2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2026 BMW X5

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 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 look 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. Our test car, the SV Edition 2, featured 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood, presenting a subtle exterior that belied its high-performance capabilities. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with illuminated inserts, and a minimalist dashboard design, although the high console and dash created a somewhat cramped feel.

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 M60i test car featured Manhattan Green paint, 22-inch wheels, and a luxurious interior with Merino leather upholstery and carbon fiber trim. The interior aimed for simplicity with a panoramic curved display and minimized controls, enhanced by metallic accents and artful speaker grilles. Despite the predominantly black interior, the X5 felt anything but monotonous, with quality materials and tight construction. At night, ambient lighting and illuminated speaker grilles added to the SUV's special feel.

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 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 producing 543 hp and 590 lb-ft or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 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 accelerated from zero 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, with features like four-wheel steering, brake-based torque vectoring, and the Terrain Response system.

The 2026 BMW X5 offered a range of six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains. The M60i test car 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. It accelerated to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with standard xDrive AWD and Pirelli P Zero performance tires ensuring smooth power delivery. The M60i's fuel economy ranged from 16.4 mpg to 21.1 mpg, with more efficient options available in other trims. The X5's dynamic M Adaptive suspension provided a firm ride, while M Sport brakes and performance tires enhanced handling. Although not equipped for off-roading, the X5 offered a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover, offering 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 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 SUV's towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models.

The 2026 BMW X5 accommodated five passengers in two rows, with the M60i spec offering adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage options. Rear-seat comfort was acceptable, with headroom being a highlight. The X5 featured a split-opening power liftgate, providing 33.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 72.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. Storage solutions included hidden compartments and secure rubber liners, while the split liftgate prevented items from rolling out.

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 limitations, with most controls requiring touchscreen interaction. 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, although it felt somewhat gimmicky.

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 included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services. A digital assistant was available, although it had compatibility issues with Apple CarPlay. The Bowers & Wilkins audio system delivered exceptional sound quality. The infotainment screen's numerous menus were best explored when stationary.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came standard with driver-assist features such as 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, although parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2026 BMW X5 included standard safety features like high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The optional Driving Assistance Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and hands-free driving capabilities. The X5 received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.