2025 Acura MDX vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Acura MDX underwent subtle styling updates, including a new grille, revised front bumper, and darkened headlights and taillights, which enhanced its sporty and performance-oriented appearance. Most versions received new wheel designs and finishes, adding to the SUV's visual appeal. Inside, the MDX saw more significant changes with the introduction of a new touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the previous touchpad interface and providing additional storage space. The seats from the previous MDX Type S model were incorporated into the MDX Advance package and MDX A-Spec Advance, while the Type S received a new seat design. Acura also improved cabin quietness with added sound insulation and acoustic laminated window glass. Despite the quality of the MDX's interior, the gloss black plastic trim on the dashboard was prone to collecting dust and smudges. However, the controls were logically placed and easy to use, with quick-access buttons for the head-up display and safety features. The 2025 MDX lineup introduced a new A-Spec Advance trim level, combining luxury with a sportier look. The test vehicle, priced at $69,950 with extra-cost paint and destination charge, was on the higher end of the MDX spectrum, but the base model started at $50,900, offering a range of trims and equipment options.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized its sporty SUV positioning within the Range Rover family with a taller stance and shorter wheelbase, giving it an athletic appearance. Large front air intakes and fake vents on the hood and fenders contributed to its look, though it appeared tall and narrow from some angles. The 2025 lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with a Stealth appearance package available for the Dynamic SE. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured mechanical upgrades and optional 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels. The interior boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up "SV" inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters. The minimalist design included a touchscreen, stubby shifter, and engine start button, creating a cockpit-like feel. Material quality was high, though the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive. The Range Rover Sport's console, dash, and door panels were high, creating a more enclosed feel, but the front seats felt cramped for a vehicle of its size.

The 2025 Acura MDX positioned itself as a performance-oriented luxury SUV, with the Type S model featuring a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Most buyers opted for the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The MDX offered a torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, standard on the A-Spec trim and optional on lower trims. The MDX provided good power for its size, weighing over 4,500 pounds with SH-AWD. It offered Comfort, Normal, Sport, Snow, and Individual driving modes, with the Sport mode providing the best powertrain response. However, using Sport mode frequently reduced fuel economy, with the A-Spec Advance rated at 21 mpg combined but averaging 18.4 mpg during testing. The MDX handled twisty roads confidently, with smooth body motions and predictable behavior. It offered a firm and communicative ride in the city, with swift acceleration for merging onto freeways. The MDX was not designed for off-roading, with limited ground clearance unless equipped with the Type S Advance's air suspension.

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 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 model had a plug-in hybrid powertrain with 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8, but with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension allowed it to handle corners well, with a calm and confident demeanor. Four-wheel steering and brake-based torque vectoring enhanced agility, while carbon-ceramic brakes provided strong stopping power. The Terrain Response system and air suspension offered off-road capability, with a two-speed transfer case available on Autobiography models.

The 2025 Acura MDX offered 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage programs in the MDX Advance and MDX A-Spec Advance trims. The second row could be configured as a bench seat or individual bucket seats, with a fold-down middle section for cupholders and storage. The outboard second-row seats were comfortable, with ample legroom and thigh support. The third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and uncomfortable for long periods. In-cabin storage included a new center console tray, wireless smartphone charging pad, and small storage areas. Cargo volume measured 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded and 71.4 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat occupants had similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, with adequate rear-seat headroom despite the sloping roof. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 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 Range Rover Sport's towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2025 Acura MDX introduced a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Alexa and Google Built-in, eliminating the previous touchpad interface. The system offered a natural and intuitive interface, though SiriusXM required streaming through a smartphone app. AcuraLink connected services and an AT&T 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The MDX featured Bang & Olufsen audio systems with up to 31 speakers, and a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display with two themes. A 10.5-inch head-up display provided comprehensive data, though blind-spot monitoring alerts were absent. The MDX Advance and A-Spec Advance included a surround-view camera system.

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. Steering-wheel controls offered limited alternatives. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The Range Rover Sport SV Edition 2 included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for music synchronization, paired with a Meridian audio system with up to 29 speakers.

The 2025 Acura MDX featured the AcuraWatch collection of driver assistance features, with an expanded AcuraWatch 360 package exclusive to the Type S Advance. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and Traffic Jam Assist were also standard. AcuraWatch 360 added front cross-traffic alert, evasive steering warning, and active lane-change assist. The MDX received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with the 2024 model earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention monitor. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. The IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the current-generation Range Rover Sport at the time of publication.