2026 BMW X5 vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged and customizable design, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance between the stubby 90 and the visually heavy 130. Despite its unconventional appearance, the Defender's appeal lay in its robust aesthetic and extensive customization options. The base price ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials, bringing the MSRP to $106,092. The test model, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its color clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with options for Ebony, Caraway, or Light Cloud upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, prioritizing quality materials and a purposeful design.

The 2026 BMW X5 retained design elements from its original model, with wide kidney grilles, a four-element headlight array, and taillights that bled horizontally into the rear liftgate. The X5's styling was appealing, if not conventionally attractive, with sculpted bodywork atop oversized wheels. Inside, BMW aimed for simplicity with a panoramic curved display and minimized controls, enhanced by metallic accents, carbon fiber inlays, and artful metal speaker grilles. Despite the black interior, the X5 felt anything but monotonous. Quality was evident in the glass controls, sophisticated display graphics, and tight construction. At night, ambient lighting and the panoramic Sky Lounge LED sunroof added to the SUV's special feel.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system, delivered 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, allowed the Defender 130 X to accelerate to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The SUV featured an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities. With a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds, the Defender excelled in off-road environments, though its 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its on-road agility. The Defender's ground clearance was 11.4 inches, with approach, breakover, and departure angles of 37.5, 27.9, and 28.8 degrees, respectively. Despite its power, the Defender's brakes were challenging to modulate, and its steering was slow, making it less suited for twisty roads. The SUV cruised comfortably on highways but suffered from wind noise and weak washer jets. The observed fuel economy was 16.2 mpg, below the expected 19 mpg.

The 2026 BMW X5 M60i featured a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 532 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain enabled the X5 to accelerate to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with power delivered smoothly through the xDrive AWD system and 22-inch Pirelli P Zero performance tires. The X5's fuel economy ranged from 16.4 to 21.1 mpg, with more efficient options available in other trims. The SUV's dynamic M Adaptive suspension struggled with its 5,355-pound weight, leading to a bouncy ride on uneven surfaces. The M60i's brakes and tires provided confidence, while the ride remained firm over speed bumps. The X5 was not equipped for off-roading, but it offered a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The SUV provided excellent forward visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row created an open and airy feel. Storage space was plentiful in the front, but less accommodating in the rear. The Defender 130 excelled in third-row accessibility and comfort, with heated and supportive seats. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, with a high load floor. Cargo space measured 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2026 BMW X5 accommodated five passengers in two rows, with front seats offering extensive adjustments and standard heating and ventilation. The four-zone automatic climate control system occasionally lost effectiveness due to the engine start/stop system. Rear-seat comfort was acceptable, with ample headroom but limited leg support. The X5 provided hidden storage spaces with secure liners, and the split-opening power liftgate prevented items from rolling out. Cargo space measured 33.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 72.3 cubic feet with the seat folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and connected services. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but its accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive, with easy programming of favorite radio stations. The Defender also included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2026 BMW X5's BMW Curved Display combined a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. The iDrive 8.5 infotainment system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and connected services. A digital assistant was available, though it required disconnecting a smartphone to function properly. The Bowers & Wilkins audio system provided phenomenal sound. The infotainment screen's menus were overwhelming, but easy to navigate when stationary.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came equipped with several driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the Defender into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2026 BMW X5 offered standard safety features such as high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, active blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. The optional Driving Assistance Professional Package included adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and hands-free driving capabilities. The X5 received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.