2025 Mazda CX-50 vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover lineup. Its tall stature was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it a more athletic appearance compared to the traditional Range Rover. The large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty look, although from certain angles, it appeared somewhat tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted stance of some luxury SUVs. The SV Edition Two trim, which we tested, featured unique elements like 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood with an exposed patch, enhancing its performance-oriented aesthetic. Inside, the SV Edition Two boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with illuminated inserts, and a minimalist dashboard interrupted only by a touchscreen, shifter, and engine start button. Despite its sporty mission, the high console and dash created a cockpit-like feel, which could make the front seats feel cramped.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 was considered an attractive option in the compact SUV class, borrowing styling elements from the CX-5 but enhancing them with distinct fender flares and a wider grille for a sportier stance. Its interior featured a traditional layout with a horizontal dashboard and high-quality materials, including soft-touch surfaces and sturdy plastics. The cabin was adorned with distinct stitching and, in the hybrid model, red leather upholstery added vibrancy. A decorative stripe running down the middle of the seats provided visual interest, though its placement was somewhat awkward. Despite this, the CX-50 positioned itself above other compact SUVs, leaning towards entry-level luxury in terms of design and interior quality.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base Dynamic SE model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid variant based on this engine delivered 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim offered a more powerful plug-in hybrid with 543 hp and 590 lb-ft. Additionally, a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine was available, producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft, with mild-hybrid assistance for improved fuel economy. The SV Edition Two, the most powerful model, used the same V8 but with 626 hp, achieving 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h. The Range Rover Sport excelled in both on-road performance and off-road capability, featuring sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring for agility. Its Terrain Response system, hill descent control, and ascent control ensured off-road prowess, with varying ground clearance and approach angles depending on the model.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid debuted with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with three electric motors, delivering 219 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque, along with all-wheel drive. This powertrain, shared with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, provided a smart choice given Toyota's expertise in hybrid technology. The CX-50 Hybrid filled the gap between the 187 hp base engine and the 256 hp Turbo models. Acceleration was comparable to the RAV4 Hybrid, with an estimated 0-100 km/h time between 7.5 and 8 seconds. The driving experience was enhanced by sportier suspension tuning, offering engaging handling and minimal body roll. While the firmer ride quality resulted in more noticeable bumps, it remained smooth enough for most passengers, with a quiet cabin on the highway.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered more room than the Velar while remaining a midsize SUV. It was a two-row, five-seater, with front-seat headroom comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs. Although the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 provided slightly more legroom, the Range Rover Sport's sloping roof didn't significantly impact rear-seat headroom. Reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and memory were standard. Cargo space was substantial, with 835 litres behind the second row and 1,860 litres with the rear seats folded. The Sport's towing capacity was competitive, with turbo-six and V8 models rated at 3,500 kilograms, while plug-in hybrids could tow 3,000 kilograms.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50, while enjoyable to drive, fell short in practicality and space compared to competitors. Front seats offered ample room, but the rear seats were less accommodating for taller passengers than the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Sportage Hybrid. Personal storage was adequate, but rivals provided more options. Cargo capacity was limited, with 826 litres behind the rear seats, less than the non-hybrid CX-50 and significantly below the class average. Despite this, the space was usable, with a standard power liftgate, a large storage bin under the cargo floor, and convenient features like remote rear seatback releases and shopping bag hooks.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a standard screen setup similar to the larger Range Rover, with 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. While the screens looked impressive, the minimalist design left few options beyond the touchscreen, making some functions less intuitive. Steering wheel controls offered limited alternatives, but the Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition Two included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers, providing a unique, albeit somewhat gimmicky, experience.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50's technology may have seemed dated, but it offered a practical approach. The 10.25-inch infotainment system was mounted atop the dashboard, controlled by a centre console dial rather than a touchscreen. Touchscreen functionality was limited to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The dial controller, reminiscent of early infotainment systems, allowed users to navigate without focusing on small on-screen buttons. All models included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad standard on Hybrid models. Base trims featured an eight-speaker audio system, while the GT trim boasted a 12-speaker Bose premium system.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped 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 the parking sensors were overly sensitive. At the time of writing, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable.

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid earned high safety ratings, with five stars from the NHTSA in all evaluations except rollover protection, where it received four stars. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating. Standard driver assistance features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Secondary features included a driver attention monitor and automatic high beams, all functioning as intended during testing.