Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2007 Jaguar XK VS 2007 Maserati Coup� Near Scottsdale, AZ

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jaguar XK Coupe are height adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer height adjustable seat belts.

The XK has standard tall side airbags which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and front passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. The Maserati Coupé doesn't offer side airbag protection for the head.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XK deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Maserati Coupé’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XK has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The XK has a standard Reverse Park Control to help warn drivers about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind their vehicle. This collision warning system uses radar to detect obstacles behind the rear bumper. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer a rear collision sensor.

Both the XK and the Maserati Coupé have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The XK’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Maserati Coupé’s (6/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

Jaguar pays for scheduled maintenance on the XK for 1 year and 12000 miles. Jaguar will pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance. Maserati doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Coupé.

There are almost 4 times as many Jaguar dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier to get service under the XK’s warranty.

The Maserati Coupé’s redline is at 7600 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The XK has a 6150 to 6500 RPM redline.

The XKR’s standard 4.2 supercharged V8 produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 333) than the Maserati Coupé’s 4.2 DOHC V8.

For more instantaneous acceleration and better engine flexibility in any gear, the XK’s engines produce their peak horsepower at lower RPM’s than the Maserati Coupé:

On the EPA test cycle the XK8 gets better fuel mileage than the Maserati Coupé SMG (18 city/27 hwy vs. 12 city/19 hwy).

For better stopping power the XKR’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Maserati Coupé:

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The XK has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The XK stops shorter than the Maserati Coupé:

For better traction, the XK has larger front standard tires than the Maserati Coupé (245/45R18 vs. 235/40R18). The XK’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Maserati Coupé (F:255/35R20 & R:285/30R20 vs. F:235/40R18 & R:265/35R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XK offers optional 20 inch wheels. The Maserati Coupé’s largest wheels are only 19 inches.

The XK has a standard tire pressure monitoring system, which will alert the driver to a drop in tire pressure before damage to the tire or an accident might occur. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer a low tire pressure warning system.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the XK can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The XK has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XK’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Maserati Coupé (108.3 vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XK is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Maserati Coupé.

The XKR Coupe handles at .89 G’s, while the Maserati Coupé pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XK Coupe goes through Road & Track’s slalom 2.8 MPH faster than the Maserati Coupé (67.5 vs. 64.7 MPH).

For better maneuverability, the XK’s turning circle is 6.1 feet tighter than the Maserati Coupé’s (33.3 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The XK Coupe has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Maserati Coupé.

The XK’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Maserati Coupé’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XK has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XK has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer cornering lights. The XK also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The XK’s standard power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Maserati Coupé’s standard power mirror controls are on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

The XK’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The XK’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the XK offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Maserati Coupé doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Wireless connectivity is standard on the XK, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Maserati doesn’t offer wireless connectivity on the Maserati Coupé.