Jaguar XE is no match for the A4

BeagleKCH · May 8, 2017

My A4 is in for a new rear bumper as the result of someone driving into the back of me. I've been given an XE in the meantime. Making every allowance for the fact that it's a manual and less powerful than my A4, the 2 do not compare favourably.

The driving position (even with adjustment) is unnaturally low. The touch interface for Nav, Media, Phone etc. is nowhere near as good as the MMI. Everything build-wise is a division behind the A4. Knobs feel like they might fall off and the general fit and finish appears less solid. On the plus side it has a heated steering wheel and to be fair, does drive quite nicely. Whereas I had been looking at the prospect of an XE as a possible post Brexit alternative, should German cars become prohibitively expensive, I now will have to go back to the drawing board. It's no match. The motoring press would have you believe otherwise but a day in one is quite enough for me.

V6_Man · May 8, 2017

If only you knew the horror stories in one of their most recent model released and the cost savings the team was asked to make on materials etc you wouldn't even take it as a courtesy car let alone think about owning one.

White B8.5 S4 MRC Stage 2

Silver B7 A4

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Simonb1975 · May 8, 2017

Fair enough but you have managed to rubbish the motoring press in one go. I like the look of the A4 and it ticks many boxes and I'll most probably have one be it an A or An S model. But it ain't comparable as a drivers car to a rear wheel driver.

The fit and finish on the A4 is superb, that's Audi actual mantra although bullet proof its not turning out to be and less said about the armrest the better.

I find the XE has its good points and bad, as does every other car including one with an Audi badge on.

BeagleKCH · May 8, 2017

I couldn't actually get the XE armrest to close and stay closed, unless I made sure that there was absolutely nothing pertruding from under the rest.

Simonb1975 · May 8, 2017

I'm sure you realise i'm refering to the armrest audi decided to make too small to properly cover the storage underneath.

Fozzie1960 · May 8, 2017

Simonb1975 said:
I'm sure you realise i'm refering to the armrest audi decided to make too small to properly cover the storage underneath.

I think being petty springs to mind.

Simonb1975 · May 8, 2017

Guess that depends on who

Fozzie1960 · May 8, 2017

Hmm......

Jimbbobw1977 · May 8, 2017

Remember that motoring journalists test cars for 1000's of miles. You will be used to your A4 by now how everything works and feels. Climbing into a different car you can't just base it on a short drive for comparison to be able to compare the two side...

Both will have ok s and minus points.

Interior quality and feel is always going to perceived. One thing Audi excel at and is known for is the key touch points on a vehicle looking of high quality, that does not actually mean it is and comes down to perception.

However, for me personally, I'm happy with a nice interior as long as the engineering and mechanicals lasts the time I have a car.

Sadly, this seems to be an area that VAG seem to be starting to lag behind in. I read numerous car forums, and albeit people come to forums with complaintext you do see repetitive one.

It does make me wonder at times if VAG have really had to tighten their purse strings so much post emissions law suits that they have had to cut costs massively on what they produce whilst still maintaining the image of a quality product and the bits you don't see have had the cost cutting.

Chinese auto gear boxes?

My experience with our 8P cab is rattles and poor reliability.

I'm not having a dig it's just my thoughts..

Kestrel · May 8, 2017

Simonb1975 said:
I'm sure you realise i'm refering to the armrest audi decided to make too small to properly cover the storage underneath.

To me, that is the one and only thing that spoils the interior.
Far from being `petty` its a real shame.
I would love to meet the designer who considered that a good idea.

BeagleKCH · May 9, 2017

Jimbbobw1977 said:
Remember that motoring journalists test cars for 1000's of miles. You will be used to your A4 by now how everything works and feels. Climbing into a different car you can't just base it on a short drive for comparison to be able to compare the two side...

Both will have ok s and minus points.

Interior quality and feel is always going to perceived. One thing Audi excel at and is known for is the key touch points on a vehicle looking of high quality, that does not actually mean it is and comes down to perception.

However, for me personally, I'm happy with a nice interior as long as the engineering and mechanicals lasts the time I have a car.

Sadly, this seems to be an area that VAG seem to be starting to lag behind in. I read numerous car forums, and albeit people come to forums with complaintext you do see repetitive one.

It does make me wonder at times if VAG have really had to tighten their purse strings so much post emissions law suits that they have had to cut costs massively on what they produce whilst still maintaining the image of a quality product and the bits you don't see have had the cost cutting.

Chinese auto gear boxes?

My experience with our 8P cab is rattles and poor reliability.

I'm not having a dig it's just my thoughts..

Some very fair points there. When I first posted I was alive to the fact that I was comparing the unfamiliar with the familiar. That said, 8 months in to owning my A4 even if I've got a 100 mile run ahead, I still get a kick. No small part of that is the exceptional interior.

@Kestrel: Given the problems I had with the XE's armrest (which were apparent within half a mile) and given the number of power points / ports under the A4's armrest, I suspect the smaller size of the A4's rest is absolutely deliberate. If you power a phone, iPod, and particularly an e-cigarette from those ports, you may need to be able to run the charging wire out of the rest, through the gap. You can't do that in the XE with the armrest shut, and the thing is continuously bouncing up under your left arm. There is no corresponding 12v port under the Aircon in the XE as there is in the A4, so the only charging point is under the rest.

Fozzie1960 · May 9, 2017

Actually my last company car before I retired from BT last year was an XE, which I had for nine months. Yes it was a great car to drive and has the edge on looks over the A4, but the build quality is light years behind the A4. Knowing what I know about both cars I would choose the A4 over XE every time.

wideboybloke · May 9, 2017

My problem with the A4 armrest is that it's too short. While driving, only my elbow can rest on it whereas I'd like to get a bit of my forearm on it as well. I quite agree that there needs to be a gap between the armrest and the storage underneath, so I don't have a problem with that aspect.

Kestrel · May 9, 2017

Regarding the need for the gap at the front of the A4's armrest...I was in a car recently where the designers had a little cutout each side of the rest allowing a power lead to exit. Don't know which car though!
In actual fact, apart from the gap I think the armrest is terrific. I had a Skoda Superb a while back and when I moved on to my next car (Mazda6) I really missed the ability to raise and lower the height.

Simonb1975 · May 9, 2017

Dont get me wrong apart from the armrest and large airvent everything else is fine. These are design issues i can live with.

I agree with jim though. I think there has been some cost cutting away from the line of sight which will/has let down the absolute quality levels.

longp2 · May 9, 2017

Sorry but.....who gives a f@@k about armrests!

Cup holders, however........

cuke2u · May 9, 2017

Cupholders are a waste of storage space and I have never used them, for any purpose. The ones in the rear armrest are interesting from a techies point of view...

Simonb1975 · May 9, 2017

Cupholders rank down their with sunglass storage :welcoming:

holly35 · May 9, 2017

Fozzie1960 said:
I think being petty springs to mind.

some just have to find something to moan about.....

Fozzie1960 · May 9, 2017

holly35 said:
some just have to find something to moan about.....

Yep, and now we have on to cup holders, sunglasses storage, nothing to do with the original post.

holly35 · May 9, 2017

Ive been in all the top executive makes and personally i think none can match the quality of an Audi interior,none,to complain of cost cutting to the A4 interior quality is a bit extreme.You could argue all manufacturers make cost cutting,its how its implimented that counts.....
Im always interested to read of comparisons of "real"drivers cars and rear wheel drive and on the limit handling etc ...Lets get real who wants to drive like this anyway? Traffic congestion,road works,pot holes,bad driving all point to driving in a more restrained way .....
Been in the new XE and its a step down in interior quality and feels a cheaper product regardless of what the badge suggests.

cuke2u · May 9, 2017

Fozzie1960 said:
Yep, and now we have on to cup holders, sunglasses storage, nothing to do with the original post.

Or maybe some need to get a sense of humour and maybe lighten up a bit. So back on topic, the jag has positives and negatives, as does the A4 particularly in the handling stakes and feedback through the driver controls. The engineering in the steering epas with the Jaguar does put many to shame and shows that this system can be designed correctly unlike many Audi models where the steering has a lack of feel in what the front wheels are doing and road feedback. Horses for courses I guess...

Fozzie1960 · May 9, 2017

cuke2u said:
Or maybe some need to get a sense of humour and maybe lighten up a bit. So back on topic, the jag has positives and negatives, as does the A4 particularly in the handling stakes and feedback through the driver controls. The engineering in the steering epas with the Jaguar does put many to shame and shows that this system can be designed correctly unlike many Audi models where the steering has a lack of feel in what the front wheels are doing and road feedback. Horses for courses I guess...

Don't insult me by saying I don't have a sense of humour and need to lighten up.

BeagleKCH · May 9, 2017

This would have been so much easier if my courtesy car had been a 3 Series or a C Class

V6_Man · May 9, 2017

BeagleKCH said:
This would have been so much easier if my courtesy car had been a 3 Series or a C Class

Better build quality than a Jaguar :hubbahubba:

longp2 · May 10, 2017

Ok, apologies to those of you who didn't appreciate my negative comment regarding armrests.
What I will say, to get the thread back on topic, is that I agree with those who say that the interior quality of the jag is inferior to that of the A4, however, the gap is closing and having recently sat in a mates f-pace I have to say it was a very nice place to be.
Dynamically, i believe that it's down to personal preference, however, I've just picked up my first RWD car after 6 AWD cars and I won't be rushing back.
P.S my new car has fabulous cup holders

V6_Man · May 10, 2017

@longp2, which one did you go for this time. We have a happy forum member who has just put a deposit on a well-maintained S4

@CrypticS3

Re: F-Pace, I completely agree. I think Jaguar has done a really good job on this model.

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longp2 · May 10, 2017

A Ford Focus and....

V6_Man · May 10, 2017

Nice one mate. Really nice car

.
So, if I sell my S4 does it mean I would be able to buy this and a Focus as well. That's good value isn't it

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Kestrel · May 10, 2017

Re: F-Pace, I completely agree. I think Jaguar has done a really good job on this model.

Which is why its World Car Of The Year!

cuke2u · May 10, 2017

Fozzie1960 said:
Don't insult me by saying I don't have a sense of humour and need to lighten up.

Oh do come on, many threads are allowed to meander by the forum moderators and that is what is good about this one. I will be guided by them if we are out of line thanks....

longp2 · May 10, 2017

Tashfeen said:
Nice one mate. Really nice car .
So, if I sell my S4 does it mean I would be able to buy this and a Focus as well. That's good value isn't it

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Yes you can! Just make sure you stand well clear of your better half when you tell them!

V6_Man · May 10, 2017

longp2 said:
Yes you can! Just make sure you stand well clear of your better half when you tell them!

Hahaha. Not sure if it is possible anymore. She has suddenly become more 'interested' in my activities since the remap and me being on the forum on a regular basis.

Jokes aside, it is a really nice car mate. Congrats on the new toy.

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longp2 · May 10, 2017

Tashfeen said:
Hahaha. Not sure if it is possible anymore. She has suddenly become more 'interested' in my activities since the remap and me being on the forum on a regular basis.

Jokes aside, it is a really nice car mate. Congrats on the new toy.

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Thanks very much.

Jimbbobw1977 · May 10, 2017

longp2 said:
A Ford Focus and....View attachment 125181

Where's the Focus picture? The Focus is a genuinely good car, I had a MK3 2.0 161bhp estate and it was s brilliant car. No trim rattles, nothing broke off, 100% reliable, very well equipped with lane departure, AEB, blind spot, xenons, keyless etc had it for 3 1/2 years 60k miles

cuke2u · May 10, 2017

You were very lucky then with your focus, not quite the experience I had..

scotaudiavantman · May 10, 2017

Problem with jaguar is they don't own their own finance companies so the pcp deals are rubbish.

Xe looks better on the outside but not on the inside. I also would find the right racing style position claustrophobic after a while.

Still, expensive plastics are a bit overrated I think. Reviewers go on abou then too much.

Jimbbobw1977 · May 10, 2017

cuke2u said:
You were very lucky then with your focus, not quite the experience I had..

I must of been! It was a great car, fast, economical, great to drive. Saying that though I looked after it.

longp2 · May 11, 2017

Jimbbobw1977 said:
Where's the Focus picture? The Focus is a genuinely good car, I had a MK3 2.0 161bhp estate and it was s brilliant car. No trim rattles, nothing broke off, 100% reliable, very well equipped with lane departure, AEB, blind spot, xenons, keyless etc had it for 3 1/2 years 60k miles

Fair point, I'll get one posted asap! And you are correct the focus is a great car with, dare I say it, far better steering than any of my previous Audis.
The model I bought is a Zetec navigation with a massive 3 cylinder 1.0 litre 125bhp engine, which is ideal for the wife's daily run to the station and the dogs also have plenty of room in the boot. My daughter will also use it to do the pub pick ups!

jimnastics · May 11, 2017

scotaudiavantman said:
Xe looks better on the outside but not on the inside. I also would find the right racing style position claustrophobic after a while.

I love the backend of both the XE anf XF (latter especially) but think the front profile of both look absolutely dull as anything, like 1 or 2 classes below. They look like Japanese lines from 10+ years ago at times! Such a shame as I was excited about the XE, but was gutted when I saw and got in one.

Jaguar XE is no match for the A4

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