Is the Land Rover Range Rover Sport more reliable than the Lexus RX?

Based on our data, the Lexus RX is more reliable with an average score of 86/100 compared to 57/100. That's a significant difference worth considering.

Which has more recalls, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Lexus RX?

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport has more recalls (177) compared to the Lexus RX (42). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Lexus RX?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Lexus RX has a lower complaint rate at 7.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 56.4 for the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Lexus RX: Reliability Compared

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Mixed

More Reliable

Lexus RX

Excellent

Choosing between the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and the Lexus RX? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Lexus RX currently leads with an average score of 86/100 compared to 57/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Lexus RX Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the Lexus RX is in its fifth generation, introduced in 2023. Being early in its generation cycle, this model may face typical first-year issues as the platform matures. The previous fourth-generation RX, which ran from 2016 to 2022 and received a facelift in 2019, was considered more reliable due to its mature platform. In contrast, specific generation details for the Land Rover Range Rover Sport are unavailable, making it challenging to provide a direct comparison. Generally, newer platforms, like the current Lexus RX, can initially experience teething problems, whereas later stages of a model's lifecycle often benefit from improved reliability as early issues are resolved.

Verdict

The Lexus RX is more reliable than the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, scoring 86/100 vs 57/100.

The Lexus RX significantly outperforms the Land Rover Range Rover Sport in terms of reliability, with an average reliability score of 85/100 compared to the Range Rover Sport's 54/100. The RX has faced 42 recalls over nine years, far fewer than the 177 recalls for the Range Rover Sport. Additionally, the RX records only 7.5 owner complaints per 10,000 vehicles sold, a stark contrast to the 56.4 complaints per 10,000 for the Range Rover Sport. These data points highlight the RX's superior reliability and lower likelihood of encountering issues.

Key Differences

1Lexus RX has 135 fewer total recalls
2Lexus RX has 48.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Lexus RX scores 29 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Land Rover Range Rover Sport

—

3Lexus RX

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Lexus RX: Which Is More Reliable?

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Lexus RX at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	Lexus RX
Reliability Score	57/100	86/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	177	42
Complaints per 10k Sold	56.4	7.5
Year Wins	0	9

What Are the Common Problems With the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Lexus RX?

The Lexus RX and Land Rover Range Rover Sport exhibit distinct problem profiles with varying severity. The Lexus RX shows a higher concentration of issues in the air bags category with 73 complaints, including 11 linked to crashes, indicating a potential safety concern. In contrast, the Range Rover Sport's most prevalent problem area is the electrical system, with 185 complaints, though only four are crash-linked, which suggests more frequent but less severe issues. Notably, the Range Rover Sport also has a significant number of power train complaints (89) with 10 being crash-linked, highlighting a critical area of concern that is less pronounced in the Lexus RX.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Lexus RX common problem areas comparison
Component	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	Lexus RX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	13.8Above Avg	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	6.6Average	0.6Very Low
POWER TRAIN	6.6Average	0.2Very Low
ENGINE	4.8Average	0.2Very Low
STEERING	3.7Average	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	3.5Average	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	1.6Low	0.8Very Low
STRUCTURE	1.6Low	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	1.3Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	1.1Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1.2Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	1.1Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.7Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY	0.4Very Low	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	0.4Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.1Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Lexus RX Reliability Compare by Year?

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Lexus RX year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	Lexus RX	Edge
2026	75/1003R / 0C	95/1001R / 0C	Lexus RX
2025	68/1009R / 24C	83/1005R / 9C	Lexus RX
2024	64/10022R / 47C	85/1009R / 48C	Lexus RX
2023	52/10027R / 125C	85/1005R / 45C	Lexus RX
2022	53/10023R / 94C	90/1000R / 35C	Lexus RX
2021	53/10023R / 72C	86/1005R / 209C	Lexus RX
2020	42/10037R / 138C	86/1005R / 130C	Lexus RX
2019	56/10014R / 90C	82/1009R / 166C	Lexus RX
2018	47/10019R / 167C	85/1003R / 87C	Lexus RX

Best years to cross-shop: The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport scored 75/100 and the 2026 Lexus RX scored 95/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs the Lexus RX?

If you prioritize reliability and peace of mind, the Lexus RX is your best choice. With a high reliability score of 85/100 and just 7.5 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, it promises a smoother ownership experience. Despite having 42 recalls, this is significantly lower than its competitor, indicating fewer widespread issues over time. The top issues, including air bags and the electrical system, are more manageable and less frequent than those in the Range Rover Sport. On the other hand, if you are drawn to the luxury and performance of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, be prepared for potential challenges. With a lower reliability score of 54/100 and a high complaint rate of 56.4 per 10,000 sold, it may require more attention. The 177 recalls highlight significant reliability concerns, particularly with the electrical system and power train. Choose the Range Rover Sport if you value its features and are ready to manage higher maintenance needs.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Lexus RX: Common Questions

Is the Land Rover Range Rover Sport more reliable than the Lexus RX?: Based on our data, the Lexus RX is more reliable with an average score of 86/100 compared to 57/100. That's a significant difference worth considering.
Which has more recalls, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Lexus RX?: The Land Rover Range Rover Sport has more recalls (177) compared to the Lexus RX (42). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Lexus RX?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Lexus RX has a lower complaint rate at 7.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 56.4 for the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

More Land Rover Range Rover Sport comparisons

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More Lexus RX comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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