2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to emphasize its sporty nature within the Range Rover lineup. It stood tall on the road, yet its shorter wheelbase and chopped top lent it a more athletic stance compared to the traditional Range Rover. The large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders contributed to its sporty appearance, although from certain angles, it appeared somewhat tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted look of some luxury SUVs. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured unique elements like 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood, giving it a sleeper look in Marl Grey. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with illuminated inserts, and a minimalist dashboard interrupted only by a touchscreen and a few controls.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h Black Line Special Edition, was priced at $75,000 and featured an exclusive Incognito paint job with orange brake calipers. Despite these unique touches, the RX's design remained unremarkable, with a large front grille and a dramatic rear haunch swell. The RX lineup included three models: the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+, each offering different powertrains and fuel efficiency. The RX 500h, with its turbocharged engine and sport-tuned suspension, provided a more dynamic driving experience. Inside, the RX Hybrid offered a contemporary interior with quality materials and ambient lighting, although some controls were ergonomically challenging.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of 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, with an optional plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim could be equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 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, the most powerful model, used the same V8 engine but with 626 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in both on-road performance and off-road capability, with features like Terrain Response, hill descent control, and impressive ground clearance.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid lineup included the RX 350h, RX 450h+, and RX 500h models. The RX 350h, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid powertrain, produced 246 hp and 233 lb-ft, offering excellent fuel efficiency. The RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivered 304 hp and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds, while the RX 500h featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft. The RX 500h's sport-tuned suspension and Direct4 all-wheel-drive system provided improved handling, but its fuel economy was lower than expected. The RX 500h offered a rewarding driving experience with quick acceleration, although it lacked the dynamic communication found in some competitors.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a spacious two-row, five-seater configuration. While it provided ample headroom, competitors like the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 offered slightly more legroom. The Range Rover Sport's cargo space measured 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was less than some rivals but still substantial. The vehicle's towing capacity was impressive, with turbo-six and V8 models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, a midsize two-row crossover, focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model featured snug front seats with enhanced bolstering, while the rear seats offered ample room and comfort. The RX Hybrid provided 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space, with the ability to expand to 46.2 cubic feet by folding the rear seats. While the cargo space was less than some competitors, the RX offered practical storage solutions and a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design, while visually appealing, had functional limitations, requiring reliance on the touchscreen for many controls. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, and the SV Edition 2 offered unique "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for an immersive audio experience.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen display with the Lexus Interface infotainment system. While the steering wheel controls were distracting, the system offered a volume knob and climate control dials. The RX Hybrid included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a range of connected services. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided excellent sound quality, although some features expected to be standard were optional.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, although the parking sensors were overly sensitive. At the time of publication, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification and emergency assistance. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RX Hybrid also offered Predictive Driving Assist and optional features like a surround-view camera. The NHTSA awarded the RX a five-star safety rating, while the IIHS gave it a Poor rating in a specific frontal-impact test.