Overview

The E-class and the XF might not be competition in India, thanks to the price difference. But, internationally, they are. We find out which is a better bet for us Indians

With a price difference that can buy you a Honda Accord, comparing the Jaguar XF with the rest of the mid-level luxury sedans, the likes of the Audi A6, the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes E-class, does not make sense at the outset. But then, these cars do compete against each other internationally. The fact that the Jaguar is a CBU and the latter three aren’t is one of the reasons for this anomaly.

Moreover, to justify a higher pricetag, Jaguar only sells its topof- the-line naturally aspirated 5-litre V8 powered XF in Portfolio trim in India, besides the even more expensive and fi erce and sporty XF-R. But, is the XF really that special to command such a huge premium?

We decided to find out by bringing along the new E-class in E 350 AvantGarde trim as a barometer. We also had reasons to exclude the A6 and the 5-series as next generation versions of both cars are due soon.

Exterior & Interior

The XF's interior is well appointed, well built and very soothing

The XF's handling characteristics take a little time getting used to. But its non obtrusive ESP allows fun with safetyDepth

The E-class is brand new. But it still can’t match the street credence of the Jaguar. Park them side by side and it’s the Jaguar that catches your eye and melts your heart. The E comes across as more utilitarian in comparison. Its design is straight cut while that of the XF exudes emotion. The outer shell has superb play of curves and lines that give the XF both beauty and muscle.

The Jag maintains this fl air on the inside. The colour combination, the design and functioning of controls and the overall fl ow and execution of the dashboard is more living room like with a fi replace thrown in. The E in contrast reminds one of a well appointed offi ce space. It has all the right things in the right places to get the work done, but it fails to tickle your senses like the XF, which is more warm and welcoming.

The Jaguar has better seats too, more so at the rear making it a good car to be chauffeured around in as well. The seats are soft and large and though these aren’t as well contoured as the ones on the E-class, they remain more comfortable.

To boot, the ride on the XF, and not just for a sporty saloon, but in general, is well sorted. It’s a tad on the stiffer side, but it still manages to iron out most road joints, potholes and bumps with suppleness, at slow speeds and high. It deals particularly well with undulations at higher speeds, restricting both body roll and wallowing to a minimum.

Figures are one thing, but the way a car feels, is equally important. It’s here that the XF begins to justify its higher pricetag, especially to those who are looking for an enthralling luxury sedan. The V8 sounds terrifi c and in Dynamic mode, the throttle response as well as the gearshift is lightning quick. The E-class feels more laidback in comparison. Plus, its gearbox leaves a lot to be desired; it’s just too slow and unwilling for enthusiastic driving.

E's insides lack the Jag's flair, but equipment levels are nearly same

E feels more natural to chuck into corners. It's also less prone to understeer compared to the XF

The Jag also feels more planted and sure at very high speeds. You'd be hard pressed to tell that the car is doing close to 200kmph nless you look at the speedo. Apart from its stability, the tall gearing of its auto 'box also means the engine isn't turning at a very high rpm, even at these speeds. The E-class feels great at speedstoo, but as the car comes close to the 200kmph mark, it begins to feel nervous. It feels light and the fear of things going wrong begins to mount exponentially as the speedometer climbs.

But come a section of twisties, and the XF begins losing its edge. There’s little communication from the steering or the car itself. The Merc doesn’t have great steering feel either, but compared to the Jag, it feels alive. The chassis, the grip and the overall car behaviour around bends is more manageable and lithe. One can also chuck it harder around bends and carry more corner speed while altering the under and oversteer balance of the car with more precision.

The XF even with its light steering feels more bulky around corners. It needs more effort to turn and brake as well. It's only after having spent quality time in the driver’s seat does one feel comfortable pushing it, hard. And when you do, you also appreciate the functioning of its ESP. It's a lot less intrusive compared to the Merc. It doesn't cut off the power completely, but allows you to use the throttle through the corner for better control and feel.

Engine & Gearbox

Jaguar XF -5-litre V8 is worth dying for

If numbers is your thing, you’d be surprised by how close these cars are in the real world, which, obviously, does not bode well for the more expensive Jaguar. First up, the equipment list on the Mercedes is as long as the Jaguar’s. The XF might have a few additional comfort features like keyless start, but then, the E offers more in terms of safety.

It also performs as well as the Jag, does the Merc on the road. On paper, the difference in powertrains of the two cars be it the engine capacity, power output or even the torque rating is nearly as much as the pricing disparity. The Jaguar uses a 5-litre V8 compared to the 3.5-litre V6 on the Merc. There’s also a 113bhp and 160Nm difference in the outputs with the bases loaded in the XF’s favour.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class -Engine is surprisingly spirited

The figures returned by our test equipment, don’t reflect that however. The Mercedes, admirably, is as potent as the Jaguar on the road. There’s just four-tenths of a second between them in the run up to 100kmph. Higher output does mean the Jaguar begins pulling ahead at higher speeds, and at 180kmph it does manage to pull out a three second advantage.

Roll on times are equally close with less than a second separating the two cars. Braking distances both from 80kmph and 100kmph are nearly identical too, all of which needless to say, is a huge plus for the E 350 as a package. Being a smaller engine coupled to a seven-speed auto 'box helps it return better fuel economy too. The XF does manage to run it close nonetheless, courtesy its taller gearing which helps return better fuel economy figures on the highway.

Dimensions

Jaguar XF (mm)
The XF offers more room upfront for the head and shoulders. Not so at the rear	Boot space not as great as the E, but the split rear seats make for flexible loading
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (mm)
E's not only more spacious at the rear but offers better ingress and egress too	Boot decently roomy

Scorecard & Verdict

Jaguar XF- It's a truly emotional car this – be it the looks or the engine noise and go. Wish it weren't so overpriced.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class- It's more practical, affordable and nearly as well loaded. It also performs nearly as well as the XF.

Scorecard

Body: In terms of measurement, the Jaguar actually offers a little more space upfront, but with its cocoon like cabin, the feeling of space isn't as great as on the E. The E does however offer more space for its rear occupants. As for luggage room, the E might have more room on paper, but the lack of split seats robs it of fl exibility. Its shut lines aren't as tight as the XF either.

Drive: XF's 385bhp against E 350's 272bhp doesn't translate into as big a difference on the road. It's only close to 200kmph that the more powerful Jaguar pulls ahead signifi cantly. Where the Jag is ahead from the very start though is the functioning of the 6-speed auto versus that of the 7-speed unit of the Merc. The former is quicker and more fun to use.

Comfort: The E-class has lost a bit of plushness in its latest avatar. It still rides well, but the Jaguar rides better, both at slow speeds and high. It also has better rear seats; these are thoughtfully bolstered and provide the comfort of an expensive couch. It's also quieter and sports more comfort equipment like keyless entry and start.

Dynamics: Both the Merc and the Jag lack the steering feel, the body composure and the fun-to-drive factor around corners exhibited by a BMW or even an Audi. But, the E and the XF are very close in these areas; for instance one offers better steering response while the other better straight line stability.

Cost: Rs 20 lakh translates to just a twopoint difference for price, because it's a refl ection of affordability. For a Rs 50 lakh car buyer, for instance, another lakh or two won't make as much difference as Rs 50,000 would make to a Rs 3 lakh car buyer. And the same is refl ected in our points.

Verdict

If it’s a fast luxury sedan you want, the Jaguar with its 5-litre engine and in Portfolio trim, as a product, makes a lot of sense. But, with its pricing, it does not. The E 350 AvantGarde returns similar performance, sports similar equipment, interior space and then boasts of slightly better handling characteristics, all for a lot less money. We can understand the XF commanding a premium of Rs 5 lakh or thereabouts, but Rs 20 lakh, is just way too much. As we see it, the E 350 AvantGarde, is defi - nitely the more logical and better packaged performance biased mid-level luxury sedan in the market today. And therefore, our winner.