2024 Lexus GX vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Lexus GX 550 marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the GX 460, with a bold new design that embraced geometric styling. The signature "spindle" grille was less pronounced, flanked by standard triple-beam LED headlights that sat at the squared-off upper edge of the front fascia. The front end stood more vertically, giving the SUV a more aggressive look, while the flat hood rose on the sides to aid drivers in maintaining positional awareness off-road. The side profile of the GX appeared as if carved from a solid block of metal, with minimal character lines and a low window beltline to enhance visibility. The GX was offered in a single trim level in Canada, with five packages available, each catering to different needs, from luxury to off-roading. The interior blended luxury with utilitarian materials, featuring a large 14-inch touchscreen and physical controls for off-road functions, making it a premium SUV ready for rugged use.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to be the sportier sibling within the Range Rover family, boasting a taller stance with a shorter wheelbase and chopped top for a more athletic appearance. Large front air intakes and fake vents added to its sporty look, though it appeared a bit too tall and narrow from some angles. The SV Edition Two, the highest-performance model, featured 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood. Inside, the SV Edition Two offered red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters. The minimalist interior design was sleek but had functional drawbacks, with most controls relegated to the touchscreen. Despite its sporty mission, the Range Rover Sport maintained a luxurious ride, with high-quality materials and a cockpit-like feel, though it was a bit cramped for its size.

The 2024 Lexus GX transitioned from a V8 to a twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6 engine, delivering 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain provided more power than its predecessor, with torque available low in the rev range for off-road driving. Built on the GA-F truck platform, the GX offered a stiffer chassis for stability on and off-road. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4WD, and a locking Torsen limited-slip centre differential. The Overtrail packages added a locking rear differential and the Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) for increased wheel articulation. The GX accelerated well and maintained composure on-road, with effective brakes and minimal body roll. Off-road testing was limited due to weather conditions, but the GX's capabilities were evident.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base Dynamic SE model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid variant increased output to 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography model offered a more powerful plug-in hybrid with 543 hp and 590 lb-ft. A BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 was available, producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft, with mild-hybrid assistance for better fuel economy. The SV Edition Two pushed the V8 to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It achieved 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 290 km/h. The Range Rover Sport excelled in handling with sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring, offering a luxurious ride and impressive agility. Off-road capabilities were supported by the Terrain Response system, hill descent control, and ascent control, with varying ground clearance and approach angles.

The 2024 Lexus GX's interior was a departure from its predecessor, with a minimalist and sophisticated design. It retained essential physical buttons, with rotary knobs for climate control and buttons for off-roading features. The GX offered comfortable seating for six-foot-tall adults in the first and second rows, with 1,047 mm of legroom in the front and 933 mm in the second row. The third row was tight, suitable only for children, with 810 mm of legroom. The GX excelled in cargo space, offering 292 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,138 litres with it folded, and a total of 2,178 litres. Overtrail models offered even more space, with 45.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 1,291 litres total.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport sat between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offering more room than the Velar but remaining a midsize SUV. It was a two-row, five-seater, with similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs. The Acura MDX and Audi Q7 offered more legroom, but the Range Rover Sport's sloping roof didn't impact rear-seat headroom significantly. The Sport provided 835 litres of cargo space behind the second row, less than some competitors, but still substantial. With the rear seats folded, it offered 1,860 litres of cargo space. The Sport's towing capacity was 3,500 kg for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 3,000 kg, offering more capacity than some rivals.

The 2024 Lexus GX featured a 14-inch touchscreen integrated into the dash, with USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad for front-seat passengers. Overtrail packages added USB-C ports for the back seat, and all models had a 120-volt outlet in the trunk. The Lexus Interface infotainment system offered Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an intelligent voice assistant. Drive Connect and Remote Connect services required subscriptions, with a three-year trial for the latter. The GX came with a 10-speaker audio system, with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo available in higher packages. While the interface was user-friendly, subscription costs for features were a consideration for long-term ownership.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport shared its screen setup with the larger Range Rover, featuring a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design had functional drawbacks, with most controls on the touchscreen. Steering wheel controls offered limited alternatives. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition Two featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt a bit gimmicky. The Meridian audio system offered up to 29 speakers, depending on configuration.

The 2024 Lexus GX received a significant upgrade in safety features with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including pre-collision detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and road-sign recognition. A new proactive driving assist feature enhanced safety during adaptive cruise control use. While crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable, the modern GA-F architecture and advanced driver assistance systems improved confidence in the GX's safety.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as 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, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. IIHS and NHTSA safety ratings were not available at the time of writing.