As they say, "Go big or go home." Not in actuality activity like
traveling home, I went big. Cadillac XTS and Jaguar XJL big. In canicule
past, Cadillac and Jaguar both represented the acme of big affluence
sedans for their corresponding countries of origin. Alive a 1960s
Cadillac Auto de Ville meant something. It meant luxury. It meant
quality. It meant you were alive the Cadillac of cars. On the added
ancillary of the pond, alive a Jaguar Mark IX meant abundant the same,
alone with added tea.
Then came the aphotic times. Alpha in the mid-to-late seventies, the
quality, reliability, adorableness and agreeableness of both car makers
tanked. Top gas prices, new assurance and ecology regulations and
all-around poor architecture apparitional the already acclaimed
affluence sedans. It wasn't until just afresh that both brands angry
themselves around. Both Jaguar's and Cadillac's resurrections were
signaled, aboriginal and foremost, by above architecture changes.
Cadillac adopted the "Art and Science" architecture strategy, and Jaguar
thew out aggregate but the leaping cat awning accessory in favor of
avant-garde glassy designs. Cutting bend technology, a mile-long
ambition account of contemporary options and standard-setting
achievement followed anon after.
Having been a fan of both Jag and Caddy for as continued as I can
remember, I was actual aflame if the befalling to drive the 2013 Jaguar
XJL and the 2013 Jaguar XTS about back-to-back presented itself. How are
they? Rest assured, the celebrity canicule of Cadillac and Jaguar are
just beginning. Which is better? You'll just accept to accumulate
account to acquisition out...
2013 Jaguar XJL Supercharged
Those accustomed with the Jaguar XJs of yore will bethink a acceptable
architecture with cloister headlights, a continued about collapsed hood,
a alpine greenhouse and lots of copse and covering inside. A few years
ago, all that changed. The ye olde XJ was dead off with the addition of
an all new, sleeker, edgier and avant-garde XJ. At first, I was a bit
borderline of the new architecture direction. But, over time, my
assessment changed.
For 2013, Jaguar offers a array of trim levels and engine options for
the XJ, alignment from the abject XJ at $73,200 all the way to the (move
over Rolls Royce Ghost) XJ Ultimate for $155,000. Engines cover a 3.0
liter supercharged V6 acceptable for 340 horse, a 5.0 liter by itself
aspirated V8 with 385 horse, a 5.0 liter supercharged V8 at 470 horse
and the top dog 5.0 liter supercharged V8 with a whopping 510 horse.
Jaguar is absolution a 550 horse XJR for 2014, but for the account of
today's article, we're blank that one.
Our tester was a RWD Jaguar XJL Supercharged with the 470 horse
supercharged 5.0 liter V8 and about every believable option. Like I
said, go big or go home, right? Abject amount on the XJL Supercharged is
$92,600 but ours priced out at $105,250. What do you get for over
$105k? A lot:
Ultimate Black Metallic Exoteric Color: Included
20 Inch Orona Alloy Wheels with Achievement Tires: $1,000
Covering Heated Council Wheel: Included
Carbon Fiber Autogenous Trim: Included
Ivory Covering Seats with Jet Black Upper Fascia with Contrast Stitching and Jet Suedecloth Headliner: $775
Heated Windshield with Timer: $375
Illumination Package: $1,700
Rear Bench Abundance Pack: $3,500
Front Bench Massage: $800
Rear Bench Entertainment: $2,200
Adaptive Cruise Control: $2,300
825W Meridian Sound Arrangement with 17 Speakers: Included
Bluetooth Streaming Audio: Included
Navigation: Included
DVD Player: Included
Hard Drive Acceptable to Store Up To 10 CDs: Included
And, a Host of Standard Equipment
Suffice it to say, even with no added options, the XJL Supercharged has
appealing abundant every affection you could anytime wish and abounding
you would accept never anticipation of. Okay, so that's the aback story.
Big, expensive, loaded Jag: Check. Accessible road: Check. Keys: Check.
Gas: Check. Acceptable to go.
Immediately aloft accepting into the 2013 XJL, you can in actuality
acquaint there is in actuality no accord to the antecedent XJs afar from
the Jaguar arch in the average of the council wheel. Gone is the hardly
claustrophobic feeling. Gone is the nineteenth aeon Englishman's den
styling. The new XJ has a avant-garde anatomic architecture and isn't
just ample in agreement of measurement. It feels spacious. No
claustrophobia here. The continued arched birr reminds me of sitting at
the captain of a yacht. Afterimage out of every window is great, except
for the rear. You can't see abundant of annihilation out back. The rear
seats & block are too top and the window too small.
The seats are soft, adequate and accept eighteen-way adaptability so
there is no acumen not to acquisition the absolute alive position.
Actually, it's about too adjustable. I begin myself bribery consistently
aggravating to get just the appropriate feel. Thankfully there is
memory, so you alone accept to do it once. If you accept a algid butt,
aback or both, you can about-face on the boiler of a bench & bench
aback warmer to your adapted setting. If a baking bum is added your
problem, the aerial seats and bench backs will about-face your balmy
tuchus into a frigid rumpsicle in no time. The huge 44.1 inch legroom
rear seats get heating and cooling, too.
As it was about 85 degrees outside, I autonomous for the aerial seats
and cranked my area of the four-zone altitude ascendancy to 66 degrees.
Abundant A/C! As a getting who frequently drives in Florida heat, this
A/C was by far one of the best I've seen. The massaging seats are nice
too, admitting I wouldn't acclaim application them while driving, they
may be a bit too relaxing.
Most of the car's appearance are controlled via the eight-inch
touchscreen. Anytime aback I collection a Buick Reatta with a DOS
touchscreen, I've had an casuistic (but understandable) abhorrence to
touchscreens. The XJL's is clear, acceptable and (most importantly)
automated to use. Thankfully, temperature and audio controls are good,
old ancient knobs and buttons. It's in actuality a actual acceptable
alloy of touchscreen and concrete controls.
Which brings me to the seventeen-speaker Meridian Surround Sound Audio
System. Acceptable gravy, it's awesome! Whether you're abundantly
adequate your Brahms best of or announcement Metallica, the acute is
brittle and clear, the mid-range is absolute and the bass is authentic
with no baloney with the aggregate as top as my aerial could handle.
Enough messing about, time to drive. The Jaguar XJL has that pop-up,
arced bulge for a manual selector that Jaguar is so addicted of. It
absolutely looks cool, bustling up if you about-face on the car, but
there is a little wobble and accord in the bulge itself that I don't in
actuality like. But, I'll book it up to this getting a analysis car
that's been apprenticed and baffled to hell and back. I aberration the
car to drive and set off.
This car has a lot of power. Abundant added than I would apprehend in a
4,191 batter car. The 470 horse and 424 pound-feet supercharged V8
propels the big Jag to 60 in about 4.9 abnormal and will forward the XJL
Supercharged to a electronically bound top dispatch of 155 afar per
hour. Hitting the gas is a bit of a surreal experience. You don't in
actuality feel like a car that is 206.6 inches continued and 74.6 inches
advanced should get up and go with absolutely that abundant spunk. But
it does. The dispatch isn't jarring, though. Abundant like the XFR-S
that we activated a few weeks back, the XJL Supercharged is smooth.
The eight-speed accessory box's accouterment are adulate if in automated
or action and very, actual quick if application the paddle shifters.
Dispatch is beeline and connected until you charge to apathetic down.
And, if you apathetic down, you do so with a vengeance. The big brakes
apathetic you down to a clamber in no time. In fact, if I aboriginal
"tapped" the brakes to slow, I about skidded to a stop. It took a
additional to get acclimated to them. Slam on the brakes and you'll go
from 60 mph to chock-full in about 103 feet.
In a beeline line, the council is just as smooths as the trans. Not a
adumbration of ball which continues into the turns. The XJL handles
actual (you estimated it) smoothly. There is just the aboriginal
adumbration of cycle from the aluminum physique in about top dispatch
turns, but adaptive air abeyance and Alive Dynamics Arrangement cope
nicely. It'll hit 0.88 g in the turns. In approved driving, I couldn't
ask for a bigger alive car. This isn't a wallow-y Jaguar XJ of old. The
Jaguar XJL Supercharged absolutely isn't a boat, so no could cause for
seasickness. It aswell isn't a teeth-jarring super-sedan like the Audi
RS6. It balances altogether amid abundance and performance.
I had the befalling to in actuality bandy the car about a few off-camber
turns with, shall we say, ambiguous traction. I accept to admit, the
absorption control, adaptive abeyance and alive cogwheel fabricated the
absolute acquaintance absolutely beneath than alarming for my commuter
Cristina. Turning all of the nanny-controls off and the big Jag was
very, actual simple to get aback into band if affected into a drift.
(Yep, I drifted a $105k Jag XJL. That was fun.)
After a few drifted corners, it was time to acknowledgment the big
Jaguar. If I got in the car, I wasn't abiding what to expect. But, I
accept to admit, I was abundantly surprised. Afar from some rear
afterimage issues (that are about alleviated by a rear-facing camera)
and a fluctuant accessory selector, the 2013 Jaguar XJL Supercharged is a
astounding car. Even my passenger, wife and co-tester Crisina (who has
consistently awful Jaguars) was actual afflicted and thoroughly enjoyed
the car. To those searching for a big affluence sedan, yield a attending
at the 2013 Jaguar XJ and XJL. Is it bigger than the cast new 2013
Cadillac XTS? You'll accept to abide account to acquisition out.
2013 Cadillac XTS Platinum
Cadillac, the admired car of Johnny Cash, Elvis and several Presidents.
(Kennedy had a Lincoln and attending what happened to him.) The cars
from the cast called afterwards the architect of Detroit were so
acceptable that by apropos to something as the Cadillac of whatever
meant it was the best. (Only one added car has had that honor,
Duesenbergs led to the adage It's a Doozy.) Sometime in the
mid-seventies, Cadillac was hobbled by the ecology laws championed by
Ralph Nader, the afterlife of architecture for American cars and an
all-embracing absence of US automotive desirability.
That lasted until Cadillac appear the CTS in 2002. At that point Caddy
was back. Their awakening and complete cast makeover culminated with the
absolution of the 2013 Cadillac XTS, the flagship big affluence auto of
the line. If Johnny Cash was about today, he'd acclimation his in Black
Raven.
Having just apprenticed the 2013 Jaguar XJL Supercharged, I anticipation
it a acceptable time to assemblage it up adjoin the big Caddy. Our
tester was a FWD Cadillac XTS Platinum with a 304 horse 3.6 liter Direct
Injection V6 and six-speed automated gearbox. Abject amount is $58,160.
Ours had a array of options and came in at $62,470. To be specific,
actuality is the load-out of our tester Cadillac XTS Platinum:
Black Diamond Tricoat Paint: $995
Jet Black/Light Wheat, Opus Covering Seats: Included
20 Inch Polished Aluminum Wheels: Included
Disciplinarian Assist Package with HUD: $2,395
Heated and Cooled Seats: Included
CUE advice & Media Ascendancy System: Included
14 Speaker Bose Surround Sound System: Included
Natural Voice Recognition: Included
Adaptive Cruise: Included
Automated Front & Rear Braking and Collision Preparation: Included
Adaptive Remote Start: Included
Parking Assist: Included
Automated Rear and Manual Ancillary Window Sunshades: Included
Heated Covering Council Wheel: Included
Navigation: Included
Ancillary and Rear Collision Alerts on HUD: Included
And, a Host of Standard Equipment
Option-for-option, the Cadillac is analogously able to the Jaguar. As
far as achievement is concerned, sixty comes in 6.8 abnormal and top
dispatch is a admirable 130, not about as quick as the Jaguar but quick
enough. Size-wise, the Caddy is about the aforementioned as the Jaguar
XJL at 202 inches long, 72.9 inches advanced and 4,006 pounds. As
Cadillacs should, the XTS has a huge eighteen cubic-foot trunk, added
than abundant for a few bodies... er... golf bags.
So, afar from dispatch (which makes faculty as the Jag is 164 horse
added than the Caddy) and amount (the Caddy is $42,780 beneath than the
Jaguar) the two cars are actual agnate on paper. Yes, I accept that a
bigger allegory would accept been amid the XTS Platinum and the 3.0
liter V6 XJL Portfolio (340 hp and $76,700), but you plan with what you
got.
That getting said, how acceptable is the 2013 Cadillac XTS Platinum? In a
word, good. I've spent a lot of time in a 2011 Cadillac CTS which has
consistently afflicted me with its drive quality. But, unless you get a
CTS-V, that bearing CTS has lacked a bit in agreement of superior of
abstracts and fit-and-finish. Not so with the 2013 XTS Platinum. As anon
as you sit down, the superior of the autogenous about sings, abnormally
if you analyze it to a analogously priced Mercedes E-Class area you
don't even get covering seats. The interior's architecture is modern,
anatomic but still feels like a Cadillac. The copse trim is in actuality
wood. There are no gaps amid the assorted components. It is actual
able-bodied advised and actual able-bodied put together.
The covering of the XTS Platinum's seats is bendable and supple. While
not absolutely as acceptable as the Jaguar's, the seats themselves
action as abundant or as little abutment as you admiration with their
abreast absolute adjustability. Even the abyss of the headrests is
adjustable. Just like in the XJL, I am blessed for the seat's memory, as
I acquisition myself bribery consistently aggravating to acquisition
the absolute alive position. Afterwards some time, I eventually
acquisition it. It's in actuality hot alfresco again, so I account
myself of the aerial seats, which are able abundant to inclement my blow
legs. I'm starting to absolutely like this car.
Looking about and adjusting the mirrors, I acquisition that afterimage
is abundant out of every window. Bigger than the XJL's. The alone above
blindspot it acquired by the actual advanced C-pillars. Thankfully,
there's blindsport ecology that vibrates my armchair and ancestor up on
my HUD if I'm about to side-swipe anything.
The fourteen-speaker Bose Surround Sound Arrangement is great. I've
consistently been a fan of Bose, and they don't abort in the XTS. The
audio is crisp, clean, bright and affluent on all channels and all
ranges. I'd say its calmly as acceptable as the Jaguar's Meridian
system, admitting not absolutely as powerful. The accomplished shebang
is controlled with Cadillac's CUE ball arrangement via the ample
touchscreen or through iPod-like capacitive "buttons". It in actuality
looks air-conditioned and works great. It's automated and simple to
navigate, but I'm acting on it's adeptness to plan able-bodied
afterwards 70,000 or 80,000 miles. Time will tell.
The XTS has a six-speed auto that is controlled through (hold on to your
hats) a approved accessory selector. No arced bulge or push-button
here. Somehow, accepting a solid, tight, accustomed accessory selector
is gratifying. Ambience off, you anon apprehension that the XTS could
cope able-bodied with addition thirty or forty horses and a few added
gears. It's by no agency sluggish, but one wouldn't alarm it sprightly.
Get the RPMs up accomplished 4,000 and into the torque butter-zone of
5,200 and the car will abscond forth confidently. As I said, this
accurate car is front-wheel-drive. So, if putting the pedal down, I
accepted far added torque steer. In fact, there was very, actual little.
The XTS accelerated in a beeline band with no absolute acclimation bare
on the council wheel.
Driving down the alley at speed, and the Cadillac XTS Platinum is
assured and smooth. It in no way even accidentally resembles the old DTS
or STS. Those were bendable boats demography every bang and about-face
like after-effects on the accessible water. The XTS is bland and
adequate and by no agency wallow-y acknowledgment to the
Magnetorheological shocks.
In the turns the XTS will hit 0.83 g. It's actual blessed in the curves.
I had no advisedly about blame it up to (and in some cases past) its
limit. Council is quick and absolute with 2.6 turns lock-to-lock. The
big Brembo brakes are agnate to those on the CTS-V and abrade dispatch
off very, actual efficiently. Stopping ambit from 60 to 0 is 116 feet.
The full-color heads-up affectation is decidedly bright and gives just
the appropriate advice after getting distracting. Basically the 2013
Cadillac XTS is the best the new brand of Cadillac has to offer. It's
adequate if you're a passenger, even if you're in the aback with your 40
inches of legroom. It's absorbing if you're the driver. And, maxed out
at just over $60,000 it's a amazing amount for the dollar.
Verdict
So, basically, which is better, the 2013 Jaguar XJL Supercharged or the
2013 Cadillac XTS Platinum? Both are the best representation of their
corresponding brand's awakening whos designs attempt were anniversary
spearheaded by a mid-size auto (Jaguar XF and Cadillac CTS). Both are
big, actual able-bodied able affluence sedans. Unfortunately, it's a
breach verdict. I like the autogenous bigger on the XJL. I like the
exoteric bigger on the XTS. The XJL has a bigger drive and performs far
better. The XTS is $40k cheaper. I could buy an XTS and a acclimated
Lotus Elise for the amount of the Jaguar. It all boils down to this: If
you wish a big, fast, astounding auto and money is no object, get the
Jag. If you wish a big, comfortable, astounding auto and accept a
"limited" budget, get the Caddy. You in actuality can't go amiss either
way.
Back-to-Back Specs
2013 Jaguar XJL Supercharged:
Price: $92,600 ($105,250 as tested)
Engine: 5.0 Liter Supercharged V8
Horsepower: 470
Torque: 424 lb-ft at 5,500
0-60 MPH: 4.9 seconds
Top Speed: 155 mph
Skidpad: 0.88 g
Wheelbase: 111.7 inches
Length: 202.0 inches
Width: 74.6 inches
Height: 57.0 inches
Cargo Volume: 15.2 cubic-feet
Curb Weight: 4,191 pounds
Fuel Economy: 15 City / 23 Highway
2013 Cadillac XTS Platinum:
Price: $59,080 ($62,470 as tested)
Engine: 3.6 Liter V6
Horsepower: 304
Torque: 264 lb-ft at 5,200
0-60 MPH: 6.8 seconds
Top Speed: 130 mph
Skidpad: 0.83 g
Wheelbase: 124.3 inches
Length: 206.6 inches
Width: 72.9 inches
Height: 59.4 inches
Cargo Volume: 18 cubic-feet
Curb Weight: 4,006 pounds
Fuel Economy: 17 City / 28 Highway
No comments:
Post a Comment