Jaguar XE vs BMW 3 Series vs Audi A4: here's our winner.

 

The German powerhouses: Mercedes, BMW and Audi, have been dominating the compact executive saloon market. It’s been a while since they’ve been challenged and now, the Jaguar XE is bringing on a fight.

 

Having being built from the ground up, the new Jaguar XE has been constructed with lightweight aluminium which has not only reduced the weight of the car, but also emissions and fuel consumption. In isolation, the Jaguar XE is a great car but let’s see how it stacks up against the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4.

 

Jaguar XE vs Audi A4

Despite Audi offering a desirable image, robust mechanicals and a pleasurable driving experience, it is at a slight disadvantage due to its dated looks, especially pre-2016 models.

As it stands on its own, the A4 is a competent and stable car. But it’s the S4/ RS4 variants that will entertain you with the sheer grunt of the engines.

Next-generation models will be even lighter and will feature a decent range of engines.

Back in 2016, the A4 received an updated infotainment system which didn’t feature in older A4s. It wouldn’t hold a candle to the infotainment found in the XE with regard to the ease-of-use and screen sharpness. Critics in the UK have noted that the Audi rotary controller is still favourable to any touch-screen when on the move.

To compare the new Jaguar XE, that just got updated in February 2019, with the current A4 wouldn’t be fair considering the difference in generations. If you’re looking between these two cars then the XE makes for a more compelling choice. However, you’re likely to get far bigger discounts on an A4.

 

Jaguar XE vs BMW 3 Series

Those buyers shopping for a luxurious and refined interior but also wanting a thrilling driving experience have, and for many years now, been turning to BMW. But now the competition seems to be catching up fast and critics have said that the XE comes very close to outdoing the BMW 3 Series in terms of driving fun and satisfaction. With regard to cornering poise, the 3 Series has long been seen as the leader while the XE has the edge on comfort. So as a shopper, when considering these cars go test drive them back-to-back if possible in order to get a feel of this.

When in search of outright performance, the Jaguar’s 335hp supercharged V6 petrol is one engine to consider while BMW’s M3 (twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-six) puts out 425hp.

BMW’s 3 Series is not considered a powerhouse for no reason and since its latest update, it’s only become an even better model. The 3 Series is still one of the best cars on the market, is available with loads of options and is fairly inexpensive to run.

 

Verdict

About the previous generation BMW 3 Series, it could be had in a variation of shapes such as the regular 3 Series sedan, the 4 Series Coupe, the 3 Series Touring (not available here), the 4 Series Gran Coupe, and the 3 Series GT as all these cars used the same basic car underneath. Even Audi offers the A4 sedan, the A5 coupe (three-door), the A4 Avant, and the A5 Sportback (five-door). Whereas with the XE, the only flaw is that it’s only available in one body style. End of the day, it all comes down to your personal preference and what you seek in a car and how much you’re willing to spend as these three cars are all equally brilliant in their own right.

 

Recommended: Infotainment Comparison: BMW 3 Series vs Jaguar XE vs Lexus IS

 

Read more Jaguar XE Car News and Advice