BMW 5 Series vs. Jaguar XF: which is better?
The Jaguar XF and BMW 5 Series are both great cars, but which comes out on top when it comes to style, practicality and reliability?
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There’s an endless choice of luxurious saloons available, and that number looks to be increasing with the emergence of new electric models.
However, if you’re after a sporty and engaging drive without compromising on style and luxury, the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF are great options.
Both models have been around for a long time, so you can buy new or used to suit your budget.
Let us guide you through some of the key considerations when looking at one of these.
Styling: BMW 5 Series vs. Jaguar XF
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While some other premium saloons are designed to look smart and elegant, both the BMW 5 Series and the Jaguar XF take a sportier approach.
Both use sharp lines and angles, striking alloy wheel designs and wide-looking bumpers to convey that sense of sportiness.
The 5 Series looks much more like a conventional saloon. While there’s no arguing that the XF is also a saloon, it also blends aspects of a coupé’s design into its shape.
What are the Jaguar XF and BMW 5 Series like to drive?
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Fortunately, both are great to drive because of their manufacturers’ desire to make them sporty. To start with, both are rear-wheel-drive, which makes them much more engaging and confidence-inspiring through corners and from a standing start.
They’ve most commonly been available with a range of 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre diesel engines, so you’ll have no hardship finding one of these used if you’re after something pacey yet economical.
They’re also available with similar-sized petrol engines, but fuel economy takes a hit because they’re fairly heavy vehicles.
For the ultimate performance, the 510hp XFR, 530hp BMW M550i and 625hp BMW M5 all use large V8 engines, but you’ll struggle to see more than 20mpg from these.
Does the BMW 5 Series or the Jaguar XF have the better interior?
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While both models clearly have high-quality interiors with top-notch materials used throughout their cabins, their designs and features differ slightly.
In the hope of putting an emphasis on driving, the BMW 5 Series has a minimalist interior with many of the car’s features controlled through the excellent ‘iDrive’ system.
The XF, on the other hand, has a more traditional and luxurious feel and is much more akin to the interior of a Mercedes E-Class in terms of materials used.
Because both are rear-wheel-drive (or in some cases, four-wheel-drive), a bump in the floor – which hides the parts that transfer the power from the engine in the front to the wheels in the back – makes legroom a little bit of a challenge.
The same is true of many cars in this category, including the Mercedes E-Class, but the Audi A6 suffers less because it’s front-wheel-drive.
Boot space and practicality: Jaguar XF vs. BMW 5 Series
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The Jaguar XF has a 540-litre boot, which is 10 litres larger than the BMW 5 Series’ 530-litre boot. This is about as much space as you’d find in most key rivals.
While saloons are often criticised for their narrow boot openings, because these models are reasonably large cars, so are their boot openings. They’re not as useable as hatchbacks, but they’re still pretty practical.
They’re both also available with 40:20:40 split folding rear seats, unlike most competitors. This allows each rear seat to be folded down individually to create the best balance of passenger and cargo space.
Jaguar XF vs. BMW 5 Series reliability
Reliability is an important factor to consider when choosing a car, whether you’re after a family motor or something more stylish.
BMW has a reputation for manufacturing reliable cars and often performs better than its key rivals in customer satisfaction surveys.
Jaguar XF owners have, on occasion, been less satisfied with their cars, but it’s worth noting that fewer of these are sold, so the figures can’t be compared equally.
That being said, both carmakers sell their models with three-year warranties and plenty of other coverage options, and taking out a used car warranty plan could give you extra peace of mind when looking at older examples.
It’s worth noting that both were also awarded full five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings, each with excellent adult and child protection scores, which is a further testament to the companies’ commitments to making good products.
Read our BMW 5 Series review
Read our Jaguar XF review
What are the dimensions of the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF?
Neither is particularly small, and you’ll notice their length when bay parking, but the truth is they’re no larger than many other similar cars.
The Jaguar XF is 4,962mm long, 2,089mm wide and 1,456mm tall, so it’s a touch shorter than some other saloons.
The BMW 5 Series is 4,936mm long, 2,126mm wide and 1,479mm tall, which means it’s noticeably wider than the XF.
Jaguar XF vs. BMW 5 Series: which should you buy?
Mechanically, the XF and 5 Series are more similar to one another than some other similar saloons, so picking which is best for you comes down to your preference.
They both have three years of warranty cover and come with a range of powerful and economical engines, but if you’re after something less common, the XF makes a lot of sense.