Jaguar XE... the closest BMW 3 Series rival?

XE seems like a good rival, but I also think that the ATS is a great car.

Why do you think that the XE is the best rival over these other cars? Is the 3-series the best in the first place?

For the reason that Jaguar's value's are more in line with BMW's than those other brands, and the XE being on the platform that it's on makes it even better for this, a true sports sedan and even a real drivers car.

Sure Jag has the closest rival if we ignore the C class and the A4...

to your knowledge how close do those come to being a 3 series competitor? how would you rank them?

It's all subjective though. I wouldn't choose the 3-series as my first choice from the list we have going here. I'd rather the Cadillac, or the Jag, or the Lexus. BMW just doesn't seem very original any more. Every doctor and lawyer has one of these. No exclusivity.

Winger said:

It's all subjective though. I wouldn't choose the 3-series as my first choice from the list we have going here. I'd rather the Cadillac, or the Jag, or the Lexus. BMW just doesn't seem very original any more. Every doctor and lawyer has one of these. No exclusivity.

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Why would you go for the Cadillac over the BMW?

3 series is still the benchmark, even when they stretched it and went cab-rearward, they still retained the "sport' in sport-sedan. Then MB went cab-rearward with the new C, but put the emphasis squarely on lux, not sport. The A-4 is getting long in the tooth, so I would expect to see (since they have been in the Beemer's rear window for years now) a sportier and more cab-rearward redesign. Jag has it just right with what I see so far in the XE. Customers will expect lux from Jag and they will also get all this new tech, a completely different type of "sport" design, more XF coupe' like body, with all aluminum parts to boot. If the interior has plenty of F type cues, Jag is going to have a seriously big hit on their hands. Can you say Jag-u-ahhhhrrr?

Kingpin said:

to your knowledge how close do those come to being a 3 series competitor? how would you rank them?

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Depends on what you want. If its Lux the 3 series is a competitor to the C-class as it clearly leads the segment in lux. If its Tech and differentiation from ghastly people its the A4, yet the A4 is becoming just as ghastly so its a lateral move. The ATS doesn't do anything better than the 3 series, so sure you could go Cadillac but for what? The new IS is downright ugly, the Q50 is simply ponderous and unimpressive.

XE is a meld of Merc lux with a heaping dose of sporty, but as always it comes down to what you're expecting for your dollars.