Compare the2024 Land Rover Range Rover SportVS 2023 BMW X5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

Both the Range Rover Sport and X5 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Range Rover Sport has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X5’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Range Rover Sport. But it costs extra on the X5.

Both the Range Rover Sport and X5 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Range Rover Sport has Rear Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X5’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Range Rover Sport and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Range Rover Sport has more powerful engines than the X5:

On the EPA test cycle the Range Rover Sport running on electricity gets better mileage than the X5:

On the EPA test cycle the Range Rover Sport running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X5:

The Range Rover Sport P550e can travel with zero emissions for 51 miles. The X5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the Range Rover Sport and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Range Rover Sports have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

The Range Rover Sport’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 (23.8 vs. 21.9 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Land Rover Range Rover Sport higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW X5 (3). This means the Range Rover Sport produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Range Rover Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X5:

The Range Rover Sport SV offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The X5 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the Range Rover Sport has larger standard tires than the X5 (275/50R21 vs. 265/50R19). The Range Rover Sport SV’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X5 (285/40R23 vs. 275/40R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Range Rover Sport has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the X5. The Range Rover Sport’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the X5.

The Range Rover Sport offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X5; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The front and rear suspension of the Range Rover Sport uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X5, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Range Rover Sport has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover Sport’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Range Rover Sport w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 5.4 feet tighter than the X5’s (35.9 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Range Rover Sport’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the X5’s (41.1 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Sport SV has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (9.8 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Range Rover Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Range Rover Sport’s minimum ground clearance is 2.3 inches higher than on the X5 (11 vs. 8.7 inches).

The design of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport amounts to more than styling. The Range Rover Sport has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the X5 (.36 to .38) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Range Rover Sport get better fuel mileage.

The Range Rover Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Range Rover Sport has .5 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the X5.

The Range Rover Sport’s cargo area is larger than the X5’s in almost every dimension:

The Range Rover Sport’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

The Range Rover Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the X5’s (7716 vs. 5952 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the Range Rover Sport uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Range Rover Sport has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Range Rover Sport’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the X5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Range Rover Sport has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Range Rover Sport offers optional dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The X5 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Range Rover Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The X5 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Range Rover Sport has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X5.

The Range Rover Sport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Range Rover Sport will retain 51.86% to 52.18% of its original price after five years, while the X5 only retains 48.6% to 49.43%.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Range Rover Sport first among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The X5 isn’t in the top three in its category.