Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2012 Land Rover RANGE ROVER SPORT VS 2012 BMW X5 Near Scottsdale, AZ

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Range Rover Sport are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Range Rover Sport Supercharged offers optional Collision Mitigation by Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The X5 doesn't offer crash mitigation brakes.

Both the Range Rover Sport and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The Range Rover Sport’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 75 more horsepower (375 vs. 300) and 75 lbs.-ft. more torque (375 vs. 300) than the X5 xDrive35i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6 cyl. The Range Rover Sport Supercharged’s standard 5.0 supercharged V8 produces 110 more horsepower (510 vs. 400) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (461 vs. 450) than the X5 xDrive50i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Range Rover Sport Supercharged is faster than the X5 xDrive35i:

For better stopping power the Range Rover Sport’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the X5:

The Range Rover Sport HSE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X5’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Range Rover Sport HSE has standard 19 inch wheels. Smaller 18 inch wheels are standard on the X5.

The Range Rover Sport offers an optional full size spare tire so your trip isn’t interrupted by a flat. A full size spare isn’t available on the X5, it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Range Rover Sport offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The X5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Range Rover Sport uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X5, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Range Rover Sport Supercharged offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the X5.

The Range Rover Sport Supercharged performs Car and Driver’s emergency lane change maneuver 5.8 MPH faster than the X5 xDrive35i (61.5 vs. 55.7 MPH).

For better maneuverability, the Range Rover Sport’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the X5’s (37.7 feet vs. 42 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (8.9 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Range Rover Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Range Rover Sport Supercharged is quieter than the X5 xDrive35i:

The Range Rover Sport has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more rear legroom than the X5.

The Range Rover Sport has a much larger cargo area than the X5 5-Passenger with its rear seat up (33.8 vs. 21.9 cubic feet).

The Range Rover Sport’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.