Land Rover Range Rover vs Lexus NX

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover, part of a distinguished lineage of Range Rover models, was available in both standard and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter offering an optional third row of seats. Buyers could choose from SE, Autobiography, and SV trims, although not all trims were available with every body style. The design of this fifth-generation Range Rover, codenamed L460, was a subtle evolution from its predecessor, featuring updated headlights and taillights. Its minimalist exterior detailing and ample size conveyed a sense of understated luxury, distinguishing it from flashier competitors like the Bentley Bentayga or Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Inside, the Range Rover's interior mirrored its exterior simplicity, with a focus on clean lines and minimal clutter, although some materials felt less premium than expected for its price range.

The 2026 Lexus NX, despite being a few years into its second generation, maintained a fresh appearance with well-integrated styling elements such as chunky fenders and the signature spindle grille. While not as classically handsome as some rivals, the NX's design was more refined than its German counterparts. For 2026, Lexus offered the NX in various powertrain options, including non-hybrid, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models, with multiple packages available. However, the base NX 350's interior didn't quite meet luxury expectations, feeling more akin to a high-end Toyota RAV4. The F Sport 3 package added sporty elements like aluminum pedals and sport seats, but these didn't fully compensate for the lack of luxury feel.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The entry-level engine was a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six with a mild hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid version of this engine delivered 543 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The V8 option, sourced from BMW, was a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre engine, generating 523 hp and 553 lb-ft in SE and Autobiography models, and 606 hp in the SV variant. The SV could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 260 km/h. Despite its size, the Range Rover offered excellent ride quality and body control, making it comfortable and easy to drive. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like a two-speed transfer case, Terrain Response drive modes, and height-adjustable air suspension, providing 28 cm of ground clearance and the ability to wade through 90 cm of water.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered several powertrain options, but the standard 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the NX 350 F Sport 3 test car was underwhelming. It produced 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, but the engine felt more suited to a pickup truck than a luxury SUV. The eight-speed automatic transmission was sluggish, making the quoted 7.0-second 0-100 km/h time difficult to achieve. The NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid models offered more compelling performance on paper, with the latter producing 304 hp and achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. However, the NX's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with firm dampers and lifeless steering detracting from the driving experience. Despite Lexus's reputation for comfort and refinement, the NX struggled with ride quality and cabin noise at highway speeds.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover offered versatile seating configurations, with three-row models accommodating seven passengers and two-row models seating five. Headroom was generous across all rows, and the long-wheelbase version without a third row boasted an impressive 1,220 millimetres of second-row legroom. Cargo space was limited with the third row in place, but folding the seats increased capacity to 857 litres and 2,050 litres, respectively. The split tailgate and air suspension facilitated loading and unloading, while towing capacity reached 3,720 kilograms. Standard features included three-zone automatic climate control, with additional comfort options available on higher trims.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered competitive passenger space for a compact luxury SUV, though it came with some compromises. Rear-seat headroom was comparable to rivals, but legroom was slightly less generous. Front-seat legroom was on par with the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, but the Acura RDX offered more. The front seats felt somewhat constrained, and visibility was hindered by the deep dashboard and large mirrors. Cargo space measured 643 litres with the rear seats up and 1,328 litres with them folded, trailing behind competitors. The NX's towing capacity was limited to 907 kilograms, but it featured convenient centre console cupholders.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover came equipped with a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. A 35-speaker Meridian audio system was available on higher trims. The Pivi Pro infotainment system had improved over time, but the lack of physical controls made it less user-friendly. The gauge-cluster display was clear and easy to read, and the natural-language voice recognition system helped navigate the interface, though it lacked some advanced connectivity features.

The 2026 Lexus NX featured a standard 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 14-inch display available on higher packages. All models included a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and six USB ports. Additional tech features required data connectivity packages, which offered cloud-based navigation and digital key functionality. The voice recognition system was helpful but had limitations, and the instrument cluster presented information efficiently, though it resembled older analog displays.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover included standard driver assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. While the driver aids performed well, the camera view didn't always appear automatically, and the parking aids were overly sensitive. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2026 Lexus NX came with the comprehensive Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, which included features like forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane centring assist. Additional driver-assist features were available, and the NX's electronic door handles were linked to a Safe Exit Assist feature. The NX received a 2025 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though it missed the highest award due to an "Acceptable" score in one crash test. NHTSA ratings were not yet published.