2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2025 Mazda CX-90

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover family. Its tall stance was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it an athletic appearance. Large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty look, although from certain angles, it appeared a bit too tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted look of some luxury SUVs. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. Our test car, the SV Edition 2, featured 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 light-up “SV” inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic with a touchscreen, stubby shifter, and engine start button. The high console, dash, and door panels created a cockpit-like feel, though the front seats felt a bit cramped. Material quality was luxurious, but the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90, available in 3.3 Turbo, 3.3 Turbo S, and PHEV variants, offered a range of trims from Select to Premium Plus. Our 3.3 Turbo test vehicle in Premium Plus trim featured Soul Red paint, bringing the MSRP to $51,450. The CX-90's lustrous paint, polished chrome trim, and intricate 21-inch wheels gave it a luxury SUV appearance. Its sculptural sheet metal created a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, while a short front overhang, long hood, and rear-axle-focused cabin placement contributed to a low, athletic look. Inside, the CX-90's interior was elegantly rendered with polished metallic trim, Nappa leather with contrast stitching, and clearly marked switchgear. While some materials reflected its competitive price, the cabin felt upscale. However, ergonomic issues included a confusing electronic shifter, a poorly placed hazard flasher button, and the lack of touchscreen operation for the Mazda Connect infotainment system. Despite these drawbacks, the CX-90 exuded sophistication compared to other midsize three-row crossovers.

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 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, along with a six-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim could be equipped with the 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 used the same V8 but with output increased to 626 hp, making it the most powerful production Range Rover. It could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring contributed to its agile handling, while the Terrain Response system and air suspension enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo's drivetrain, while not as refined as its design, featured a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine producing 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. The 3.3 Turbo S variant offered 319 hp and 369 lb-ft, or 340 hp with premium gas. Power was delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system, with a rear-wheel bias for improved dynamics. The CX-90 offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The i-Stop function aimed to improve fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 25 mpg combined. However, drivetrain refinement was lacking, with unpredictable power delivery and transmission behavior, especially when cold. The CX-90's ride and handling were impressive, but noise and impact harshness detracted from the experience. Despite these flaws, the CX-90's taut suspension provided a dynamic driving experience, particularly in Normal mode.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover, offered a midsize two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat occupants enjoyed similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, though the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 offered more legroom. The sloping roof didn't significantly impact rear-seat headroom, with only the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class offering slightly more. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, more than a Lexus RX but less than competitors like the MDX, X5, GLE, or Genesis GV80. With the rear seats folded, cargo space increased to 53 cubic feet. The vehicle's maximum towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's interior, despite California's cool summer, struggled to cool occupants quickly, suggesting the three-zone climate control system was inadequate. The 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus trim featured Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a heated steering wheel. However, front-seat ventilation was ineffective. The panoramic sunroof provided ample natural light, and second-row passengers enjoyed elevated seating positions. The CX-90's long rear doors facilitated third-row access, but the third row was best suited for children. Storage space was limited, with a smartphone charging tray, a shallow bin under the center armrest, and minimal door panel storage. The hands-free power liftgate revealed 14.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 40 cubic feet with the third row folded and 74.2 cubic feet with the second row flattened.

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 screens looked great, but the minimalist design left few options beyond the touchscreen, making some functions less convenient. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers, offering a unique but somewhat gimmicky experience.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's dashboard featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, presented in a traditional manner. The infotainment screen was touch-sensitive only with wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, requiring the use of a knob and buttons for the Mazda Connect platform. Mazda's voice recognition system was inconsistent, but a new Google Built-in infotainment system was expected in future models. The test vehicle included a 12-speaker Bose audio system and Mazda’s Active Driving Display, providing a rewarding listening experience and helpful data.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver-assist features, including 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. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 was one of only four midsize, three-row, gas-powered SUVs to receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The CX-90 PHEV earned five-star ratings in all NHTSA crash tests, with a four-star rollover resistance rating. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist. Higher trims added steering assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, front cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The CX-90's driver aids generally met expectations, though the speed reduction feature was irritating.