Which of these sporty 3-litre limousines offers the most dynamic combination of comfort, space and pace?
Audi A8l 3.0 versus Maserati Quattroporte 3.0 versus Jaguar Xjl 3.0
Flagship limousines can be more than just cushy towkay transport. With powerful engines married to well-sorted chassis and suspensions, they can have a sporty side, too.
One of the sportiest limos available in Singapore is Maserati’s Quattroporte, which has a twin-turbo V6 and a rorty exhaust. Performance aside, this Italian athlete also offers a roomy cabin and advanced infotainment features.
Equally keen to impress towkays is the Jaguar XJL.
Recently updated, this sexy British feline doesn’t seem to have aged, and still does its British best to pamper and cocoon its occupants with its opulent interior whilst delighting its owner (or chauffeur) with a sparkling drive.
Facing its British and Italian rivals here is the Audi A8L. Like the XJL, this German “Transporter” also has a supercharged V6, but it promises greater security on the road with its solid build and all-wheel-drive system (the only contender so equipped).
Which of the three limos in this story would appeal most strongly to towkays who love driving? Continue reading to find out.
AUDI A8L 3.0
“Most Polished Powertrain”
ENGINE
Audi’s supercharged 3-litre with 310bhp and 440Nm is the quietest and most refined of the three V6s.
5.9 seconds (0-100KM/H)
COCKPIT
Most spacious and flexible, with seats that offer a greater range of adjustment to suit more body types. The infotainment system is the least intuitive, though.
BACKSEAT
The group’s roomiest and most comfortable backseat is ideal for towkays who love to lounge, and it also has the most comprehensive set of seat and climate controls.
METERS
A8’s dials and their red needles look sportier than the Quattroporte’s, and the pertinent driving info is the easiest to read at a glance.
MASERATI QUATTROPORTE 3.0
“Most Muscular Motor”
ENGINE
Maserati’s turbocharged 3-litre V6 with 350bhp and 500Nm has the punchiest low-end and sounds the rortiest.
5.5 seconds (0-100KM/H)
COCKPIT
Raciest cockpit has the largest and most accessible paddle-shifters, purposeful alloy pedals and the widest footrest (great for road trips).
BACKSEAT
The most “basic” bench does without adjustable seating and air-con controls. The backrests, however, are the most supportive of the three limousines.
METERS
Quattroporte’s gauges are the least attractive, and adjusting the multi-function display is harder than in the other limos.
JAGUAR XJL 3.0
“Most Responsive Gearbox”
ENGINE
Jaguar’s supercharged 3-litre V6 with 340bhp and 450Nm is the most rev-happy of the three engines.
5.9 seconds (0-100KM/H)
COCKPIT
Feels even more luxurious than the A8 as it has cushier seats and classier wood veneers. The rotary dial that serves as the gearshifter is pretty neat, too.
BACKSEAT
Great for towkays who love a whisky on the go as the cupholders in here are the best, but the bench is less suited to taller towkays as headroom is comparatively low.
METERS
Jaguar’s all-digital instrument panel is also the most customisable, offering five selectable themes.
“The XJ Feels the Most Agile, the A8 Is the Most Confident in All Conditions, While the Quattroporte Is the Most Athletic.”
BOOT
Jaguar’s 520-litre boot is less useful than the other two, as its narrow aperture and higher loading height are meant for lighter, smaller items.
BOOT
Audi’s 520-litre boot is best for bulky items, as it is the widest and has a metal scuff plate to guard against scratches. The three boot lights make it easier to load/unload business trip luggage in the dark.
BOOT
Maserati’s 530-litre boot is the most flexible of the trio, with elastic netting for loose items and underfloor storage for golf shoes. It’s the only trunk with a 12-volt outlet, too.
Last Word
The A8L may not look as good as the Jaguar XJL or Maserati Quattroporte, but when it comes to pampering occupants, the Audi is a notch above its two rivals. Its backseat is the best of the bunch, and the grip accorded by its quattro all-wheeldrive gives the towkay behind its wheel greater confidence when faced with inclement weather.
But while it’s certainly no slouch in terms of acceleration and handling, the A8L would be even more impressive if it had more punch in its performance.
In terms of outright performance, neither the Jag nor the Audi can touch the Maserati. Apart from having the most ponies under its stylish bonnet, the Quattroporte also has the richest and most compelling exhaust note, making it a real pleasure to drive.
Less pleasurable, on the other hand, are its relatively no-frills backseat and significantly steeper asking price, which at time of writing is $75.1k and $76.9k more than the Audi A8L and Jaguar XJL respectively.
That is a lot to ask for, because while the Maserati does outperform its two competitors, the margin isn’t big enough to justify the extra dollars.
Even more appealing than the Audi A8L and Maserati Quattroporte is the Jaguar XJL. Although it doesn’t offer the surefootedness of the A8L or the outright athleticism of the Quattroporte, the XJL makes up for these with its highly tractable motor and impeccable handling that belies its size.
In this story, the fine British feline is the dynamo limo with the most dynamic combination of comfort, space and pace. comfort, space and pace.
AUDI A8L 3.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE V6, 24-valves, supercharged; CAPACITY 2995cc; BORE X STROKE 84.5mm x 89mm.
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.8:1; MAX POWER 310bhp at 5200-6500rpm; MAX TORQUE 440Nm at 2900-4750rpm.
POWER TO WEIGHT 164.9bhp per tonne; GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select; DRIVEN WHEELS All.
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 5.9 seconds; TOP SPEED 250km/h (governed).
CONSUMPTION 12.7km/L (combined); CO2 EMISSION 184g/km.
SUSPENSION
FRONT Multi-link, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar; REAR Trapezoidal link, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar.
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs.
TYRES
TYPE Goodyear Eagle F1; SIZE 235/60 R17.
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6; TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESC.
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 5265mm; WIDTH 1949mm; HEIGHT 1471mm.
WHEELBASE 3122mm; KERB WEIGHT 1880kg; TURNING CIRCLE 12.7m.
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $412,800 (no CEVS rebate/surcharge); WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km.
+ Roomiest And Cushiest Backseat, Most Refined Performance, All-weather Grip.
– Unintuitive Infotainment, Least Powerful V6, Lowest Power-toweight Ratio.
BEST IN REFINEMENT.
JAGUAR XJL 3.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE V6, 24-valves, supercharged; CAPACITY 2995cc; BORE X STROKE 84.5mm x 89mm.
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.5:1; MAX POWER 340bhp at 6500rpm; MAX TORQUE 450Nm at 3500-5000rpm.
POWER TO WEIGHT 191.5bhp per tonne; GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select; DRIVEN WHEELS Rear.
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 5.9 seconds TOP SPEED 250km/h.
CONSUMPTION 11km/L (combined) CO2 EMISSION 211g/km.
SUSPENSION
FRONT Double wishbones, coil springs; REAR Multi-link, coil springs.
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs.
TYRES
TYPE Dunlop SP Sportmaxx; GT SIZE 275/35 R20.
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6; TRACTION AIDS ABS, DSC.
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 5255mm; WIDTH 1899mm; HEIGHT 1460mm.
WHEELBASE 3157mm; KERB WEIGHT 1775kg; TURNING CIRCLE 12.3m.
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $410,999 (after $10k CEVS surcharge); WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km.
+ Most Luxurious Cabin, Most Willing Engine, Nimblest In Corners.
– Lowest Rear Headroom, Least Useful Boot, Poorest All-round Visibility.
BEST IN HANDLING
MASERATI QUATTROPORTE 3.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE V6, 24-valves, turbocharged; CAPACITY 2979cc; BORE X STROKE 86.5mm x 84.5mm.
COMPRESSION RATIO 9.7:1; MAX POWER 350bhp at 5500rpm; MAX TORQUE 500Nm at 1750-4500rpm.
POWER TO WEIGHT 188.2bhp per tonne; GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select; DRIVEN WHEELS Rear.
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 5.5 seconds; TOP SPEED 270km/h; CONSUMPTION 11km/L (combined); CO2 EMISSION 212g/km.
SUSPENSION
FRONT Double wishbones, adaptive dampers anti-roll bar; REAR Multi-link, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar.
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs.
TYRES
TYPE Pirelli P Zero; SIZE 245/45 R19 (front), 275/40 R19 (rear).
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6; TRACTION AIDS ABS, MSP.
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 5262mm; WIDTH 1948mm; HEIGHT 1481mm.
WHEELBASE 3171mm; KERB WEIGHT 1860kg; TURNING CIRCLE 11.8m.
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $487,903 (after $10k CEVS surcharge); WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km.
+ Most Powerful Powertrain, Sportiest Soundtrack, Ready-torace Cockpit.
– Substantially More Expensive Than The Rest, “basic” Backseat, Least Practical Cabin.
BEST IN PERFORMANCE.
