Data Asset · Luxury Midsize SUV Comparison
How Do the Range Rover Sport, X5, GLE, and GX Compare on Paper?
Four of the most cross-shopped luxury midsize SUVs, side by side on starting price, engine output, towing capacity, cargo space, seating, and drivetrain. No opinions — published manufacturer specifications only, dated and sourced below.
4SUVs compared
$15,700Starting price spread
9,063 lbsHighest published tow rating
The Short Answer
All four run some form of standard all-wheel or four-wheel drive, so the honest tiebreakers are elsewhere. Towing leads to the Lexus GX, with a published rating up to 9,063 lbs on its body-on-frame platform. Starting price leads to the Mercedes-Benz GLE, at $61,900. Interior cargo room behind the second row is largest on the GX. The Range Rover Sport is the only one of the four pairing adjustable air suspension with Terrain Response 2, which matters more than any single spec once you're loading a trailer or driving an unplowed Macomb County street in February — see the full table below, then the two rows worth a second look.
Four SUVs, One Segment, Six Published Specs
Starting MSRP, base engine, maximum towing capacity, cargo volume, seating, and standard drivetrain — the six figures shoppers actually cross-reference before a test drive.
| Spec | Range Rover Sport | BMW X5 | Mercedes-Benz GLE | Lexus GX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $77,600 | $67,300 | $61,900 | $64,150 |
| Base Engine | Turbocharged 3.0L inline-6 mild hybrid, 355 hp | Turbocharged 3.0L inline-6 mild hybrid, 380 hp | Turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 mild hybrid, 255 hp | Twin-turbo 3.4L V6, 349 hp |
| Max Towing Capacity | 7,716 lbs | 7,200 lbs | 7,700 lbs | 9,063 lbs |
| Cargo Volume (behind 2nd row) | 27.5 cu ft | 33.9 cu ft | 33.3 cu ft | 41.7 cu ft |
| Seating Capacity | 5, 7 optional | 5, 7 optional | 5, 7 optional | 5, 6/7 optional (3-row trims) |
| Standard Drivetrain | Permanent AWD with Terrain Response 2 | xDrive all-wheel drive | 4MATIC all-wheel drive | Full-time 4WD, two-speed transfer case |
Data & verification: figures reflect published manufacturer specifications for the current model-year lineup of each vehicle, current as of September 2026. Starting MSRP excludes destination and handling, taxes, title, licensing, and dealer fees, and typically rises well above the base figure once a build is optioned. Engine, towing, and cargo figures vary by trim and configuration within each model line — confirm the rating for the specific build you're comparing with our sales team before matching it to a boat, trailer, or family's cargo needs.
The Two Rows Worth a Second Look
Towing capacity and drivetrain architecture are where these four actually diverge — the rest of the table is closer than it looks.
Max Towing Capacity, To Scale
7,000 lbs9,063 lbs
On paper, the Lexus GX carries the highest published towing figure of the four by a real margin — its body-on-frame platform and V6 are built around that number. The Range Rover Sport and Mercedes-Benz GLE sit within 16 lbs of each other, and the BMW X5 trails by roughly 500 lbs. For most boats and campers based around Lake St. Clair or Anchor Bay, the difference between 7,200 and 7,716 lbs rarely decides the purchase — trailer tongue weight and hitch class usually matter more than the last few hundred pounds of headline rating. For the pairing shoppers ask about most directly, see our full Range Rover Sport vs. BMW X5 comparison, which goes beyond this table into ride, cabin, and ownership differences.
X5 & GLE
Electronic On-Demand AWD
xDrive and 4MATIC are both unibody systems tuned primarily for on-road handling and light-snow traction, with power split electronically between axles as sensors detect slip.
GX
Full-Time 4WD, Low Range
Body-on-frame construction with a two-speed transfer case gives the GX true low-range gearing — capability aimed at unpaved terrain more than daily pavement manners.
Range Rover Sport
Permanent AWD + Air Suspension
Terrain Response 2 pairs with adjustable air suspension, so the same vehicle that handles an I-94 commute also raises for a flooded road or a loaded trailer hitch.
Land Rover Lakeside · Macomb, MI
Why the Range Rover Sport Fits Metro Detroit
A spec sheet treats all four of these SUVs as interchangeable numbers, but a Macomb County driveway doesn't. The Sport's 7,716-lb towing rating covers the boats and campers that actually launch from Lake St. Clair and Anchor Bay, and it's the only vehicle in this table that pairs that capacity with adjustable air suspension for load leveling at the hitch. Terrain Response 2 gives it a dedicated low-grip mode for the ice and slush that define a Shelby Township or Clinton Township winter, without trading away the on-road ride and cabin materials that come standard at this price point. If space and towing lead your list but you don't want to give up the interior finish a full-size luxury SUV is supposed to deliver, the Sport is built for exactly that trade-off.
View Range Rover Sport Inventory →Schedule a Test DriveFrequently Asked Questions
How do the Range Rover Sport, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Lexus GX compare on paper?
Starting price ranges from $61,900 (Mercedes-Benz GLE) to $77,600 (Range Rover Sport). Base engine output spans a 255-hp turbo four-cylinder in the GLE up to a 380-hp turbo inline-six in the X5. Published towing capacity ranges from 7,200 lbs (X5) to 9,063 lbs (Lexus GX), and cargo volume behind the second row ranges from 27.5 cu ft (Range Rover Sport) to 41.7 cu ft (GX). All four offer standard all-wheel or four-wheel drive and an optional third-row seat. The full breakdown, sourced and dated, is in the table above.
Which of these four SUVs has the highest published towing capacity?
The Lexus GX carries the highest published rating among the four, up to 9,063 lbs on its body-on-frame platform. The Range Rover Sport (7,716 lbs) and Mercedes-Benz GLE (7,700 lbs) are essentially tied just behind it, with the BMW X5 rated lowest at 7,200 lbs. For most boat trailers and campers common around Macomb's lakes, the Sport's rating covers the load while adding adjustable air suspension for hitch load-leveling that a body-on-frame SUV doesn't offer.
Which of these four SUVs is the least expensive to start?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE has the lowest published starting MSRP of the four at $61,900, followed by the Lexus GX at $64,150, the BMW X5 at $67,300, and the Range Rover Sport at $77,600. The Sport's higher starting point reflects standard equipment the others charge extra for or don't offer at all, including adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response 2.
Do all four come with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive standard?
Yes, but the systems aren't identical. The BMW X5's xDrive and the Mercedes-Benz GLE's 4MATIC are unibody, electronically controlled AWD systems tuned mainly for on-road handling and light snow. The Lexus GX uses full-time four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case on a body-on-frame chassis, built more for unpaved terrain. The Range Rover Sport pairs permanent all-wheel drive with Terrain Response 2 and adjustable air suspension, which is the combination most relevant to a Macomb County winter, where road conditions swing between plowed pavement and unplowed side streets in the same commute.
Which of these four SUVs has the most cargo space?
The Lexus GX has the largest published cargo volume behind the second row at 41.7 cu ft, followed by the BMW X5 (33.9 cu ft) and Mercedes-Benz GLE (33.3 cu ft). The Range Rover Sport is smallest of the four at 27.5 cu ft, a byproduct of its lower, more performance-oriented roofline. Buyers who need maximum cargo room over cabin refinement and on-road handling should weigh that difference directly against how they'll actually load the vehicle week to week.
Where can I see current Range Rover Sport pricing and inventory near Macomb?
Land Rover Lakeside stocks the current Range Rover Sport lineup and serves Clinton Township, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, and the wider Metro Detroit area. View current Range Rover Sport inventory or contact our team to schedule a test drive.