New Audi A6 vs used Jaguar XJ: which is best?
An ultra-efficient new Audi A6 is a fine luxury car, but could a used Jaguar XJ with nicer driving dynamics be a better choice for the same money?...
Are you the sort to project an air of ruthless efficiency, or are you more inclined to display your financial success to all onlookers? If you’re in the former camp, you’ll probably be interested in the latest Audi A6. A luxury express whose engine uses a subtle mild-hybrid system to boost fuel economy without compromising performance.
If you’re in the latter group, a lightly used Jaguar XJ will probably be right up your street. It’ll certainly get tongues wagging because it came with a hefty price tag when new, and, at just over 5.2 meters in length, it’s a big old beast that’s sure to impress. Little do they know, though, that you can pick up a 2019 XJ for the same target price as an entry-level A6.
But, which of these two luxury cars is the better choice overall? Read on to find out.
Audi A6 40 TDI Sport [Tech pack] auto List Price: £40,870 Target price: £36,276 Official fuel economy: 62.8mpg (NEDC) Emissions: 117g/km CO2 Power: 201bhp 0-62mph: 8.1sec Top speed: 153mph
Jaguar XJ 3.0d V6 Premium Luxury auto Price new: £66,360 Price today: £36,000* Official fuel economy: 40.4mpg (NEDC) Emissions: 185g/km CO2 Power: 306bhp 0-62mph: 5.9sec Top speed: 155mph
*Price today is based on a 2019 model with below average mileage and a full service history
New Audi A6 vs used Jaguar XJ – interior & equipment
Inside the A6 you’ll find a crisp, modern dashboard layout that’s dominated by touchscreens rather than physical buttons. In a standard Sport model, you get an 8.8in screen up top, but we’ve gone for the technology package that upgrades this to 10.1in, adds wireless phone charging and Audi’s innovative 12.3in virtual cockpit display that replaces the analogue dials with a configurable digital screen.
Now, all these screens aren’t necessarily a good thing; using the ones that control the air conditioning and infotainment system require you to look away from the road, and can be tricky to use while driving. However, the virtual cockpit allows you to use some elements of the sat nav and audio system through the physical controls on the steering wheel.
This isn’t so much of an issue in the Jaguar because its design dates back to 2010, and, in some ways, the knobs and dials it uses are far easier to get on with. Less so is the very outdated touchscreen infotainment system; it's slow to respond, has confusing menus and doesn’t come with the latest smartphone capabilities like the Audi does.
But, the Jag – particularly a Premium Luxury model – does come with more toys: 14-way electric front seats with electric adjustment for the steering wheel, heated and cooled front and rear seats with full leather, an upgraded Meridian sound system, sat nav, four-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, an electric tailgate, front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera, LED headlights, a heated windscreen… the list goes on. It also feels far more welcoming with leather covering every surface and has a more interesting, curved design to it. There’s even some tasteful wood and a posh clock.
The Audi is by no means spartan. Sport models get plenty of equipment as standard: sat nav, front and rear parking sensors with a camera, and LED headlights; it just doesn’t have all the high-end luxury features of the Jaguar. Both come with automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning.
New Audi A6 vs used Jaguar XJ – space & practicality
Unfortunately for the Jaguar, the Audi is the more practical car of the two, even though the A6 is shorter (4.9m compared with the 5.2m XJ). This is in part due to the rear-wheel drive layout of the XJ, which steals valuable interior room to make way for the extra mechanical bits and bobs sending the engine’s power to the rear wheels.
You won’t be short of space in the front of the XJ, although the door pockets and cupholders could be more accommodating. Head room is compromised for those in the back due to the sloping roofline, while the boot is pretty pokey for such a large car, and the opening is rather narrow.
The Audi A6 soundly beats the Jaguar XJ in all areas, plus it comes with a standard 40:20:40 split folding rear seat to aid your Ikea excursions. We would say that the pedals in the A6 are offset slightly to the right, but with a standard automatic gearbox, you shouldn’t notice it too much.
