E70 4.8I versus Range Rover Sport Supercharged
 

Has anyone shopped the X5 4.8I compared to the Range Rover Sport Supercharged?

I've been deciding between the two and I'm curious to see if anyone else has done the same and has any thoughts...

Thanks,
Chris

I did, but I did not like the Range Rover. It was really a personal view, I just felt the BMW had a much more refined interior.

Range Rover Sport is a smaller SUV than the E70 X5. In fact, the Range Rover Sport is a little smaller than the E53 X5.

Test drive both and you'll see there is more refinement in the E70 X5, but the E70 X5 is a bigger, longer SUV than the RR Sport.

I believe the E70 X5 4.8i will also be faster than the RR Sport Supercharged. However, the BMW is probably more expensive.

Handling-wise on the street, the E70 will win hands-down. However, if you are thinking about serious off-roading, I believe either one is not that great.

You are better off with the LR3 for off-roading.

the Supercharged RR Sport is about the same price as a 4.8I with comparable options, but from what I can tell in researching and driving both, the X5 is definitely faster and handles better. I haven't driven the supercharged though, only the HSE version which is considerably slower than the Supercharged RR Sport.

I also worry about the reliability of RR's in general, but both have great warranties. The main advantage I see with the RR is just that there seems to be a lot less of them around, possibly because they're more expensive (the base price of the RR Sport even with the smaller engine is higher than the base price of the X5 3.0 and the 4.8 (with options prices come closer with the Supercharged, but you can get a 3.0 a good chunk cheaper than an RR Sport).

Overall, I'm leaning towards the BMW because of the added value in performance and handling, reliability, and refinement. Not to mention the RR salesman himself drooled over my FX45 when we talked about performance. I might be willing to sacrifice some, but not much, and if the salesman is very clearly making the point that "it's a different vehicle, that's a sports car," I'd rather stick with the BMW which will perform as well or better than my FX.

There's no hitch option with the RRS... you get a plough instead!

There's actually a built-in hitch that comes with the RR Sport. Oddly, it comes standard with the hitch, but no wiring (opposite of BMW). But they do a much better job of hiding it, it's behind the bumpber when you don't need it. I think the cover flipped up when you use it. Towing capacity is the same 6000 lbs as the X5.

I've had the full size Range Rover for 3 years and test drove the RR Sport SS because our lease is up. All I can say on the positive side is that it's a great looking vehicle, arguably it's the best looking SUV on the road. It's my wifes car and she wanted the RR Sport to replace the RR. I refused to get another one because of the problems. I test drove the SS version and although faster than the regular HSE version, the difference was not huge. I thought the X5 and the RR Sport SS were similar in acceleration with the edge going to the RR but the BMW's handling was far superior. The RR feels cumbersome where the X5 feels nimble (for a 5,000+ lb. vehicle), a very different driving experience. The X5 is larger and feels much roomier on the inside. The RR 4 wheel drive system is great and if your going off road allot the RR is probably the better choice.

We're getting an X5 4.8 and I hope she likes it, otherwise i have a problem. I like the X5 allot.


Now for the negatives, the cost of RR ownership is a joke and there are problems all the time. It's just not a reliable vehicle. Warning lights come on for no reason. The warranty does not cover full maintenance like BMW's (brake rotors, etc.). When bringing it in for service there are always people complaining that the car has on going problems that keep recurring. It seems to me that RR's sell well because of the looks but I doubt their repeat business % is high.

On the other hand the X5 is a new model and will have new model issues so we'll see.

That's the part I was worried about... the reliability of the RR. I've heard that's always been the case for RR's/LR's in general. The salesman did tell me the warranty covers everything except brakes and tires, but then again, brakes can get potentially expensive and BMW covers those, just not tires. Truth is, whether I'm paying for it or not, I'd be highly annoyed to have to keep bringing the thing in for repairs on a regular basis (ie. more than the once a year maintenance and occasional issue/recall).

I don't need any off-road capabilities, but do need it to be good in the snow (which I expect both will do very well with smaller wheels and snow tires).

RR charges $1700 for new rotors and pads and we're on our 3rd. set so that alone makes BMW maintenance program a big plus. I found an independent shop for $1400 but with BMW it's free.
The RR has been great in the snow and judging by what I've read about BMW's 4 wheel drive system it should be good too as long as you have the right tires.

well chris it depends on what your looking for becuase if its for the looks obviously the rangie its prettier than the x5 and if its for the handling and feeling good while driving you should get the x5...besides i dont think these trucks are really comparable since the base price of the range rover sport sc is 71,000 and the x5 is 54,000 and the rangie has 40hp more but if money is not an object i'd go for the range rover sch beacuse its more "classy" and definatley prettier in the outside,i mean just look around the x5 are everywhere and almost everybody can afford it and the rangie has these "higher status" like only "rich people" drive them but anyways i think you'lll be fine with either so good luck with your decision.