GX vs Range Rover Sport (1 Viewer)

[Neils]

I am surprised that this comparison was not captured in a thread here yet.

Was in Vegas recently to do some track training with a C8 performance school, and while there, toured Vegas for a couple days. Got to see lots of cool SUV’s at casinos and on the road - Escalades, Navigators, G-Wagons, Benz GLS63 AMG, Q8, a couple of GX’s and a facelifted Rover Sport (‘23+).

Am used to seeing Escalades back home (Montreal) and it is very big and bulky. Love the Q8 but it is on the small side. The Benz GLS63 AMG impressed me, was not expecting the sporty look and aggressive V8 exhaust sound, but very pricey and would have to step down to a lower model GLS to approach the GX pricing (and even then still pricey).

But what really caught me off guard and impressed me the most was the redesigned Rover Sport. I had to walk around it twice to make sure it was in fact a Sport and not the top model Rover Autobiography. The front and back was nicer, the flush door handles were more slick, the sloped roof aggressive. And on top of all the hot looks, they now have hybrid plugin versions.

Rover Sport is capable off-road but I won’t go there since I do not off-road and cannot comment on it’s off-road capability.

For those of us considering a Luxury+ and not an OT, this comparison comes closer. The fit and finish with the RR Sport will certainly be a step up. The exterior looks I guess is subjective.

Now everyone will say the obvious, RR dependability sucks compared to Lexus, and up until now and based on previous models I tend to agree. However a part of me is thinking that they learned their lesson with their failures and have improved on it with the latest models. I read lots of feedback from owners that say, besides some small things, seems to be a decently reliable vehicle (so far).

Has anyone else considered the facelifted redesigned Rover Sport (‘23+), and if yes what made you stick with the GX.

 

[1stLexus]

For what it's worth - I considered the RR Sport and the GX 550 Lux +. I really wanted the Sport, but just couldn't pull the trigger. Beautiful car, in and out. Like most of us, it was their reliability rep that stopped me. I ended up purchasing GX Lux + last May. Haven't really been a Lexus fan, but took the leap due to its interior room and rep for reliability. It's been a so-so relationship, the reliability has come back to bite me, front brakes have been replaced, some of the interior trim wasn't glued properly, discoloring of the plastic seat cladding, and a very clunky tranny.
If I had to do over again, I'd get the Sport, easier car to maneuver - though less roomy, much richer interior, better gas mileage -though at this price point not sure how many care, so-so range on a full tank - 335 miles. I don't anticipate keeping the GX long......

 

[jpto]

I love the way RR products look and how they drive but IMO no modern Land Rover has ever been reliable and I wouldn't count on the new Sport to be any different. I would only get a RR if I leased and I'd only lease if that helped me from a tax perspective.

I tend to keep my cars for 15+ years, who knows if the V35A-fts will be reliable long term but I do believe in Toyota making it right if turns out the engine in our GX's are duds.

 

[Bluegill]

Range Rovers, and Land Rovers in general, are beautiful vehicles. The one little issue is that they are also colossal pieces of sh*t.

From 1999 through 2024, I exclusively owned Land Rovers as daily drivers. I purchased 3 trucks over the years, all a few years used, to avoid the high new vehicle entry cost. In the early years when I was rich on enthusiasm but short on cash, I did as much maintenance and repair work as possible. I soon found myself working on my 1996 Discovery nearly every weekend to keep up with standard maintenance and replacing an amazing amount of parts that just went bad. With my 2004 Discovery, I had lost some of the enthusiasm but fortunately was doing better on the cash side. I still did things like suspension and brakes, bumpers, winch, etc. and replaced things like bad alternators, constantly-cracking coolant reservoirs, etc. But I left the big ticket items, like replacing constantly-failing seals and replacing the bad engine, to my trusty independent mechanic. I elected not to put a third engine in when the second engine failed and I dumped it as a parts truck. Then with my 2013 Discovery (LR4), I had nearly lost all enthusiasm but the cash side was no problem. After $31k in maintenance & repairs in just under 4 years, I couldn't get rid of the 2013 fast enough. It literally could not leave my garage without something failing. I keep spreadsheets of all maintenance, repairs, and extras and I'm ashamed to admit that I gave my trusty independent Rover mechanic $52,283.06 between September 2009 and May 2024 to work on my 2004 and 2013 Discoveries. That's $52k of work on 2 trucks I paid a total of $42k to purchase. That's the true Land Rover ownership experience.

I'm now happy with Toyota/Lexus quality with this GX550 (and extended warranty and pre-paid maintenance plans!).

 

[Neils]

I think what bothers me the most about the current SUV offering is that if you happen to have a sports car / exotic in the garage as your weekend car, you will likely want something sporty and fun to drive as a daily and vacation vehicle.

The GX for me does not scream sporty, although it can scream a little luxury with the top trim.

The X5 could also be a competitor to the GX in terms of sporty but less for off-road. The RR Sport however is one of the more sexier designs with the sloped roof.

And let’s be honest with ourselves, go watch a bad ass action movie with some gov’t official or mafia criminal, and you will see 4-5 RR’s ripping down the road in close proximity, all blacked out !!

I still like the GX but only in Lux+, not a fan of the OT at all (even with a deep discount), I just feel I want to own something cooler and sportier and right now that RR Sport is checking that box more than the GX, to the point I am considering to take a huge risk with my wallet on reliability (or purchase the longest extended warranty that exists).

Glad to hear back from some of you that considered it as part of your buying decisions. Trying to convince myself to leave my GX deposit in place.

 

[jpto]

I think what bothers me the most about the current SUV offering is that if you happen to have a sports car / exotic in the garage as your weekend car, you will likely want something sporty and fun to drive as a daily and vacation vehicle.

The GX for me does not scream sporty, although it can scream a little luxury with the top trim.

The X5 could also be a competitor to the GX in terms of sporty but less for off-road. The RR Sport however is one of the more sexier designs with the sloped roof.

And let’s be honest with ourselves, go watch a bad ass action movie with some gov’t official or mafia criminal, and you will see 4-5 RR’s ripping down the road in close proximity, all blacked out !!

I still like the GX but only in Lux+, not a fan of the OT at all (even with a deep discount), I just feel I want to own something cooler and sportier and right now that RR Sport is checking that box more than the GX, to the point I am considering to take a huge risk with my wallet on reliability (or purchase the longest extended warranty that exists).

Glad to hear back from some of you that considered it as part of your buying decisions. Trying to convince myself to leave my GX deposit in place.

The GX550 is far from sporty and not really luxe, even in the Luxury+ trim. If sporty and luxury are your top decision criteria IMO I wouldn't get the GX550.

If I was prioritizing a fast/sporty SUV I'd go for a BMW X5 M60 or X5M if my budget supported it. Luxury - depends on what you prioritize in terms of features/interior and looks but I'd still stay away from RR due to the reliability.

 

[chibiji]

The GX550 is far from sporty and not really luxe, even in the Luxury+ trim. If sporty and luxury are your top decision criteria IMO I wouldn't get the GX550.

If I was prioritizing a fast/sporty SUV I'd go for a BMW X5 M60 or X5M if my budget supported it. Luxury - depends on what you prioritize in terms of features/interior and looks but I'd still stay away from RR due to the reliability.

I was torn btwn the X5 M60 and the '25 GX550 OT+... sticker prices were nearly identical... my S/O was actually surprised that I chose the GX since during my test drives, I seemed much 'happier' when I drove the X5... but we all know how feelings are... fleeting...

Reason for going with the GX? For me, Lexus = Reliable & Dependable. My family & I's experience with Lexus over the past 20 years has been consistently positive. An IS 250, 2 RX350's, 1 ES300, and several Toyotas before those (Cressida, Camrys, Corollas, Tacomas, Sienna)... not a single complaint towards any of them. Note that we buy our vehicles and keep them for years...

I did my run with a german once... leased a GLC 43 AMG (baby AMG~ yay~) and had fun with her... but glad I let go of her when I did because I'm sure I wouldn't have been happy with upkeep costs of ownership for Benz... figured the same goes for BMW.

 

[Polo08816]

I was originally looking at getting either a GX550 Premium+ or a 4Runner Limited for my mom.

But the pricing on new 2026 BMW X5 xDrive40i is really appealing and they don't have inventory problems like Toyota/Lexus.

Brokers like NextLevelAuto are advertising 9-10% off MSRP on 2026 X5s and I would be able to stack the $4,000 BMW military rebate/incentive on top of that. When you're looking at $11k off MSRP, it puts a X5 xDrive40i into the price range of a 4Runner Limited.

 

[awcurtis]

Range Rovers, and Land Rovers in general, are beautiful vehicles. The one little issue is that they are also colossal pieces of sh*t.

From 1999 through 2024, I exclusively owned Land Rovers as daily drivers. I purchased 3 trucks over the years, all a few years used, to avoid the high new vehicle entry cost. In the early years when I was rich on enthusiasm but short on cash, I did as much maintenance and repair work as possible. I soon found myself working on my 1996 Discovery nearly every weekend to keep up with standard maintenance and replacing an amazing amount of parts that just went bad. With my 2004 Discovery, I had lost some of the enthusiasm but fortunately was doing better on the cash side. I still did things like suspension and brakes, bumpers, winch, etc. and replaced things like bad alternators, constantly-cracking coolant reservoirs, etc. But I left the big ticket items, like replacing constantly-failing seals and replacing the bad engine, to my trusty independent mechanic. I elected not to put a third engine in when the second engine failed and I dumped it as a parts truck. Then with my 2013 Discovery (LR4), I had nearly lost all enthusiasm but the cash side was no problem. After $31k in maintenance & repairs in just under 4 years, I couldn't get rid of the 2013 fast enough. It literally could not leave my garage without something failing. I keep spreadsheets of all maintenance, repairs, and extras and I'm ashamed to admit that I gave my trusty independent Rover mechanic $52,283.06 between September 2009 and May 2024 to work on my 2004 and 2013 Discoveries. That's $52k of work on 2 trucks I paid a total of $42k to purchase. That's the true Land Rover ownership experience.

I'm now happy with Toyota/Lexus quality with this GX550 (and extended warranty and pre-paid maintenance plans!).

similar story, had owned RR's for abt a decade. ....but i may have you beat. My last supercharged RR a 2020....bought certified pre owned in 2022, ---traded in for my wifes GX in 2024. in 2 years had approx 45k in warranty work done.. Told myself, never again. I luv the cars but they cant make them reliable. the new ones are just marginably better. i told my dealer i'd pay 20% over sticker for a new one if you could gurantee me it would never be in the shop for just 3 years. it was less about the money and become more of a time suck dealing with issues

 

[Bluegill]

That's why you can find so many low mileage modern Range Rovers - they are either in the dealer's parking lot waiting to get fixed or the owners are just plain too afraid to drive the ticking time bombs.

 

[S SUBERI]

I think the RR and RR Sport are amazingly beautiful vehicles. They also have some pretty nice technology but I would never take one out in the dirt and dust, put a lift on one and plan to use it as an off roader. They are just too pretty. But if I wanted a vehicle to look real cool in and drive to the club and such, I might consider getting one. In my younger days when impressing people was important to me I could see owning one.

I just love my GX OT and the fun it enables me to have with it. I'm not a seasoned, experienced off roader but I love going out to the desert and in the mountains to drive those trails. It's a great way to see the beautiful state of California.

 

[YellowLab]

As the old saying goes - when RR built true 4x4s - a RR may take you to the ends of the earth, but take a Land Cruiser when you want to get back home.

 

[awcurtis]

I think the RR and RR Sport are amazingly beautiful vehicles. They also have some pretty nice technology but I would never take one out in the dirt and dust, put a lift on one and plan to use it as an off roader. They are just too pretty. But if I wanted a vehicle to look real cool in and drive to the club and such, I might consider getting one. In my younger days when impressing people was important to me I could see owning one.

I just love my GX OT and the fun it enables me to have with it. I'm not a seasoned, experienced off roader but I love going out to the desert and in the mountains to drive those trails. It's a great way to see the beautiful state of California.

slowly but surely, friends that own them are getting away from them. they are a headache to own, even under warranty.

 

[YellowLab]

The GX550 is far from sporty and not really luxe, even in the Luxury+ trim. If sporty and luxury are your top decision criteria IMO I wouldn't get the GX550.

If I was prioritizing a fast/sporty SUV I'd go for a BMW X5 M60 or X5M if my budget supported it. Luxury - depends on what you prioritize in terms of features/interior and looks but I'd still stay away from RR due to the reliability.

I have a friend who bought a new defender about 2 months before my OT+ arrived. Heard noting but ribbing after he bought it until the infotainment system had problems, then an engine cooling system issue, and now he magically does not talk about it anymore.

Today is my 1 year anniversary with the GX. Beyond the crappy overall range which I'll fix with a new gas tank it has been an outstanding vehicle.

 

[Bluegill]

The Range Rovers are absolutely beautiful vehicles! The interiors are the best of the best. I'd love to have my wife drive around in one. But I know better!

 

[S SUBERI]

The Range Rovers are absolutely beautiful vehicles! The interiors are the best of the best. I'd love to have my wife drive around in one. But I know better!

My sentiments exactly!

 

[YellowLab]

The Range Rovers are absolutely beautiful vehicles! The interiors are the best of the best. I'd love to have my wife drive around in one. But I know better!

Im surprised RR did not keep the Discovery as a Body on Frame vehicle. They really abandoned their legacy

 

[Cajun Heat]

Not having personal experience with a RR but researched them as my wife always like the looks of them. I told her that she would never enjoy driving it as it would spend most of it's time in the shop, just like the X6M we owned for a short period of time. She said "Oh" and never asked again.

She LOVES her GX.

 

[YellowLab]

JLR has been shut down for nearly a month after hackers gained access to their systems and JLR took down their entire IT group to stop the spread. Might have been the best thing to ever happen to car consumers in history - prevented them from buying an unreliable POS.

 

[teghogh]

The new sport is uglier than the old one and unacceptably ugly in the lower trims with all the plastics . The do look sharp on the higher trims and mat colors however .