Memory Lane Comparo: 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 vs. 2007 Jaguar XJ

By Mike Aguilar - September 18, 2014

2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 vs 2007 Jaguar XJ

Both the 2007 Jaguar XJ and the Mercedes-Benz S550 from 2007 were executive-class cruising vehicles. They got you from Point A to Point B in comfort, style, and luxury. They were also quite enjoyable to drive. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see what they had to offer.

Looking the Jag Over Inside and Out

Jaguar executives know a good thing when they see it, which explains why the exterior features of the XJ hadn’t changed much over the previous 40 years or so. It’s not broken, don’t fix it. The XJ is actually a fairly large sedan, but because it has a basic structure that is all-aluminum, it’s able to nimbly dance around corners better than anything else its size. The supercharged 4.2-liter engine in the XJR and Super V8 models makes getting up to speed quick and fun.

Luxury has always been something you could expect in a Jaguar and the 2007 XJ was no exception. The interior looks like it was carved out of an aged and lacquered oak tree and then had finely finished leather seats added. The Super V8 version also had DVD screens mounted in the headrests and tray tables that folded out of the front seat backs. This cat knew how to pamper.

The 2007 Mercedes-Benz Leaves Nobody Lacking for More

The 2007 S550 (W221) is in a world of its own, though. The rear seating area is the place of choice for kicking back and reading a full-size map or newspaper while on a long drive. The finely-crafted leather seats are über-comfortable, yet you don’t feel like the seat is swallowing you whole. For those lucky enough to sit up front, the armrest contains a dial that lets you minutely tune the contours of the seat to your body. The front passenger seat even has a four-setting massage feature. There’s also night vision assistance and a roof that is made of glass.

Buyers had their choice between regular rear-wheel drive and the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. MB also made several significant safety enhancements to the S550 for 2007, making it one of their safest cars at the time.