2025 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover family. Its tall stance was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it an athletic appearance. The large front air intakes and fake vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty look, although from certain angles, it appeared a bit too tall and narrow. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured unique elements like 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery and sport seats with illuminated inserts, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic with a touchscreen and a few controls. The interior felt enclosed, with high-quality materials, though the use of piano black plastic was excessive.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse impressed with its exterior styling, consistent with Chevrolet's recent SUV designs. The interior design was appealing, featuring digital instrumentation and a Google-based infotainment system. However, the quality of materials was lacking, with hard, glossy plastics and artificial leather that didn't convincingly mimic the real thing. The Traverse offered trims like LT, Z71, High Country, and RS, with prices ranging from $41,095 to $55,495. The Z71 trim, tested here, was the off-road version, equipped with features like Radiant Red paint, a panoramic sunroof, and various driving packages. Despite its shortcomings in material quality, the Traverse's design and features made it a visually appealing choice.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine producing 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet 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 could be equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 543 hp and 590 lb-ft or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8 but with an output of 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in handling with its sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring. It also featured the Terrain Response system for off-roading, with varying ground clearance and approach angles.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. It offered front-wheel drive with noticeable torque steer, but engaging all-wheel drive improved acceleration and control. The Z71 trim, designed for off-road use, featured an off-road suspension, unique wheels, all-terrain tires, and additional off-road capabilities. It handled trails and rough terrain effectively, with a Terrain mode for smoother power application. The Z71's tires and suspension also provided a smoother ride on poorly maintained roads. The Traverse offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Normal, and Sport, though it didn't deliver a sporty driving experience. The Z71's EPA rating was 21 mpg in combined driving, and it achieved 21.5 mpg during testing.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover in terms of dimensions. It offered more room than the Velar but remained a midsize SUV with two rows of seats. Front-seat occupants found adequate headroom, while rear-seat headroom was not significantly impacted by the sloping roof. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse offered a spacious interior with a focus on width. Front-seat occupants enjoyed ample space, and the eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat provided comfort. The Z71 trim featured heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Traverse accommodated up to eight passengers with a second-row bench seat, while our test vehicle had captain's chairs. The third-row seats were comfortable but lacked a view due to the rear window design. The Traverse provided 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 56.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row down. Folding the third row required adjusting the second-row seats, which could be inconvenient.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured 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, with most controls relying on the touchscreen. Steering-wheel controls offered limited alternatives. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car had "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse boasted a standard 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play Store access. It also included Alexa compatibility, OnStar services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L. The user interface was simple and effective, with Google Assistant providing accurate voice recognition. The lack of a tuning knob was a minor drawback, but steering wheel controls allowed for easy radio station and volume adjustments. The climate system had separate knobs for temperature control. The Traverse also featured an 11-inch digital instrumentation panel with customizable views. Optional features included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a high-definition surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with standard driver-assist features, including 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. A 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.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection braking, and rear automatic braking. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Driver Confidence Package added a surround-view camera system, traffic sign recognition, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enhanced Driving Package included Super Cruise, a hands-free driving assist system, and remote-parking technology. The NHTSA awarded the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, and the IIHS gave it a "Top Safety Pick" award.