist features, such as automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though the parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.