2024 Acura MDX vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Acura MDX presented a striking exterior with its large shield grille, rakish headlights, and modern intake vents, creating a refined presence. Inside, the MDX was high-tech but somewhat cluttered, with a center console filled with controls that could be overwhelming at first. The MDX offered various trims, including the Technology, A-Spec, and Advance Packages, each adding unique features like ambient lighting, upgraded audio systems, and leather upholstery. The Type-S Advance package, which was reviewed, included luxurious massaging front seats and a top-end 26-speaker ELS sound system, enhancing the driving experience with comfort and entertainment.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a sportier aesthetic within the Range Rover family, with a taller stance and athletic appearance due to its shorter wheelbase and chopped top. However, it appeared a bit too tall and narrow from certain angles. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the latter offering high-performance features like carbon-fiber wheels and a unique interior with red leather upholstery and illuminated elements. The minimalist interior design, while sleek, resulted in a somewhat cramped front-seat experience, but the material quality met luxury standards.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, with the Type-S variant offering a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine delivering 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for front-wheel drive or Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive System. The Type-S Advance model provided strong acceleration and a comfortable ride, with adaptive air suspension and Brembo performance brakes enhancing its sporty capabilities. The MDX’s towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

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 had a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with 355 horsepower, while the Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp. The Autobiography trim featured a plug-in hybrid with 543 hp or a BMW-sourced twin-turbo V8 with 523 hp. The SV Edition Two boasted the same V8 engine, tuned to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. The SV Edition Two achieved 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph, with sport-tuned air suspension and advanced handling features providing a luxurious yet agile driving experience.

The 2024 Acura MDX came standard with three rows of seating, offering comfort in the first two rows but limited space in the third row, suitable for children. Cargo space was 16.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 71.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Type-S Advance model featured a second-row bench with a fold-down center console and plenty of cupholders throughout the cabin. However, the center stack of controls was cluttered, with a touchpad shifter that took some getting used to.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a two-row, five-seater configuration. While front-seat headroom was comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs, the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 provided more legroom. The Range Rover Sport had 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 towing capacity reached 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, surpassing several competitors.

The 2024 Acura MDX’s infotainment system was its Achilles Heel, with a 12.3-inch display controlled by a touchpad that was unintuitive. Despite this, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Clever placement of charging ports and a leather handrest for the touchpad were thoughtful touches, but the overall system was less user-friendly compared to competitors like the Genesis GV80.

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, while visually appealing, resulted in functional shortfalls, requiring screen widgets for climate control and drive mode selection. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 model included “Body and Soul Seats” with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2024 Acura MDX came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Technology Package added parking sensors and reverse automatic emergency braking, while the Advance package included a 360-degree camera system. The 2022 MDX, which the 2024 model carried over from, earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though the parking sensors were overly sensitive. At the time of publication, safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the current-generation Range Rover Sport.