2024 Lexus GX vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Lexus GX 550 marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the GX 470, with a bold new design that embraced geometric styling. The signature spindle grille was less pronounced, flanked by standard triple-beam LED headlights that sat at the squared-off upper edge of the front fascia. The front end stood more vertically, giving the SUV a more aggressive look, while the flat hood featured humps above each front wheel to aid off-road driving. The side profile was sleek, with minimal character lines and a low window beltline for better visibility. The GX was offered in six trim levels, with the Luxury+ and Overtrail+ trims highlighting its luxury and off-road capabilities, respectively. Inside, the GX combined luxury with utilitarian materials, featuring a large 14-inch touchscreen and physical controls for off-road functions.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to be the sportier sibling within the Range Rover family, with a taller stance and a shorter wheelbase for a more athletic appearance. The styling included large front air intakes and fake vents, but the SUV appeared a bit too tall and narrow from some angles. 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 was the highest-performance model, featuring carbon-fiber wheels and a unique interior with red leather upholstery and illuminated elements. The minimalist interior design focused on a clean aesthetic, but the high console and dash created a more enclosed feel. Material quality was high, though the use of piano black plastic was excessive.

The 2024 Lexus GX transitioned from a V8 to a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine, producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain offered more power than its predecessor, with torque available low in the rev range for off-road driving. Built on the GA-F truck platform, the GX featured a stiffer chassis for improved stability. It used a 10-speed automatic transmission and came standard with full-time four-wheel drive and a locking Torsen limited-slip center differential. The Overtrail trims added a locking rear differential and the Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) for enhanced off-road capability. During testing, the GX demonstrated strong acceleration and effective braking, with a composed on-road demeanor despite its off-road focus.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 355 horsepower, while the Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and a plug-in hybrid option with 454 hp. The Autobiography trim increased hybrid output to 543 hp and offered a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp. The SV Edition Two pushed the V8 to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. The SV Edition Two 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 handling with its sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring, while maintaining off-road capability with the Terrain Response system.

The 2024 Lexus GX featured a minimalist interior with fewer physical buttons, retaining essential controls for climate and off-road functions. It offered comfortable seating for six-foot-tall adults in the first and second rows, with 41.2 inches of front legroom and 36.7 inches in the second row. The third row was tight, suitable only for children. The GX excelled in cargo space, with 10.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 40.2 cubic feet with it folded, and a total of 76.9 cubic feet. Overtrail models offered even more space, with 45.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 90.5 cubic feet total.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, was a two-row, five-seater. It offered similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, with adequate rear-seat headroom despite the sloping roof. The 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 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2024 Lexus GX featured a 14-inch touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. The Lexus Interface infotainment system included a voice assistant and subscription services like Drive Connect and Remote Connect. A 10-speaker audio system was standard, with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo available on higher trims. While the interface was user-friendly, subscription costs after the initial trial period were a consideration for long-term ownership.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport shared its screen setup with the larger Range Rover, featuring a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design had functional drawbacks, with most controls relegated to the touchscreen. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt gimmicky.

The 2024 Lexus GX received a significant upgrade in safety features with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including pre-collision detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, and road-sign recognition. The proactive driving assist feature enhanced safety during highway driving. While crash-test ratings were not yet available, the modern GA-F architecture and comprehensive ADAS inspired confidence in its safety.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, 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.