2025 Mazda CX-50 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 lineup. Its tall stature was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it a more athletic appearance compared to the traditional Range Rover. The 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, lacking the wide, planted stance of some luxury SUVs. 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 across all models. However, the high console and dash created a cockpit-like feel that could feel cramped, despite the high material quality.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 was considered an attractive option in the compact SUV class, borrowing styling elements from the CX-5 but enhancing them with distinct fender flares and a wider grille for a sportier stance. Its interior featured a traditional layout with classier materials than many rivals, including soft-touch surfaces and sturdy plastics. The hybrid model offered exclusive red leather upholstery, adding vibrancy to the cabin. A decorative stripe ran down the middle of the seats, which some found awkwardly placed. Despite this, the CX-50 positioned itself above other compact SUVs, leaning toward entry-level luxury in design and interior quality.

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 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 could be equipped with a plug-in hybrid producing 543 hp and 590 lb-ft or a BMW-sourced twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8, tuned to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in both on-road performance and off-road capability, featuring sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring. The Terrain Response system and air suspension provided impressive off-road angles and ground clearance.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid debuted with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with three electric motors, delivering 219 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque with all-wheel drive. This powertrain, shared with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, filled the gap between the 187 hp base engine and the 256 hp Turbo models. Acceleration was similar to the RAV4 Hybrid, with an estimated 0 to 60 mph time between 7.5 and 8 seconds. The CX-50 featured a sportier suspension tuning for engaging handling, with minimal body roll and a firm yet smooth ride. The electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT) replicated the feel of a conventional automatic, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover, offered more room than the Velar while remaining a midsize SUV. It was a two-row, five-seater, with front-seat headroom comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs. Rear-seat headroom was slightly less than the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, but adequate for most passengers. 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 featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The maximum towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 offered ample front-seat space, but rear-seat headroom and legroom were less than competitors like the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Sportage Hybrid. Personal storage was adequate, with a moderately sized armrest bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The CX-50's cargo capacity was 29.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, less than the non-hybrid model and class average. Despite this, the space was usable for daily needs, aided by a standard power liftgate and a large storage bin under the cargo floor.

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 had functional shortfalls, with limited options beyond the touchscreen. Steering-wheel controls offered some alternatives, and the Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50's 10.25-inch infotainment system was controlled by a center console dial, with touchscreen functionality limited to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This setup was preferred by some for its ease of use. All models included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad available on higher trims. The base audio system had eight speakers, while a 12-speaker Bose system was standard on the Premium trim.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. 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 not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, which received four stars. The non-hybrid 2024 model received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. Standard driver assistance features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, all functioning as designed.