Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Land Rover RANGE ROVER SPORT VS 2015 BMW X5 Near Scottsdale, AZ

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X5 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

The Range Rover Sport’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The X5 M doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Land Rover 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 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Range Rover Sport offers optional Intelligent Emergency 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 M doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

To help make backing safer, the Range Rover Sport’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X5 M doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Range Rover Sport and the X5 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The Range Rover Sport has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 M (27.7 vs. 22.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Range Rover Sport offers optional 22-inch wheels. The X5 M’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged has 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 M 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 M, which uses coil springs in front. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For better maneuverability, the Range Rover Sport’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the X5 M’s (40.4 feet vs. 42 feet).

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 550 pounds less than the BMW X5 M.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Range Rover Sport’s middle row seats recline. The X5 M’s middle row seats don’t recline.

The Range Rover Sport has a much larger cargo area than the X5 M 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat up (27.7 vs. 22.9 cubic feet).

The Range Rover Sport has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The X5 M doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Range Rover Sport’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The X5 M doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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 M’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.

Optional air conditioned the front and second row seats keep the Range Rover Sport’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in Summer. The X5 M doesn’t offer air conditioned seats for the second row.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Range Rover Sport offers an optional adaptive cruise control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The X5 M doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport won two awards in Kiplinger’s 2015 car issue. The BMW X5 M didn't win any award.

The Range Rover Sport was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2014 4x4 of the Year. The X5 M has never been chosen.