Premium compact SUVs have been selling like hotcakes these days. If you revile the parental styling of a minivan but want the added cargo space, ride height, and ground clearance, you’re probably looking into one of these luxury utes. So we’ve chosen two targets that might run through your crosshairs, the 2015 Lexus NX 200t and the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport. Both are entirely new models for 2015 and don new powertrains, exteriors, and interiors.

There’s no doubt that these two rivals are benchmarks of their segment, offering neat features that the others don’t. For example, the NX 200t has one of the most beautiful interiors in its class, while the Discovery Sport is the only one to offer seating for seven passengers.

The NX is also Lexus’ first attempt at the compact luxury sector, slotting nicely alongside their RX cash cow. On the other hand, Land Rover has had some time experimenting in this field with the outgoing Freelander and LR2 models. Furthermore, the Discovery Sport is arguably Land Rover’s most important product of the decade, putting oodles of weight on its shoulders to carry the sales pitch of the prominent off-roading trademark.

Both vehicles have a starting price of about $41,000, and when loaded up they can reach a whopping $54,000. So if you’re in the mood for some compact SUV goodness, which one should you choose? Let’s take a closer look at what the Japanese and British have to offer.

The NX’s exterior is surely more innovative and controversial, but don’t mistake the Discovery Sport as the underdog. With Evoque-shaped styling at the front and robot-looks at the rear, Land Rover has managed to conceive one attractive crossover. From the front, I could barely even tell it apart from an Evoque without looking at the badges.

It’s no spindle grill, but the iconic clamshell hood and graceful stance speaks volumes about the brand. The back I’m not such a fan of. The over-dilated taillights and upright hatch look a bit awkward through my eyes, and I prefer the sharply raked derrière of the NX 200t much more.

Inside, the NX 200t instantly feels more premium than the Disco Sport. Though it’s more snug and offers less cargo room, the NX exudes a sense of luxury and charm. It may feel less functional, but it’s certainly more stylish. The center console is raised up for a cluttered but purposeful arrangement of buttons, dials, and even a detachable vanity mirror. The seats are well bolstered and wrapped in what Lexus calls NuLuxe leather. It’s soft and supple but no matter how I sit, that angular headrest prevents me from sitting comfortably. It isn’t adjustable fore and aft, and hurts my neck after just a short journey.

The rear passenger seats are a different story though. I was surprised to find that much legroom in the second row. Headroom is lacking but it can be quickly remedied by reclining the 60/40 split seats. The snug feeling carries back here as well, and the NX’s small sunroof and narrow windows give it a darker and more bunker-like feel than in the Disco Sport.

The NX might just pull off the more premium look, but the Disco Sport’s cabin appears more rugged and durable. The leather used on both vehicles is top quality and beautifully stitched, but there’s something about the Land Rover that screams quality. Maybe that’s because the value of the design elements have shot up high in the food chain. It’s very Evoque-like on the inside, and details such as the exterior door handles, A/C rotary dials, overhead lights, and paddle shifters have all been ripped straight off the more expensive Range Rover Sport.

The Land Rover has a deeper center well than the Lexus and offers more storage cubbies. Both vehicles have high beltlines, so the windows and windshields are a bit narrow. However, if you’ve never been inside a Disco Sport before, you’d be firmly astonished by the sheer size of the panoramic roof. It stretches all the way from the front passenger’s head to the rear passenger’s headrest and subsequently floods the cabin with an abundance of natural light. The one catch is that it doesn’t open…

Where the Disco Sport steals the show is with its seating options. No other compact premium SUV offers seating for seven. They say it’s arranged in a 5+2 format because the third row seats aren’t really meant for adults, but for small children. Still, along with adequate side bolstering and stadium seating (rear seats are placed higher than the ones in front of them for a better view), it’s a welcome addition to an audience that clearly despises being seen behind the wheel of a minivan - and the Disco Sport offers a swift remedy.

On the plus side, the screen resolution is high-def and the button responses are quick and very adequate. One feature I love is how you can store your favourited Sirius XM stations and FM/AM stations on the same shortcut list, unlike the Land Rover where you have to manually switch modes to access your different stations. It’s a small difference but one that has greatly impacted the quality of my daily commutes.

The Disco Sport uses JLR’s new infotainment touchscreen system that replaces the archaic ones of the past. It’s a big step-up in terms of refinement and usability. The screen is more vibrant, responsive, and very colourful, almost like a Microsoft laptop. The menus are now simpler, less convoluted, and the fonts are much clearer this time around. The Lexus and Land Rover offer well-built infotainment systems but the NX will clearly draw the techy and more computer-oriented crowd while the more traditional folks will find solace in the Disco Sport’s simplistic touchscreen.

Next, the powertrains. This is where the NX 200t excels. As the first Lexus to ever be turbocharged, the NX 200t comes equipped with the automaker’s new twin-scroll turbo inline-four that whips out 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The turbo’s response is fairly impressive and the power delivery is surprisingly linear. You’ll have no trouble whatsoever with overtakes and instant manuevers once the RPMs starting swinging above 3,000.

The NX 200t also drives like the sportiest of the two. Switch into Sport+ mode and the turn-in becomes direct, the suspension stiffens up, and the balance is incredible. Coupled with its Adaptive Variable Suspension, and the NX 200t delivers precise steering feel and exceptional road feedback. Matched with a fine-tuned and eager 6-speed automatic gearbox, and the Lexus poses quite a challenge for the British ute.

I’ll get straight to the point – I’m not a fan of the Disco Sport’s powertrain. Loaded with an old turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine from the primitive days of Ford ownership, the engine feels forced and laggy. It’s the same one used in the Range Rover Evoque and even though it delivers a competitive 240 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque, the delivery of said output isn’t smooth.

The excessive nine-speed automatic transmission is of no help either, as downshifts are met with a oh-wait-nap-time approach. At cruising speed at top gear, you can hammer the gas pedal and nothing will happen. A few seconds later and out of nowhere, the engine surges up the RPMs so rapidly that you frantically get thrown back to your seat. In addition, a discernible amount of lag is felt when changing gears from Drive to Reverse, and vice-versa. I expected a more refined powertrain, but I guess they’re saving that for their new Ingenium engines that are slowly making their way into production models later in 2015.

But enough bashing on the Land Rover. We’ve already established the fact that there’s not much “sport” in the Discovery Sport. But it’s where the paved road ends and when the weather gets rough that this lively SUV will finally feel at home. With Land Rover DNA embedded into its core, the Disco Sport has the versatility and the ability to navigate through even the harshest of terrains.