Car review (LA Times): 2014 BMW X5 versus Land Rover Sport in luxury SUV market

[Shaw]

Car review: 2014 BMW X5 versus Land Rover Sport in luxury SUV market

http://www.latimes.com/business/auto...#axzz2rbqdln7N

BMW's X5 xDrive35i is the more practical of the two luxury mid-size SUVs and wins in efficiency, but the Range Rover Sport V-6 HSE has the edge in looks and being fun to drive.


Verdict:
"The X5's quality remains top-notch and feels as solid as any other BMW. But unlike the Range Rover, this interior didn't feel as indulgent as you'd hope it would on a $70,000 vehicle.

It's another small advantage for the Range Rover Sport, helping it win our comparison by a nose.

The BMW is a strong contender. But the Range Rover offers more to like, inside and out. And buyers look better driving it.

When you're dropping $70,000 on an SUV, isn't that the point?"

[chrisny]

The Rover Sport has always had at least a slight edge on looks. But reliability and performance always favored the X5 (I picked an E70 4.8i over a RRS Supercharged in 2007, the rover was top heavy and while fast, not as fast). If these claims the new RRS wins on performance too, that's disappointing. The X5 has better lease pricing, but being the cheaper isn't necessarily a victory without the performance edge to match.

[patrobX5]

I'm surprised no one has done a "real" test drive yet especially of the 50i MSport So far all the test drives I have seen are just "reviews" repeating the same stuff

[BMWMN1971]

How about technology comparison? The RR still looks on the stone age when it comes to technology. Just look on both cars LCD screens and compare iDrive from BMW and whatever RR uses on their car. Also, important to mention that when both cars have the same MSRP of $70k you can lease a BMW for almost 1/2 of the cost of leasing a RR.

[w4termelon]

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

How about technology comparison? The RR still looks on the stone age when it comes to technology. Just look on both cars LCD screens and compare iDrive from BMW and whatever RR uses on their car. Also, important to mention that when both cars have the same MSRP of $70k you can lease a BMW for almost 1/2 of the cost of leasing a RR.

Totally agree. I did a test drive of a RRS two weeks ago (I wasn't decided yet between RRS and X5), and was really disappointed by the LCD screen and user interface. it is more like a touch screen interface from a Toyota RAV4 (old version). When you want to use Surround view, you get a bunch of different views from each camera (in very low quality like an old VHS), but they are not connected together arround the car, so its hard to mentally reproduce a real bird view in your mind.
The interface is so slow as well : when you touch the screen, it can take up to 2 seconds to respond.

Concerning the interior, I wasn't impressed at all. There are more leather on the dashboard in the RRS (I tested a HSE) but you can get full leather dashboard in X5 as well. Trims looks plain and have nothing special, I think the dashboard is very boring in fact. If you go for Autobiography you can have more leather colors but the price is not the same.

Anyway, I would say that RRS is good for people how really need a car with off road capabilities, but for everything else (engine, security, space, build quality, reliability, technology, etc.) X5 can do equally or better than RRS.

[rbarker33]

I was not impressed with the RRS. I get a nice family discount at Jaguar and RR and was excited to drive the RRS. The interior felt small and not roomy at all, the technology was dated. They also don't have the best reputation for quality. Love the design though!

I ended up paying more for the x5 35i but was much happier with my selection.

[Bigtop]

I test drove the new RR Sport 5.0 Supercharged about a month ago. At the time I had a 2011 X5 5.0i pretty much loaded. I thought the RR was not bad, it did not handle quite as well as the E70 with Dynamic handling package, but it did handle a lot better than the previous version Range Rover that handled like a shopping trolley. The E70 handled more like a car than an SUV, the RR handled like an SUV. The interior was better in the RR.
When you put your foot down, there really was not that much difference between them.

I just picked up my 2014 F15, M Sport 5.0i fully loaded (apart from B&O, night vision, 3 row seating) and it is superior to the RR in my opinion. The interior technology is much better, the RR is a generation older. Where the RR wins is in the choice of colours interior and exterior, NOT the quality.

I am an Englishman so was really tempted to go with the RR, but the,"coup de gras," is the reliability. Range Rovers are shocking in that department.

I was worried about how the F15 looked in the photos. The RR looks better in the photos than in real life in my opinion. When I went to pick up my F15 Msport 5.0i with 20" 469M rims, in Alpine white with ivory white nappa it looked gorgeous. Had a crowd around it at the dealer as it was the first 5.0i MSport there.

I am happy with my choice.

[dave70]

One of my neighbors recently bought the 2014 RR sport. He loves it, so I called a local RR dealer and they have 3 V8s for sale. I asked about a discount off MSRP and told him I was about to order the new F15 but if he would work with me I would come over and test drive and we could talk. He basically laughed at me and said there is no comparison between the vehicles and the new X5 is basically junk. If I give him a 2500 deposit he will hold the RR for one day and he will let me pay MSRP. After listening to that ignorant douchebag wiht a faux British accent I am placing my F15 X5 50i M sport order.

[Shaw]

I don't know about you guys but looking at the cockpit, seats, dash,... of a RR, all remind me of Star Trek's crew cabin... not sure what to make of the design...although I'm sure it's got its fans...
I also remember in the older models, there was something weird about the height of the seats in respect to the windows heights...you could see someone's hips seating in their car even from a lower sedan!!! Not sure if that design is still being carried in their newer versions, but that was the biggest down side of RRs...looked like their safari Land rover cars in Sahara!!!

[Galion]

I had a 14' RRS V6 for a day and agree that it handled better than the model it replaces, but still no match for the F15 I test drove the day before.
I was not impressed with the way it looked in the flesh, it has a strong resemblance to the ultra popular Ford Explorer, liked the interior though, very classy and elegant.
What really put me off was the thin sheet metal, almost Subaru like thin, I could push in easily with one finger.
I returned the RRS and placed my F15 order right away.

[gorun]

People who believe that the rrs has a higher quality interior than the f15 are clearly smoking crack. In fact very few cars do and they all are from S class category and up. The rrs has some brave interior colour combos and some of them do work but quality is sub f15 by a long way.

[MysticBlue]

I've long since come to the conclusion that car reviews written by/for newspapers are generally not worth the time to read them.

[x5x2]

I wonder if they tested the Mocha Nappa and comfort / mc seats how quality of interior is perceived in comparison to the RRS.

My recollection of the RRS was thin seats and lots of colour choices that were excessive.

The BMW Driver interface is so much better - idrive, dashboard, HUD, Connected drive,

I would like a nice blue leather though BMW for next time

[gorun]

And some lighter blue exterior colours please...

[Baunton]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

I've long since come to the conclusion that car reviews written by/for newspapers are generally not worth the time to read them.

Correct

[Scorpio]

For me it was a close call between RRS and X5 but in the end , the x5 looks in real life ( as opposed to the pictures) , its technology ( RRS navi system is superslow and out of date), quality of small details ( eg all bmw switches/ buttons just feel better made compared to rather flimsy witches/buttons of RRS.. Finally, the x5 m50d drives much sportier ( while having reasonable mpg ) than RRS

Just my two cents
Cheers

[barcelona]

FWIW. I was in Dubai/Abu Dhali for six days tons of RRS and some Cayannes only counted maybe 5 X5. BMW does not seem popular over there. Saw a few 3,5 7 series, no x1 no x3. Lexus is popular choice.
In Oman I was passenger in 2 off roads 4x4. In desert dunes they let air out of tires, alot of fun ... land cruisers. For rocky road excursion they were nissans.
So regardless of articles these are the facts as I have seen in UAE.

[Baunton]

Originally Posted by barcelona

FWIW. I was in Dubai/Abu Dhali for six days tons of RRS and some Cayannes only counted maybe 5 X5. BMW does not seem popular over there. Saw a few 3,5 7 series, no x1 no x3. Lexus is popular choice.
In Oman I was passenger in 2 off roads 4x4. In desert dunes they let air out of tires, alot of fun ... land cruisers. For rocky road excursion they were nissans.
So regardless of articles these are the facts as I have seen in UAE.

If you want to go off road you buy a Land Rover or Land Cruiser NOT an X5. Simples!