Engine & GearboxД«ody: In terms of measurement, the Jaguar actually offers a little more space upfront, but with its cocoon like cabin, the feeling of space isn't as great as on the E. It doesn't cut off the power completely, but allows you to use the throttle through the corner for better control and feel. It's a lot less intrusive compared to the Merc. And when you do, you also appreciate the functioning of its ESP. It's only after having spent quality time in the driverвЂ™s seat does one feel comfortable pushing it, hard. It needs more effort to turn and brake as well. The XF even with its light steering feels more bulky around corners. One can also chuck it harder around bends and carry more corner speed while altering the under and oversteer balance of the car with more precision. The chassis, the grip and the overall car behaviour around bends is more manageable and lithe. The Merc doesnвЂ™t have great steering feel either, but compared to the Jag, it feels alive. ThereвЂ™s little communication from the steering or the car itself. It feels light and the fear of things going wrong begins to mount exponentially as the speedometer climbs.Д«ut come a section of twisties, and the XF begins losing its edge. The E-class feels great at speedstoo, but as the car comes close to the 200kmph mark, it begins to feel nervous. Apart from its stability, the tall gearing of its auto 'box also means the engine isn't turning at a very high rpm, even at these speeds. You'd be hard pressed to tell that the car is doing close to 200kmph nless you look at the speedo. The Jag also feels more planted and sure at very high speeds. It's also less prone to understeer compared to the XF Plus, its gearbox leaves a lot to be desired itвЂ™s just too slow and unwilling for enthusiastic driving.Д® feels more natural to chuck into corners. The E-class feels more laidback in comparison. The V8 sounds terrifi c and in Dynamic mode, the throttle response as well as the gearshift is lightning quick. ItвЂ™s here that the XF begins to justify its higher pricetag, especially to those who are looking for an enthralling luxury sedan.

It deals particularly well with undulations at higher speeds, restricting both body roll and wallowing to a minimum.ДЇigures are one thing, but the way a car feels, is equally important. ItвЂ™s a tad on the stiffer side, but it still manages to iron out most road joints, potholes and bumps with suppleness, at slow speeds and high. To boot, the ride on the XF, and not just for a sporty saloon, but in general, is well sorted. The seats are soft and large and though these arenвЂ™t as well contoured as the ones on the E-class, they remain more comfortable. The Jaguar has better seats too, more so at the rear making it a good car to be chauffeured around in as well. It has all the right things in the right places to get the work done, but it fails to tickle your senses like the XF, which is more warm and welcoming. The E in contrast reminds one of a well appointed offi ce space. The colour combination, the design and functioning of controls and the overall fl ow and execution of the dashboard is more living room like with a fi replace thrown in. The Jag maintains this fl air on the inside. The outer shell has superb play of curves and lines that give the XF both beauty and muscle. Its design is straight cut while that of the XF exudes emotion. The E comes across as more utilitarian in comparison. Park them side by side and itвЂ™s the Jaguar that catches your eye and melts your heart. But it still canвЂ™t match the street credence of the Jaguar. But its non obtrusive ESP allows fun with safetyDepth The XF's handling characteristics take a little time getting used to. We also had reasons to exclude the A6 and the 5-series as next generation versions of both cars are due soon. We decided to find out by bringing along the new E-class in E 350 AvantGarde trim as a barometer. But, is the XF really that special to command such a huge premium? Moreover, to justify a higher pricetag, Jaguar only sells its topof- the-line naturally aspirated 5-litre V8 powered XF in Portfolio trim in India, besides the even more expensive and fi erce and sporty XF-R. The fact that the Jaguar is a CBU and the latter three arenвЂ™t is one of the reasons for this anomaly. But then, these cars do compete against each other internationally. With a price difference that can buy you a Honda Accord, comparing the Jaguar XF with the rest of the mid-level luxury sedans, the likes of the Audi A6, the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes E-class, does not make sense at the outset. We find out which is a better bet for us Indians

The E-class and the XF might not be competition in India, thanks to the price difference.

Compare jaguar xf and mercedes e-class