Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2011 Jaguar XF VS 2011 BMW 5 Near Scottsdale, AZ

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Jaguar XF 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 BMW 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the XF and the 5 Series Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The XF comes with a full 5 year/50,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24 hour roadside assistance. The 5 Series Sedan’s 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

Jaguar pays for scheduled maintenance on the XF for 1 year longer than BMW pays for maintenance for the 5 Series Sedan (5/50,000 vs. 4/50,000).

The XF has more powerful engines than the 5 Series Sedan:

As tested in Car and Driver the XFR is faster than the 535i Sedan (automatics tested):

For better stopping power the XFR’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 5 Series Sedan:

The XF’s brakes have 31% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the 5 Series Sedan with its standard brakes (774 vs. 590 square inches), so the XF has more braking power available. The XF’s brakes have 10% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the 535i Sedan (774 vs. 701 square inches).

The XF stops shorter than the 5 Series Sedan:

For better traction, the XFR’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 5 Series Sedan (F:255/35R20 & R:285/30R20 vs. 245/45R18).

The XF’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 528i Sedan’s standard 55 series tires. The XFR’s 255/35R20 front and 285/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the 5 Series Sedan’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XF has standard 18 inch wheels. Smaller 17 inch wheels are standard on the 528i Sedan. The XF’s optional 20 inch wheels are larger than the 19 inch wheels optional on the 5 Series Sedan.

The XF has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the 5 Series Sedan, it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some models of the 5 Series Sedan don’t even offer run-flats.

The XFR handles at .89 G’s, while the 535i Sedan pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XFR executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 550i Sedan (25.9 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.1 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XF’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the 5 Series Sedan’s (37.7 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The design of the Jaguar XF amounts to more than styling. The XF has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is lower than the 5 Series Sedan (.29 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the XF get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the XFR is quieter than the 535i Sedan (75 vs. 78 dB).

The XF has .1 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the 5 Series Sedan.

The XF has a much larger trunk than the 5 Series Sedan (17.7 vs. 14 cubic feet).