2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

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. Large front air intakes and faux 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 carbon-fiber wheels and a hood with an exposed patch of carbon fiber. 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 2025 Land Rover Defender, particularly the 110 four-door model, struck a balance in design, offering a rugged appeal with extensive customization options. Prices ranged from $58,525 for a base 90 model to $120,525 for a 130 V8, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and off-roading technology. It swapped standard 22-inch wheels for 20s with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. The Gondwana Stone paint didn't complement the orange brake calipers, and the 20-inch wheels seemed delicate. Inside, the Defender X upgraded to premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with illuminated door-sill treadplates and metal pedal covers. The interior maintained an industrial theme, focusing on purpose over luxury.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple 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 with 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 increased the plug-in hybrid output to 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, and could also be equipped with a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two pushed the V8's output to 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 both on-road performance and off-road capability, with features like Terrain Response, hill descent control, and a two-speed transfer case for the Autobiography trim.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender offered four powertrain options, with our test vehicle featuring a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a mild-hybrid system, it provided smooth acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Standard features included an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes. The Off-Road Pack added an electronic active differential and wade-sensing technology. The Defender excelled off-road, with impressive ground clearance and approach, breakover, and departure angles. On-road, it offered a comfortable ride but lacked enthusiasm for twisty roads. The Defender 130's weight and steering limited its agility, but it cruised comfortably on highways.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and the full-size Range Rover, offered a midsize two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat occupants enjoyed similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, while rear-seat headroom was only slightly less than competitors. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 53 cubic feet with the seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The Sport's towing capacity was competitive, with turbo-six and V8 models rated at 7,716 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 Defender's tall seating position provided excellent visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row enhanced the open feel. The Defender 130's second-row captain's chairs were heated and ventilated, with a four-zone climate control option. The third-row seat was heated and roomy, providing comfort for adults. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, but the air suspension could be lowered for easier loading. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 15.3 cubic feet, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design left few physical controls, relying on the touchscreen for functions like climate control and drive mode selection. 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 for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessed via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and connected services. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive, with fewer dead ends. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system was also noteworthy. Additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and parking ease. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came standard with a comprehensive suite of 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 parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was 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. A Driver Assistance Mode menu allowed customization of assistance levels. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, with minor issues in heavy traffic. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at press time.