2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 BMW X5 showcased BMW's renowned high-quality craftsmanship. As part of BMW's true SUV range, the X5 maintained the brand's signature design elements, from the kidney grille to the body shape, ensuring it was unmistakably a BMW. This consistency, while reassuring, also meant the X5 could blend in with other BMW models in a crowded parking lot. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights, with standard xLine models boasting matte aluminum grilles and satin aluminum finishes for an upscale appearance. M Sport models added a sporty touch with body-color matched trims and high-gloss black accents. Wheel options ranged from 19 to 22 inches, depending on the trim level.

Inside, the X5's interior design was familiar, with many elements borrowed from other BMW models. Despite the abundance of black plastic, which easily collected dust, the cabin featured plenty of leather and soft-touch materials. M Sport models offered unique styling, including an M sports steering wheel, M-specific pedals, and exclusive interior trim strips. The interior, while not groundbreaking, maintained BMW's standard of quality and comfort.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, launched in 2005 and in its second generation since 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018, which carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console, a defining feature of recent Land Rover interiors. The 2021 model offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Higher trims added more luxury and performance features. The HSE Silver included quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The HST trim upgraded the powertrain and offered tri-zone climate control. The HSE Dynamic featured a supercharged V8 engine, a limited-slip differential, and a two-speed transfer case. The Autobiography trim provided high-end luxury with 22-way power-adjustable front seats and power soft-close doors. The SVR models focused on performance, with a more powerful V8 engine, sport seats, and a stiffer suspension, while the SVR Carbon Edition added carbon fiber accents and 22-inch alloy wheels.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The sDrive referred to rear-wheel drive, while xDrive indicated all-wheel drive. The X5 M50i came with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The high-performance X5 M offered 600 hp, which increased to 617 hp with the Competition Package. The new X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, and providing up to 30 miles of all-electric range.

The X5's driving dynamics were mixed. While the transition between all-electric, hybrid, and gasoline-only modes was seamless, the steering and handling at higher speeds were less impressive, lacking the connected drive experience typical of BMW. The cabin was quiet, with minimal road or engine noise, and the suspension effectively absorbed bumps. Charging the X5 xDrive45e was convenient, with a five-hour charge time on a Level 2 charger and an EPA-estimated 400-mile driving range when fully charged. Fuel efficiency varied, with the X5 M achieving 15 mpg combined, the X5 M50i at 18 mpg combined, the X5 xDrive at 23 mpg combined, and the X5 xDrive45e rated at 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered several powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more powerful P400 version, rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains. The P400e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with electric assist, achieving 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 produced 254 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.

The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition models had a more powerful version of this engine, delivering 575 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. The Range Rover Sport's height-adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response system provided excellent off-road capabilities, while on-road performance was enhanced by the air suspension's ability to keep the SUV level during cornering. Towing capacity varied, with most models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 BMW X5 made efficient use of space, with front cupholders positioned conveniently at the center console. However, the console's buttons, knobs, and dials were difficult to differentiate at night. The wireless phone charging pad was well-placed, keeping technology out of the driver's line of sight. Seating was spacious and comfortable for short trips, though the front seats felt hard after extended periods. Heated seats and armrests functioned well, with noticeable differences between settings. The rear seats were comfortable for children and two adults, with an optional third row available. The split liftgate was easy to operate, and the vehicle height adjustment button on the lower liftgate facilitated loading heavy cargo. The X5's cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less space due to the battery. Moving children and cargo in and out of the second row was challenging due to the narrow door openings.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven, though it offered only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space when in use. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, with luxurious appointments. The third row was tight and best suited for children.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, a proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once familiar.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a dual-screen center console, with the lower screen controlling climate and vehicle settings and the upper screen handling infotainment. The system had a learning curve and was not always intuitive, though the integrated dials on the lower screen were versatile. The upper touchscreen had a simplified layout with reasonably sized icons for easy navigation between menus, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A real volume button was included, though it was positioned at the base of the lower screen.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera. However, the Driving Assistance Professional Package had issues with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems, particularly in bright sunlight and light rain. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being subject to seven recalls.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.