Mercedes-Benz CL550 vs Jaguar XJL 01/19/2011
The "luxury" designation is a pretty broad category, with many applying the tag to anything above $40,000. From there, however, prices for a vehicle can skyrocket, until the discussion turns to truly elite cars that cost well over $100,000.
The Jaguar XJL and Mercedes-Benz CL550 are two models that are firmly in this upper echelon of the luxury segment. However, even at this high price point, it's still important to determine which offers drivers the better value. The Jaguar XJL and CL550 are only $50 apart, with the XJL coming in at $113,200 and the CL550 at $113,150. It's worth pointing out that the Jaguar comes with an extra year on its warranty, which could be significant, considering that these cars will be costly to repair.
Things aren't exactly even on the performance front, with each engine featuring different strengths. The Jaguar outpaces the Mercedes in terms of horsepower, with 510 hp compared to the CL550's 430. Yet the Mercedes makes up for it in torque, with 516 lb-ft outclassing the Jaguar's 461 lb-ft.
On the interior, most everything comes standard, which should be expected for the price tag. However, the CL550 has a slightly nicer sound system, while the XJL features a rear seat DVD player, something missing on the Mercedes.
In the end, the performance is a bit more balanced on the XJL and the DVD player and extra warranty year makes it slightly more valuable.