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The wife just picked up her new car this past Saturday, a brand new 2017 Jaguar XE R-Sport, and I have to say it's not bad at all.
Even though it's about the same size as my C450, the Jaguar definitively feels "bigger" when tossing it in the curves. Power is good, although it doesn't feel as quick as the Benz, but it comes on almost instantaneously since it's a supercharged 3.0L...340hp/332 ft-lb. The steering is similar to the Mercedes, not vague on center like her old 2014 BMW 328i Xdrive, and the brakes are pretty good too, but not as strong as the brakes on my C450. The Jag has remote start as well...controlled by an app on your cell phone, just like the Mercedes, but it's much more interactive...you can close the sunroof, adjust the cabin temperature, and it even tells you how much gas you have left! Plus it has free maintenance for 5 years/60,000 miles. Interior is OK, better than what BMW offers, but it's still a step behind Mercedes...and I would say the overall build quality is a step behind Mercedes as well.
Wifey likes it very much...MUCH better than her old 3 Series...
Last edited by MASSC450; Aug 22, 2016 at 09:43 PM.
Very nice. I'd give the nod to the Jag on exterior styling especially up front. Rear is sort of generic and ILX ish but not unattractive. How does the ride compare to the 450 (which to me rides stiff)? How do the seats compare in terms of support and comfort? Did you get the Meridian audio?
How does the ride compare to the 450 (which to me rides stiff)?
The ride is "sporty" for sure, but not punishing...she did not opt for the adaptive suspension for an extra $1,000 because she felt she didn't need it. She was a BMW girl for a while, hence she used to a firm suspension.
How do the seats compare in terms of support and comfort?
The front seats are very big & comfy...the seat bottoms are almost too long for my taste, and side bolsters could be better. I like my Mercedes C450 seats better for spirted driving, but for a long trip...the Jags seats would give a more comfortable ride.
Did you get the Meridian audio?
Yes she did. She's still in the sound adjustment phase, but I'd have to say it's not that much better than my Mercedes Burmester system from the little I've heard from it...I'd even say it's equivalent.
Very nice car. How does the sound compare to the c450? That's the same engine that sound amazing on the F Type, with overruns and crackles for days.
The C450 has a nicer exhaust note hands down. The Jag does have some exhaust note when you get on it...no crackles or pops as of yet since she's still breaking it in.
Very nice car. How does the sound compare to the c450? That's the same engine that sound amazing on the F Type, with overruns and crackles for days.
Unfortunately Jag chose to save the crackles for the F Pace, many reviews point out how reserved the XE's exhaust note is compared to it.
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Saw my 2nd XE on the road yesterday (first one I saw was in gorgeous red) this was a base model lease special and wow did it show. Perhaps one of the ugliest and forgettable configurations on the XE. Base everything, the wheels were awful and the bumpers too. Similar to the base model C with it's ugly front and rear bumper treatment, halogen lights, and ugly wheels. Crazy thing is, that guy is probably paying more for a base XE than a well optioned C because Jag's lease deals and residuals are all over the place.
My wife has noticed about 16 mpg according to the Jag's mileage display...bit of a pig I must say...partly because of the parasitic drag of that supercharger I bet. I'm sure that will improve once the engine breaks in...or maybe not if she's got a heavy foot!
My C450 seems to be averaging 23 mpg according to the mileage display in mixed driving...and with 1,500 miles on it.
Gas mileage has since increased to 19 mpg...we'll see on the next tankful what the Jag gets.
Interior is very nice, leather is very soft & comfy...all in all I feel the Mercedes interior has better materials and uses less of the cheap plastic. I like the Jags white stitching on the leather, and I recommend people opt for the Technology Package upgrade which gives you the larger 10.2" display, faster chip, WiFi, and Meridian™ Digital Surround Sound System (825W).
Last edited by MASSC450; Aug 27, 2016 at 10:45 AM.
Congrats, that's a really sweet car. Overall, I think I do like the exterior on that Jag a tad more than our C450...but its VERY close for me ...but I definitely like the C450 interior quite a bit more.
You guys make a good case study. How often when given the choice do you grab the keys to the Jag versus the Benz. That interior looks really nice actually. If that's the car's Achilles heel it's not much of a drawback. Not as ornate as the 205 but clean, simple lines and very uncluttered. Materials generally look good. The door panels and window switches look a little down market in an otherwise upscale cabin.
You guys make a good case study. How often when given the choice do you grab the keys to the Jag versus the Benz.
It's too early to make that decision, the Jag is the new kid on the block...so we're both making excuses to take the "new car" out for a spin. I think after a month or so I'll be able to give a better read.
That interior looks really nice actually. If that's the car's Achilles heel it's not much of a drawback. Not as ornate as the 205 but clean, simple lines and very uncluttered. Materials generally look good. The door panels and window switches look a little down market in an otherwise upscale cabin.
You nailed it right there, the door cards are weak point of the Jag's interior, and the leather on the dashboard is very thin. IMO the interior would have looked worse if I didn't talk my wife into opting for the $300 wood veneer upgrade instead of the standard cheap black plano plastic (see around the gear selector & top of dashboard near the windshield for the brown veneer).
I'm also not a fan of the Jag's heads-up display...it takes up a lot of real estate on top of the driver's portion of the dash (casting glare on the windshield in daylight driving), and because it's laser based, it's flickers and is grainy compared to non-laser based HUD systems.
Don't get me wrong though, I too feel the Jag XE R-Sport overall is a step up compared to her old 2014 BMW 328i xDrive...nicer interior, quicker of course, handles better, and the steering is vast improvement over the BMW's numb on center steering.
Compared to my C450 though, overall it's a step behind...especially in the interior department, and with overall build quality & materials. Handling is close, but like I commented earlier, the Jag feels "bigger" when throwing it into curves at speed. The Jag is also a tad slower, the brakes aren't as good, and it doesn't have the nice exhaust note of the C450...no burps or crackles at all like the F-Type has.
Curious to know why you went for Jaguar as opposed to a newer BMW?
I had a similar situation, but she went from the 3 series coupe to the new 4 series.
Curious to know why you went for Jaguar as opposed to a newer BMW?
I had a similar situation, but she went from the 3 series coupe to the new 4 series.
My wife just got tired of her 328i's dated interior, crappy vague steering, diesel sounding engine, rough shifting, and brake issues (full 4 corner brake job at only 26,000 miles). She liked her old 2011 328i much better, and felt BMW had lost it's way when it comes to the newer 3 Series. She actually did look briefly at a 435 Grand coupe, but thought they were too much money for basically the same BMW.
She even tried for a C450 at one point, but the dealerships just weren't giving good deals at the time.
Last edited by MASSC450; Aug 28, 2016 at 09:33 AM.
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