Jaguar XFR Review: The Competition

Jaguar hasn’t picked an easy niche to compete in. The Germans are kings of the super sport saloon, and it’s a huge task to take them on. The BMW M5 is the obvious competition, but you can throw in the Audi RS6 and the Mercedes E63 AMG in to that mix.

The BMW M5 is, without any shadow of a doubt, a stunning car. The build quality and performance are superb. And in truth, it probably just has the edge on the Jaguar XFR in terms of outright performance. But it’s too complicated for every day use. Set it up with the ridiculously complex i-Drive for maximum performance and you feel like you need to drive as if your hair’s on fire all the time. Which is great, when you’re in the mood or circumstances permit.

But driving at 10/10ths all the time is impossible. And when you’re not, the M5 is a lumpen and cold beast. It’s like a caged animal – only happy when free. In comparison, the XFR can change it’s character from wild animal to fluffy pussy cat with just a move of your right foot. No fiddly settings to play with. No unresponsiveness on part throttle. And the ride of the M5 is harsh all the time. Not so the XFR, which is compliant even when the tyres are alight.

The RS6 is a hard car to fathom. It’s beautifully understated, and that understated exterior houses an enormously potent V10, twin-turbo 577bhp engine and four wheel drive. It is astonishingly fast and remarkably sure footed. But it feels dull and anodyne. There is no theatre. It’s handling is too neutral to be fun, although its grip is scintillating. But, and I hate to say this, it just doesn’t feel special enough.

The Mercedes E63 has tried to forge itself a niche to compete with its Teutonic brethren. It has an enormously potent, naturally aspirated lump, and it’s fast. Very fast. It’s not ostentatious either, with just some pretty modest go-faster bits adorning the body. The interior is even a decent place to be and the ride is better than the M5. But it’s also a bit on the boring side. There is no real sense of anything particularly special. But it’s a good effort by Mercedes, and I certainly see the appeal. It’s also much better than the M5 at anything less than 10/10ths.

In isolation, each of these cars offers something that can trump the XFR. And all are simply astonishing pieces of kit. All would make you grin from ear to ear whenever you set fire to the blue touch paper. But none are as complete as the XFR. None offer the ability to waft and wail with equal aplomb. And none are as inexpensive either. The RS6 is £75k. The M5 is £65k and the new E63 will be around £70k. Compare that to the better equipped XFR at £60k and it’s a no-brainer.

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