Taking the Lead

These multi-faceted SUVs give you the power of choice regarding performance. While the Range Rover and the BMW X5 start strong, the Range Rover takes an early lead. Its standard 3.0L engine generates 395 horsepower (HP), while the X5’s produces 375 HP. Their mid-range powertrains yield an identical 523 HP, and their high-performance variations equip supercharged V8s that generate over 600 horsepower.

This neck-and-neck competition extends into hybrid territory, with the Range Rover and the X5 each offering a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Still, the numbers detail their differences, with the Range Rover offering greater horsepower and a more extensive all-electric driving range.

As the original luxury SUV, the Range Rover maintains its position as the first—and foremost.

Fostering Freedom

With that much power, you'll be free to go almost anywhere and do nearly anything you want. With the BMW X5, that’s true to a point. It offers available all-wheel drive and a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. Meanwhile, the Range Rover has standard All Wheel Drive and can tow 7,716 pounds, enabling you to pull a boat or trailer more easily.

When it comes to handling and maneuverability, the Range Rover includes several standard features you won’t find in the X5:

• All Wheel Steering: Provides agility at lower speeds and increased stability when you put the pedal to the metal.
• Terrain Response® 2: Allows you to configure your SUV’s performance to current or changing conditions, including challenging situations like mud, rocks, or slippery surfaces.

The Range Rover offers greater opportunities to enhance your active lifestyle. Based on the model's monogram, it should be no surprise which is better suited to R&R.

First Impressions

There’s something about the power of quiet sophistication, being able to say more with a whisper than a shout. The latest model year of the Range Rover speaks volumes by including everything you need and nothing you don’t. These distinctively modern touches prove the brand’s reductive approach to design:

• Sweeping roofline and continuous waistline
• World’s-first hidden-until-lit tail lights
• Flush door handles that automatically deploy and unlock as you approach

Although BMW has made a few minor updates to the X5, it lacks the fresh-is-best perspective of the Range Rover.

Of course, your vehicle should express what you want to say. That starts with its exterior color. Here, the Range Rover continues its design dominance by offering a palette with nearly twice as many paints as the X5. Plus, you can choose from solid or metallic shades with gloss or satin finish, and a body-colored or contrasting Gloss Black roof—options unavailable with the BMW. With the Range Rover, first impressions are lasting.

Refinement Redefined

You have high standards for the interior of your luxury SUV, expecting a serene environment furnished with top-tier materials and abundant amenities. Even with its streamlined design extending to the interior, the Range Rover raises the bar to exceed your expectations, putting everyone on board in the lap of luxury.

Clearly, the Range Rover far exceeds the standards of the BMW by providing a more lush and refined interior.

Online Onboard

As expected, the Range Rover and the BMW X5 include intuitive touchscreens over 13 inches, Bluetooth® for hands-free connectivity and audio streaming, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto, and wireless charging. That said, there are several features available in the Range Rover that drivers of the BMW X5 will have to forego:

• Rear Seat Entertainment system with two 11.4-inch HD screens
• 16-speaker Meridian™ 3D Surround Sound System
• Body and Soul Seats with sensory seat and floor pulsations

The BMW X5 offers some of the same features, but its capabilities are limited compared to the Range Rover. For example, its Harman Kardon® surround sound system may have the same number of speakers as the Range Rover, but it lacks digital sound processing and cabin correction capabilities that make the music in the Range Rover feel crisp and immersive.

Virtual Copilot

Safety remains a priority whether carpooling to a conference, going to dinner with your significant other, or taking a solitary cruise. Thanks to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), the Range Rover and the BMW X5 remain vigilant with similar brand-specific versions of:

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist
• Lane Keep Assist
• Blind Spot Assist/Rear Traffic Monitor
• Park Assist/Front and Rear Parking Aid

While the Range Rover and the X5 have some shared safety features, only the Range Rover has an available ClearSight interior rear view mirror with live video feed that magically eliminates any obstacles, such as rear-row passengers or cargo, that might block your view.