So I've been driving the Mercedes for a few days now; thought I would share my thoughts on the differences between it and the XJ.
So first of all what is better about the Mercedes?
Suspension
I had to mention that ride quality... I just think Mercedes have a better solution. For normal driving it cossets you over the bumps, but if you want to behave like a hooligan you have two more suspension selections to choose from. The hardest setting makes the Jag suspension seem tame and there is really very little body roll at all. The main thing is that with the Jag I found myself steering around all the drain covers and grilles, to avoid a jolt going through my spine... with the Mercedes I can just ignore them.
Then there is another thing; there is a button on the dash that lets you raise the suspension up. Comes in very handy when you are trying to get a jack under the car. It's also great for high curbs or other obstacles. Must be a cheap thing to implement as it will just be a button and some software, so I have no idea why Jaguar did not add it?
Aux input
The standard audio system for my model year has a nice Aux input in the glove box; I have been plugging my phone in to listen to Amazon music. Works lovely!
Why on earth did Jaguar not do this??
But in all fairness, Mercedes also only implemented this on the W220 from 2003-2004.... so it seems unfair to give them too much credit for it... it's just something nice about my particular car and those of a similar year.
Equipment
This is really where the Mercedes shines... the levels of equipment available on a Mercedes are incredible. Lets face it, not all S-class models were fitted with all the toys, but neither were the Jaguars. If you have an XJ sport you might not even have Sat-nav. But if you wanted to purchase something with high equipment levels, the Jaguar does leave you rather wanting more.
Things my Mercedes has that the Jaguar did not:
- Keyless Entry/Start (The XF had this from 2006, why did they not add it to the XJ??!!!!)
- Dynamic seats (The bolsters hug in on the side you are leaning into, when you go around a corner).
- Massage seats (Granted they are very basic... but nice all the same)
- Soft close doors (This is so simple... why did Mercedes release this in 1992, yet it took Jaguar until 2014? That's 22 years later...!
- Spring open boot - very handy, just a simple set of springs.
- Distronic active cruise control. This is available on the Jaguar too - so its just something nice about my Mercedes that the Jaguar did not have.
- Leather stitched dash and door cards... this adds an air of quality, and being fair its very rare on Mercedes models too. But not even available on the X358 Sovereign... why not!?
Things that were available on the Mercedes, but not the Jaguar:
- Power closing boot - very rare... I wish I had this!
Audio system
I had the premium Audio system in the Jaguar, but I found it a bit like every other 'Premium' audio system I had in past Jaguars... very, very tame...
In contrast, just like the Range Rover Sport premium audio Lindsey has, the Mercedes Bose system is fantastic!
I understand on the X351, Jaguar have finally addressed their basic audio systems and offer something really special. But the system in the X358 is at best 'acceptable'... but never 'impressive' to someone who loves their music
Economy
The Mercedes seems to easily do 38mpg on my run to work, and if I behave I can easily get 42mpg. Where as the Jag settled more around the 36mpg mark, and 38mpg was the best if I behaved. I find this puzzling as the Mercedes is so much heavier, and there is no real noticeable difference in performance in the usable range.
Comfort
To my surprise, the Mercedes seats are a lot more supportive. They are much more adjustable, with settings for the bolster width and shoulder support.
Brakes
When I first went from my last Mercedes to the Jaguar X358, the brakes were quite a shock. The Jaguar has a basic single pot design, and it feels like I am using the Fred Flintstone 'feet through the bottom of the car' method to stop it. I guess that because the Jaguar is Aluminium it should not need as stronger brakes, but when you have to stop in a hurry the Jaguar brakes are noticeably weak. They are also prone to judder... and I have no idea why?
The Mercedes brakes are twin pot versions, and are noticeably stronger. They also have a proper case and look much better. Rather than the plain Jaguar ones that go rusty in no time, the Mercedes ones are painted with the Mercedes logo. Little details like this make the car look more prestigious.
Steel body
I know the lighter Jaguar body should provide an economy and performance advantage... but look at the stats of similar steel Mercedes and BMW models. An AMG Mercedes S65 (0-60 in 4.4 secs) is faster than an XJR (0-60 5 seconds), and although it drinks more fuel it is negligible (Merc average 19.1mpg vs Jag average 22.3mpg). It hardly seems much of a gain was achieved.
On the flip side the Aluminium body seems to have some draw backs. It feels less solid, and there is a sort of shake that goes through the body over bumps; I have no idea how much of this is actually attributed to the suspension setup. There is also the whole galvanic corrosion thing, and someone told me recently there is still a steel sub-frame rusting away under all that Aluminium.
When the X308 seemed to have cured short to mid term rust problems, it seems crazy to me that Jaguar invested so much in messing with unknown technologies. I'd rather a steel bodied Jaguar with better equipment. I've never been a fan of the Aluminium body. It seems the time could have been better spent elsewhere in the development.
So what is better about the Jaguar?
Heated seats!
The Mercedes heated seats are very similar to the Jag ones, in fact I think the elements are wider and cover the bolsters and all of the seat base. But they do something annoying....
You turn them on, and 10 minutes later they drop from the '2' setting to '1' setting. So you have to keep changing it back to '2'. If I wanted '1' I would select '1'... I don't want the car to keep changing the setting!
I like to have a seat that is the temperature of lava thank you very much!
Exterior styling
I don't think I need to say much here... its kind of obvious...
The Jag has timeless curves and classic styling, with a modern twist of slight aggression. I think the X358 is some of Jaguar's finest work.
The Mercedes is elegant and beautiful, but also
slightly bland... Looks classy and people do pay it complements, but it will never win a beauty contest.
Interior styling
Again very obvious... I'll let the pictures do the talking....
The Mercedes:
The Jaguar:
NOTE: I will not mention that hideous sliding armrest that the Jag has, the rear climate option should have been the only setup fitted to the Jaguar, and they should have just taken out the controls when it was not fitted. Had it been possible to detach and throw my sliding armrest out of the window; it would have happened many times...
The engine tone
The Mercedes has a clattery old Diesel which sounds like it was lifted straight out of a Mercedes Sprinter van... and I bet it was.
The Jaguar has a smooth Diesel, which is very refined.
Performance
There is not much in it, but the Jaguar has a bit more poke from standstill; so if you want to race people from the lights its the best choice! It's also a much more responsive engine all around.
Higher up in mid-range (overtaking power) there is not much difference, but if nothing else the Jaguar seems a bit smoother. Might be my imagination but I think the Mercedes has a bit more power at higher speeds where the Jaguar had topped out though. When I first got my X358 I found it a bit scary overtaking, where I had been confident in the Mercedes.
Of course some of this will be the remap that my Jaguar XJ had..... but on paper the Jaguar is faster so it must not be all me. I have noticed that the Mercedes does overtake well, so they seem to have the power and gearing set for that midrange grunt. But if you are trying for 0-60 times the Jaguar will leave the Mercedes standing.
If its possible the gearbox also feels lazier in the Mercedes. When you put your foot down in the Jaguar it seems to respond quicker, where as the Mercedes seems to think about it for a while, before deciding "OK you can have more power".
Rear Entertainment
My Mercedes is the SWB, where as the Jaguar was a LWB. I actually prefer the XJ in LWB shape, and deliberately chose it; I think it looks a bit odd in SWB. Where as I think the Mercedes looks great in either. Because of this it is no surprise the Mercedes is not as luxurious in the back. There is much less legroom for rear passengers.
But the nice thing in the Jaguar was the rear entertainment. Granted it was outdated, and I never used it. But back in 2003 when it was designed it was the bees knees. The offering from Mercedes would have been an awkward single screen on a strange arm connected to the centre armrest. Jaguar certainly had the jump on Mercedes there.
The Jaguar also had a neat rear entertainment console in the rear armrest which was really cool. The Mercedes W220 does not have this.
Verdict
If I had to say which was the better car practically, I would go Mercedes. It's a far better engineered car, and much easier to live with day to day.
But... if I had to say which one my heart prefers... I would go Jaguar everytime. The styling of the XJ is gorgeous, in and out. The Mercedes is just a bit too German, and it looks a bit "Mafia", to the Jaguar's classy gentleman.
If I could put the equipment levels, and 'driving feel' of a Mercedes W220 together with the styling of a Jaguar X358, I would have the perfect car.