Those looking to buy a long wheelbase car will find that the Jaguar XJL bears little resemblance to what they normally get – the old XJ included.
When comparing it to a BMW 7-Series long wheelbase edition, a 750Li, the much more restrained German saloon is overshadowed by the very flamboyant Brit, both inside and out, as well as when it comes to the overall driving and ownership experience, as MotorTrend found out recently when pitting the two cars against one another
The BMW, now a little bit better looking after a 2012 refresh, is a very serious yet competent car, as all of the Bavarian automaker’s offerings are. However, the reviewer finds it “not special enough,” reminding him too much of a big 3-Series inside. It’s got all of the bells and whistles and gadgets that one would expect to see in the top of the range BMW, but it perhaps lacks a bit of personality, and character.
The Jag on the other hand is a much more refreshing car to look at and experience. It is a massive departure for Jaguar, when it comes to the shape of their sedans, and while some don’t like the new design direction the brand has adopted for this model, it is a much more noticeable car than the German. In addition, while its engine is thirstier, the lightweight construction help the car achieves great acceleration numbers. MT says that with good summer tires, you’re looking at a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of just over 4 seconds, which is impressive.
Scroll down and watch the video to get the definitive verdict on these two cars, both of which have their own appeal and are not necessarily meant for the same people, despite fighting it out in the same market sector.
By Andrei Nedelea
VIDEO