Which of these saloons will prove the most appealing to corporate climbers looking for a continental ride?
It may be cliche, but a junior executive saloon is still considered by many to be a success symbol – especially if it happens to be a model from an established European marque.
One of the most recognisable models in this segment is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The current model, which was launched three years ago, is a leap over its predecessor, especially in terms of space and refinement. Further enhancing the car’s “star” appeal is its design, which strongly resembles that of its larger and more expensive E-Class and S-Class siblings.
Also a notch above the preceding model is the Audi A4. Apart from offering the feel of a bigger saloon, the A4 is brimming with advanced features and promises a sure-footed drive, thanks to its standard quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Taking on the C200 and the A4 in this contest is the Jaguar XE. Like the A4, this feline has an understated design, but given the British company’s reputation for sportiness, the XE promises to delight its driver while keeping its competitors on their toes.
Which of these contenders would appeal the most to the rising corporate climber? Continue reading to discover what we think.
LAST WORD
Corporate climbers may not fall in love with the Jaguar XE at first sight, but for enthusiasts, even a short drive in this feline will prove convincing. The XE’s responsive engine and 8-speed gearbox are a fine pairing. Combine that with the saloon’s precise steering and equally fine handling, and you have a car that could run rings around the A4 (no pun intended) and C200.
But while the XE’s handling is beyond reproach, its missteps aren’t. The XE’s more compact cabin vis-à-vis its two rivals here could have been overlooked, if not for the fact that the materials used for the lower dashboard and B-pillars don’t reflect the model’s upmarket position. That said, the XE’s under-$200k price tag should attract its fair share of buyers.
The Audi A4 ticked nearly all the right boxes in this story. Its interior is not only solidly built, but also well-equipped, with a stunning virtual cockpit and MMI interface. The overall spaciousness of the backseat makes up for the short backrests.
That said, while the all-wheel-drive system and muscular powertrain are big pluses, the car doesn’t feel as agile or as responsive as the XE. But the A4’s biggest bugbear has to be its steep price. At $236,200, it costs $26.3k and a massive $51.2k more than the C200 and XE respectively.
Even more appealing than the XE and A4 is the Mercedes-Benz C200. While not as powerful as the other two contenders, the C200 has the edge in refinement, with the quietest engine and silkiest ride. And while its cabin isn’t as well-made as the A4’s, it nonetheless feels elegant and luxurious.
Rising stars of the corporate world who want a vehicle that symbolises their success are likely to be drawn to this starry saloon.
AUDI A4 2.0
ENGINE
Audi’s turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder with 252bhp and 370Nm is the most muscular and delivers the fastest century sprint time.
COCKPIT
Most minimalist and modern cockpit has the neatest layout and the tightest construction. The infotainment system, which has a pair of SD card slots and USB ports, offers the best connectivity, too.
BACKSEAT
Roomiest and most comfortable thanks to its third climate zone, although taller passengers won’t like the backrests, which are the shortest of the group.
METERS
Audi’s virtual cockpit looks the coolest and has the sharpest graphics to boot, but the controls take some getting used to.
BOOT
A4’s 480-litre volume is the most flexible, thanks to the 40:20:40 split-folding backrests and easy-to-reach tethering points. However, the A4 is the only one without a powered boot lid.
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged
CAPACITY 1984cc
BORE X STROKE 82.5mm x 92.8mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 9.6:1
MAX POWER 252bhp at 5000-6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 370Nm at 1600-4500rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 166.9bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS All
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 5.8 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h
CONSUMPTION 16.1km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 141g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
REAR Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Pirelli Cinturato P7
SIZE 245/40 R18
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4726mm
WIDTH 1842mm
HEIGHT 1427mm
WHEELBASE 2820mm
KERB WEIGHT 1510kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.6m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $236,200 (no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km
+ SNAZZIEST COCKPIT, MOST POTENT POWERPLANT, BEST BUILD QUALITY
– HIGHEST ASKING PRICE, LEAST PRACTICAL CABIN, SHORTEST REAR BACKRESTS
BEST IN PERFORMANCE
MERCEDES-BENZ C200 2.0
ENGINE
Mercedes-Benz’s turbocharged 2-litre 4-pot with 184bhp and 300Nm is the smoothest and quietest engine here.
COCKPIT
Most elegant cockpit of the three is also the most practical, thanks to its generously sized doorbins. The front seats are the cushiest and offer the widest range of adjustments, too.
BACKSEAT
Roomiest and most comfortable thanks to its third climate zone, although taller passengers won’t like the backrests, which are the shortest of the group.
METERS
Audi’s virtual cockpit looks the coolest and has the sharpest graphics to boot, but the controls take some getting used to.
BOOT
C200’s 480-litre boot is the most convenient as it’s the only one with backrest release levers and a foldable crate, which is great for produce. The boot lid has both close and close+lock functions, unlike the XE, which only has the former.
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged
CAPACITY 1991cc
BORE X STROKE 83mm x 92mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 9.8:1
MAX POWER 184bhp at 5500rpm
MAX TORQUE 300Nm at 1200-4000rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 125.6bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 7-speed automatic with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS Rear
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 7.3 seconds
TOP SPEED 235km/h
CONSUMPTION 17.2km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 134g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT Multi-link, coil springs
REAR Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Continental ContiSportContact 5 SSR
SIZE 225/50 R17
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 7
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESP
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4686mm
WIDTH 1810mm
HEIGHT 1442mm
WHEELBASE 2840mm
KERB WEIGHT 1465kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.2m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $209,888 (after $5k CEVS rebate)
WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km
+ CUSHIEST FRONT SEATS, MOST PRACTICAL CABIN, BEST REFINEMENT
– NO SAT-NAV, BACKSEAT LACKS THIGH SUPPORT, LEAST POWERFUL MOTOR
BEST IN REFINEMENT
JAGUAR XE 2.0
ENGINE
Jaguar’s turbocharged 2-litre inline-4 with 200bhp and 320Nm is the most responsive of the group.
COCKPIT
Sportiest space of the three feels the most coupe-like, thanks to the wraparound dashboard trim and precise steering. The Jag’s infotainment, while not the snazziest-looking, is actually the most intuitive.
BACKSEAT
Least spacious and only suited to ferrying two adults, but the surprisingly soft cushioning means both occupants will be comfier in here than in the C200.
METERS
Jaguar’s gauges look relatively ordinary, but navigating the menus here is easier than in either of the other two cars.
BOOT
XE’s 455-litre boot has the lowest internal height, making it the least useful for stowing bulky items. Like the A4, it also has eight tethering points, but half of them are located too far inside.
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged
CAPACITY 1999cc
BORE X STROKE 87.5mm x 83.1mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10:1
MAX POWER 200bhp at 5500rpm
MAX TORQUE 320Nm at 1750-4000rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 130.7bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS Rear
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 7.7 seconds
TOP SPEED 237km/h
CONSUMPTION 13.3km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 179g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT Double wishbones, coil springs
REAR Integral-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
SIZE 225/50 R17
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6
TRACTION AIDS ABS, DSC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4672mm
WIDTH 1967mm
HEIGHT 1416mm
WHEELBASE 2835mm
KERB WEIGHT 1530kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.3m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $184,999 (no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km
+ MOST PRECISE HELM, NIMBLEST HANDLING, MOST USER- FRIENDLY INFOTAINMENT
– LESS UPMARKET INTERIOR, LEAST REFINED ENGINE, SMALLEST BOOT
BEST IN HANDLING
PHOTOS TAN MENG CHOON
ART DIRECTION SEAN LEE
