
The Range Rover's mix of true off-road ability and luxurious on-road comfort make it stand out in the marketplace, and even with its long history it is still without a direct rival.
The Lexus LX shares its genes with the Toyota Land Cruiser, and therefore inherits some rugged off-road-worthiness, but in its latest iteration, the LX is expensive, complex, bloated with features, and not particularly engaging.
Infiniti's QX80 (previously known as the QX56) is more a competitor to Cadillac's Escalade, leaving real off-road ability behind in favor of shouty design.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class certainly has the panache, and has retained some real off-road ability in its transition from military weapon to mall-lot showpiece, but it lacks the refinement and space of the Range Rover.
Mercedes-Benz's GL-Class is impressive in its own right, especially in fuel-efficient GL 350 diesel trim, but it doesn't quite have the presence or off-road skills of the Range.
BMW's X5 is the Range Rover's equal on-road, or nearly so, with the sharp handling and fierce power of the X5 M raising the bar—but the X5's a bit bland in the styling department and, again, not suited for real off-road travel.
In the offing: the Bentley Bentayga, being billed as the world's fastest SUV, and the Tesla Model X, the first pure electric vehicle that could have specific all-road hardware.
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Quick Specs | ||||
Few vehicles can equal the 2016 Land Rover Range Rover's levels of performance and luxury on pavement; even fewer can keep up with it off-road. |
The benchmark of mid-size luxury SUVs, the 2016 BMW X5 offers handsome looks, a choice of powertrains, an abundance of tech features, sporty on-road dynamics, and even some off-road capability. |
The 2016 Infiniti QX80 is an old-school SUV with lots of luxury but it should only appeal to those who truly need to tow. |
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is an ancient off-roader with modern mechanicals, a luxurious interior, and astronomical pricing. It makes almost no sense, which is why people seem to gravitate toward it. |
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class wraps up to seven people in luxury, and offers a pleasant ride with either diesel fuel economy or willing gasoline power. |
MSRP From | ||||
$84,950 | $54,700 | $63,250 | $119,900 | $64,550 |
Gas Mileage | ||||
14 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy | 13 MPG City / 20 MPG Hwy | 12 MPG City / 14 MPG Hwy | 13 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy |
Engine | ||||
Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded V-6 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-6 | Premium Unleaded V-8 | Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-8 | Intercooled Turbo Diesel V-6 |
EPA Class | ||||
N/A | Standard SUV 2WD | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Style Name | ||||
4WD 4-Door | RWD 4-Door sDrive35i | 2WD 4-Door | 4MATIC 4-Door G 550 | 4MATIC 4-Door GL 350 BlueTEC |
Drivetrain | ||||
Four Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | ||||
5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
Passenger Doors | ||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | ||||
Sport Utility | Sports Activity Vehicle | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | 4MATIC |
Transmission | ||||
Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
2016 Land Rover Range Rover vs. 2016 BMW X5 | 2016 Land Rover Range Rover vs. 2016 INFINITI QX80 | 2016 Land Rover Range Rover vs. 2016 Mercedes-Benz G Class | 2016 Land Rover Range Rover vs. 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL Class |