Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2013 Jaguar XF VS 2013 BMW 5 Near Scottsdale, AZ

The XF’s optional front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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.

The XF offers an optional Intelligent Emergency Brake, which uses forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The 5 Series Sedan offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature which would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

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

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 XF’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 5 Series Sedan:

The XF stops much shorter than the 5 Series Sedan:

For better traction, the XF has larger standard tires than the 5 Series Sedan (235/35R20 vs. 225/55R17). The XFR/Supercharged’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 5 Series Sedan (F:255/35R20 & R:285/30R20 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

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/Supercharged’s 255/35R20 front and 285/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the 535i/540i’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear 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 535i/540i.

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.

The XFR handles at .89 G’s, while the 528i Sedan pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XFR goes through Road & Track’s slalom 2.8 MPH faster than the 528i Sedan (67.2 vs. 64.4 MPH).

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).

As tested by Road & Track, the interior of the XFR is quieter than the 550i Sedan:

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).