Jagaur XJ vs. Mercedes S550

Looking to compare the Jaguar XJ with the Mercedes S550? We have saved you the time and trouble and reviewed them both. Of course we are biased towards the most dynamic Jaguar ever built, but see for yourself what The Wall Street Journal called "The Hottest Cat on the Road" and make your own determination.

2011 Jaguar XJ standard equipment:

•  385 hp direction injection 5.0L AJ-V8 Gen III naturally aspirated engine cover 0-60 mph in just 5.4 seconds.

•  6-speed automatic transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift™ (provides the choice of Drive, Sport Automatic or Manual gearshift modes, with one touch paddles mounted behind the steering wheel to control gear changes up and down manually) and Jaguar Drive Selector™

• Adaptive Dynamics provides the optimum balance between low speed ride comfort and high speed handling precision, analyzing body movement, steering and road wheel inputs up to 500 times a second and continuously adjusting the suspension settings through electronically controlled dampers.

• Jaguar 600W premium sound system, Hard Disk Drive and Media Hub. The Media Hub allows various devices to be connected to the car, whether wirelessly via the Bluetooth 2.0 audio streaming or through the Front Media Interface for audio and video. Located in the center console storage box, a docking panel includes a 3.5mm auxiliary jack plug socket, a 12-volt power supply, plus two USB connectors that allow connectivity with a wide range of USB devices. The dock is compatible with all iPods® from Generation 3, iPod® Mini to the latest photo iPods®.iPod® is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. It will also support any USB mass-storage device such as a pen driver or memory stick, and MP3 players with USB connectivity. Full function control of iPod® or MP3 is available through the HD Touch-screen menus enabling easy search by artist, album title or song title, genre and playlists.
• 16/12 way Softgrain leather heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats. Massaging front seats optional with Luxury Package or on any XJL.
• Full color HD Touch-screen with Navigation system

• Virtual Instruments 12.3 inch screen with TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology that replaces a traditional instrument cluster. Virtual information display to include speed, rpm, distance, trip computer functionality and key information for navigation, audio, phone - includes normal, Winter and Dynamic mode displays.
• Interactive Voice uses ‘Say What You See’ technology to guide the user to the correct commands. Voice control of audio, automatic climate control, Bluetooth® v2.0 connectivity, navigation, and Touch-screen displays with note pad facility. When in operation, as well as audible prompts, all commands appear in the Virtual Instruments.
• Jaguar is proud to introduce the Jaguar Platinum Coverage* program. It is as much a part of our cars as stunning design and exhilarating performance.
• Jaguar Platinum Coverage offers best-in-class coverage for all new 2011 Jaguar cars. For 5 years or 50,000 miles, you will enjoy the exhilarating luxury of our 2011 cars, with complimentary scheduled maintenance, no-cost replacement of wear and tear items, 5/50 new vehicle limited warranty, and 24/7 roadside assistance.
  Scheduled Maintenance: $0
  Oil Changes: $0
  Filters: $0
  Brake Pads: $0
  Brake Discs: $0
  Brake Fluid: $0
  Wiper Blade Inserts: $0
  
  *Jaguar Platinum Coverage includes all factory recommended scheduled maintenance for five years or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Wear and tear items are limited to brake pads, brake discs, brake fluid changes and wiper blade inserts based on factory specified wear limits or intervals. All work must be performed by an authorized Jaguar dealer. For complete details on Jaguar Platinum Coverage, including warranty and maintenance coverage and exclusions, please visit your local Jaguar dealer.

2011 Mercedes S550:

• One of our most advanced engines generates 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of peak torque, with an exceptional 75 percent of that torque on tap at just 1,000 rpm. To help reduce engine weight while increasing durability, the engine block is diecast from aluminum with a solid bed plate, an ideal construction for performance and durability A dual-stage intake and continuously variable timing of both its intake and exhaust valves adds to its efficiency while helping reduce its emissions. Indeed, the engine's smooth, immediate power delivery whisks the S 550 from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds.

• Hard Drive Navigation with Zagat Survery uses GPS technology and a 40GB hard drive to store maps, points of interest and even Zagat® Survey ratings for restaurants, hotels and golf courses, this virtual copilot provides detailed driving directions with remarkable speed and a friendly voice. Simply enter your destination, and the COMAND system's large color-LCD screen will display your route, as well as gas stations, ATMs and Mercedes-Benz dealerships along the way.

• Command System with enhanced voice featuring an 8-inch color-LCD widescreen and a central controller on the console, the Cockpit Management and Data (COMAND) system gives you convenient control of audio, video, hands-free calling and navigation (1) functions. Many features can also be accessed via the integrated steering-wheel controls. Enhanced Voice Control lets you control the phone, audio and navigation using everyday phrases, such as saying city names rather than spelling them out. It even screens out "ums" and "ahs" and understands "yeah" for "yes."
• Dual Mode 7-speed Automatic Transmission with Touch Shift. The industry's first 7-speed automatic transmission remains one of the most versatile automatics on the market. A wider range of closely spaced gear ratios delivers the ideal response for virtually every driving condition, which means smoother cruising, immediate acceleration, and thanks to two overdrive ratios, improved highway fuel efficiency, too. Its driver-adaptive programming monitors your driving style and adjusts its shift points to match, while shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel let you enjoy manual-style control whenever you wish. Additionally, the transmission offers selectable Sport and Comfort modes, independent of the vehicle´s AIRMATIC suspension settings. And Touch Shift technology allows more active drivers to upshift and downshift using the standard, steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.

• All new Mercedes-Benz vehicles are covered by our New Vehicle Limited Warranty. It covers  defects in material or workmanship for 48-months or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.

As evident booth vehciles offer the the highest qualities of booth power and luxury. As a consumer in the market for a high end luxury sedan you can not go wrong with either car, both stand out as the preeminent standards of their class, the descrpencies lie in the price and warranty. The two vehicles reveiwed above the Jaguar is on average $15,000 less and comes with a far superior warranty and a 5 year/50,000 mile no cost maintanence package that will save you thousands of dollars over the life of the warranty. So the question becomes do you want to blend in with the crowd or stand out and spend less for more. Contact us today to schedule your test drive.