2022 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black P300 AWD v 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury comparison
What if you've got $70K to spend on a prestige sedan but don't want German? Here are two options that are as similar as they are different.
Overview
A Jaguar versus a Lexus?
No, there’s nothing pharmaceutical in the water at Drive HQ. These are two prestige sedan alternatives to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class. And they’re both priced around $65,000 plus options and on-road costs.
If we’re being totally honest, the Lexus ES is probably a class above in size, making it more like a rival to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-class. But Lexus’s decision to kill the smaller IS sedan leaves that responsibility to the ES these days.
With a comparison like this, it’s the differences between the two that will be the talking points. One’s bigger and roomier, one’s better to drive, one’s more affordable to own, and one’s got more prestige street cred.
But before we get there, let’s refresh our knowledge of these two fine examples of premium motoring.
Introduction
Jaguar XE
Following the streamlining of its range, the Jaguar XE is now a very simple, two-model affair and the 2022 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black P300 AWD we're testing here, is the effective entry-level model. It certainly feels more premium than that, though. And, for brevity, we'll call it the Jaguar XE, henceforth.
This used to be a significant segment globally. Luxury medium sedans were once the battleground for buyers with a budget who were looking to step up from smaller, more affordable cars as their jobs and salaries allowed. Things have changed now, with luxury SUVs the preferred weapons of choice, good, bad or otherwise.
Still, the luxury sedan makes a lot of sense as the driver's option. Stylish, well specified, and engaging to drive, they still make a lot of sense.
Starting from $68,679 before on-road costs, our Jaguar XE tester is sensibly optioned with the as-tested price sitting at $73,849 before on-road costs. We say sensibly, because in the Jaguar world, it's easy for options pricing to get right out of hand.
Our test car feels premium and well executed, and anything but an entry level model, without the asking price blowing out. You could even forgo the panoramic roof, and the fancy rear seat, to save even more cash. Still, this is a premium feeling car, without it costing an exorbitant amount.
The Jaguar XE has a tough row to hoe, too, punching on with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo and now Genesis, just to name a few. The hearts and minds of the medium luxury sedan buyers are well catered for, there's no doubt about that.
What the XE does promise though is a stylish exterior, quality interior, engaging driving experience, and that dash of British panache that promise to give it a unique appeal in this age-old segment.
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In stunning Bluefire Blue, our tester looks beautiful from any angle, and stands out in the general flow of otherwise grey commuter traffic. Jaguar has a long history of building beautiful sedans and saloons and the current XE carries that tradition on.
The grille is aggressive, as are the headlights, but there's an elegance to the design as well. It's not all bonnet bulges and faux aggression.
Fitted standard with the black exterior pack, the XE R-Design gets a slightly under the radar, stealth bomber appearance, which suits the drivelines perfectly. There's a raft of gloss black trim around the exterior, along with dual tail pipes. Premium LEDs are standard up front, and deliver the angry cat light signature, along with animated rear indicators.
Our tester rolls on beautiful (stay well away from gutters) gloss black 19-inch rims, and 225/40 R19 rubber for a spot-on appearance without the wheels being overly big. Red brake calipers won't be for everyone, but we reckon they work well with the sporty aspiration.
Lexus ES250
Think about this: if you want the most comfortable, reliable, yet fancy way to move five adults, why not look at what the experts use?
That'll be the Lexus ES sedan. After remaining unchanged since 2018, the mid-sized Lexus went through an update in October 2021. A favourite amongst luxury and higher-tier fleet operators, it also doubles as an excellent candidate for the private car buyer too.
As promised by Rob Margeit at the Australian launch of the Lexus ES range, we've managed to get our hands on the entry-level 2022 Lexus ES250 that was missing from the local line-up, until now.
And for good reason – given the smaller, sportier and rear-wheel drive Lexus IS sedan has been discontinued, the front-drive ES may have to do the heavy lifting. For this review, we're evaluating the ES250 Luxury model, which is now the cheapest Lexus sedan you can get.
It's priced from $64,320 before on-roads before extras like metallic paint, and sits underneath the excellent 2022 Lexus ES300h hybrid. If you value the battery and electrification, the hybrid will cost you $1930 more, or $66,250 before fruit.
The petrol-only ES250 on the other hand uses a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder with 152kW/243Nm and an eight-speed torque converter-equipped auto. If those figures don't get you moving, then it's worth stepping up to the F Sport model.
Although it packs the same running gear, it does offer performance-inspired features and a sharper suspension tune, which will be enough for some. One of those will cost you $73,560 before on-roads, or $9240 more than our regular 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury test car.
So, what's it like from the front seat?
Key details | 2022 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black P300 AWD | 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury |
Price (MSRP) | $68,679 plus on-road costs | $64,320 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Bluefire Blue | Deep Blue |
Options | Technology Pack – $2160 Panoramic Roof – $1900 Privacy Glass – $650 40:20:40 rear seat – $460 | Premium paint – $1750 |
Price as tested | $73,849 plus on-road costs | $66,070 plus on-road costs |
Inside
Jaguar XE
A Jaguar cabin needs to feel like a special, premium place to be – and my feelings about the white interior aside – the Jaguar XE is exactly that. I don't have an issue with what the pale interior looks like. It looks beautiful... when it's brand new.
Buyers with kids and weekend sport warriors need not apply. I always worry when I see a cabin that is this stark, that it's going to get very dirty very quickly, no matter how fussy you are. In Jaguar-speak, our tester has Light Oyster perforated leather sports seats with contrasting ebony trim.
The seats themselves are comfortable and provide plenty of electric adjustment so nearly everyone will be able to get comfortable. We'd like to see heating and cooling standard rather than optional, however.
Even the tallest Drive testers had no issues getting comfortable behind the wheel. Keep in mind though, that tall occupants up front, will eat into legroom for passengers in the second row. Visibility is excellent from all four main seats, and both driver and front seat passenger have a commanding view of the road ahead.
Jaguar has moved away from a rotary dial gear selector, instead going back to a conventional lever, and it does nothing to clutter up the centre console. There's a smallish, but useful storage console at the elbow point, and two cupholders next to that behind the shifter.
The door pockets are useful for most day-to-day items, too. There's also a 5.5-inch screen below the infotainment screen, which operates the climate control system, and it's easy enough to use, even on the move.
Our test Jaguar XE featured the wireless charger, which sits neatly ahead of the shift lever. I don't love wireless chargers given how much they can heat up a smartphone, but the charge pad does prevent your phone from sliding all over the place. The sunroof was also optional on our test car, and while I'm not a huge fan of sunroofs in general, this one didn't eat into headroom too much, so that gets a tick.
Onto the second row again, while legroom can be tight, the seat itself is comfortable and neatly sculpted, and you can knock over a long road trip easily back there. So long as the driver and front seat passenger aren't super tall as mentioned.
Second row occupants get air vents, but no other controls. Visibility out the back window is decent, and you don't feel like the roof is closing in on you.
The boot is just under par in terms of the class itself, and it's a bit tight which may provide some insight into why so many buyers prefer SUVs. Offering 410 litres, it's still useful and will suit plenty of buyers, but if you carry really large items often, you might find it a little on the small side.
Lexus ES250
As expected, the 2022 Lexus ES250 is both pleasant and welcoming at first glance. Our test car was configured with the no-cost option of a contrasting Hazel interior, which I personally think looks fantastic.
Generally speaking, the interior colourway usually reserved for a 'boring' sedan is a monotonous tragedy of black plastic and leather. The free choice to bring some colour, theatre, and maybe even move more upmarket, feels like a good move to make.
Once your bum's on the seat, the Lexus ES250 continues to impress. Both the driver's and passenger's pews are comfortable, electrically adjustable and heated, albeit a little flat and un-sculpted. Thankfully the seat base extends enough to support your thighs, and the seat back is wide enough for a taller and heavier than average person.
The myriad traditional touchpoints will divide opinion in terms of ambiance however. I'm sure some readers will look at the multitude of unnecessary buttons and their different types – alongside an analog clock – and question whether we're in the year 2022.
Then there are others, who will look at the dedicated air-conditioning controls and CD player and find comfort in the cabin's traditional and easy-to-use nature. Personally, I side with the latter, but still see room for improvement, particular when it comes to the Lexus infotainment system.
Call the vibe traditional and honest then. So, much to my surprise, when I discovered two USB-C ports in the armrest that I thought initially stymied my attempts at connecting to Apple CarPlay.
Turns out there's also a pair of regular USB-A ports – which work for smartphone mirroring including android auto – that remain for luddites like this reviewer.
It's a shame the old-school USB ports are still buried under two lids however, as leaving your cable exposed does look untidy. Other modern touch points include a clever yet simple bottle holder with an adjustable height base. It's party trick of being extendable means you can throw in your smoothie, shake or whatever vessel you use with your blender, pending its narrow enough to fit (most of mine did).
The rest is as expected, with a decent armrest storage area big enough for a small women's bag, a pair of smaller cup holders placed in front of the CD player that render it useless (you weren't using it anyway), and a smaller than average glovebox.
Over in the back, there's plenty of room for adult passengers. Sitting behind my own driving position (I'm 183cm tall), I could kick my legs forward and under the front seat, slightly-stretch out and enjoy the ride. The only downside is the sloping roofline which does run close to the back of your head, but that's as bad as it gets.
Three adults would fit, but two would find it fantastic. Parents with rearward-facing child seats will notice the sloping roofline somewhat when loading their offspring, but it's still a workable situation.
More important is that front passenger legroom is not affected when a rearward child seat is installed, however. With the seat moved forward facing, things become a doddle, as there's heaps of room for your kids to kick – and miss – the seatbacks.
In terms of other things to keep them busy, there's another two USB-C ports to charge devices, a fold-down armrest with big-enough storage to home more devices and a pair of large cup-holders, rear air vents, and 12-volt power outlet.
Boot space is huge at 473L, but remember the Lexus ES250 is a sedan. That means the boot opening is small and narrow which stifles any idea of a late-minute Ikea visit.
It also means that stacking objects that do fit requires you bend over and reach deep into the boot's bowels near the seat backs, which may be hard for those with knackered joints.
2022 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black P300 AWD | 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury | |
Seats | Five | Five |
Boot volume | 410L | 473L |
Length | 4691mm | 4975mm |
Width | 1850mm | 1865mm |
Height | 1425mm | 1445mm |
Wheelbase | 2835mm | 2870mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Jaguar XE
The Jaguar XE steps up to the brand's latest infotainment platform found in other members of the Jaguar Land Rover family. The system works, and works reliably. We found Bluetooth to work well for us on test, and the provision for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a near-expected feature in 2022.
Some have opined that the lack of wireless smartphone connectivity is a negative, but I prefer a cabled connection where available.
The Meridian sound system features 400 watts, and 13 speakers, with plenty of punchy sound response. You also get DAB radio, an interactive driver display, dynamic volume control, a second generation activity key, and over the air update capability.
Our test XE was fitted with the Technology Pack, which costs $2160 and adds a wireless charger, smart rear view mirror, head-up display, and an upgraded 'twin view' 10-inch touchscreen that can show different images to left and right seat occupants.
The screen itself was clear and responsive for us on test, and was visible in every light condition we tested through. It's responsive to inputs and doesn't lag while it waits for a command to action. Even getting in, the system pre-loads before you start the car so that's instantly ready for your first input without having to boot up.
The driver gets an excellent 12.3-inch interactive display, which is bright and can be customised to suit your preferred layout. The chunky steering wheel gets the usual array of buttons and controls along with paddle shifters, and the gauge layout can be traditional in that it can display two round dials at the outer edges with mapping in between them for example.
There's a bit to work out in terms of vehicle control, displays and switchgear, but once you do become familiar with it, the Jaguar system is an easy one to navigate.
Lexus ES250
If there's one area Lexus could pick up its game, it's infotaiment.
However, it's not the hardware. Standard on all Lexus ES cars – regardless of the trim level – is a fantastic 12.3-inch display. Not only is the display large, but it's chipset has enough power to boot-up fast, load various menus swiftly, and power smartphone mirroring.
Its the touchpad interaction point that feels old hat. Not only is it clumsy to use by even the most coordinator operators (not yours truly), it's also laborious to interact with.
You find yourself making multiple swiping gestures in a feeble attempt to get halfway across the screen, because as expected, the interface was not designed wholly with smartphone mirroring in mind. Even some of Lexus' own menus feel tightly grouped and can be frustrating to interact with.
Consider the touchpad an outdated and superseded product then, as others have moved to solely touch-screen and voice interaction (Audi) or updated their systems to incorporate touch, remote inputs, voice and mid-air gestures (BMW).
If Lexus wants to play in the premium space, it's going to need to offer more. The new NX SUV shows that Lexus already has this move in mind. The standard-fit 10-speaker stereo system is good enough for the money, but is still nowhere near as good as the Mark Levinson gear found in upper-grade trim levels.
It handled the classic reference tracks of Intergalactic by Beastie Boys with some vigor, and Super Freak by Rick James with justifiable intensity and brightness.
Safety & Technology
Jaguar XE
Tested back in 2015, the Jaguar XE received a full five-star ANCAP safety rating at the time, as you'd expect of the segment and price point. There's a long list of standard safety equipment in line with that test result.
Stability control, all surface progress control, torque vectoring by braking, emergency brake assist, speed sensitive steering, 3D surround camera with forward traffic detection and forward vehicle guidance, adaptive cruise control with forward alert, queue assist, intelligent emergency braking with low speed manoeuvre assist, blind spot assist with vehicle sensing, lane keep assist, front and rear parking sensors, driver fatigue monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, adaptive speed limiter, and tyre pressure monitoring are all standard.
There are also power operated child locks, and two rear ISOFIX points at the outboard seats.
Lexus ES250
All Lexus ES sedans in the range wear a five-star ANCAP safety badge having been officially crash tested in 2018.
It scored decently for adult occupant protection (91 per cent) and vulnerable road user protection (90 per cent), but fell down in terms of advanced safety assist systems (76 per cent).
Still, the Lexus ES250 features Lexus Safety System+ which includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, an advanced form of lane keeping system, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and emergency steering assist.
Overall, it's well equipped in terms of safety tech. The only thing it's missing is reverse automatic braking.
At a glance | 2022 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black P300 AWD | 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury |
ANCAP rating & year tested | Five stars (tested 2015) | Five stars (tested 2018) |
Safety report | ANCAP report | ANCAP report |
Value for Money
Jaguar XE
Our knock on Jaguar value for money largely revolves around the cost of the options. On paper, the standard vehicle is rarely what we would call exorbitantly overpriced, but the cost of select options can start to blow the price out pretty quickly. However, this Jaguar XE on test felt like it could have cost a whole lot more than it does. That's a good thing the way we see it.
Starting from less than 70 grand before on-road costs, the options added, brought the price up to $73,849 before on-road costs. When you factor in the stylish design, quality cabin, and the driving experience, that makes this XE present as good value for money. Likewise, the servicing costs, which at $1950 for five years or 102,000km, are well within what we'd call the optimum range for a luxury car.
On test, we used an indicated 8.2L/100km against the official claim of 6.8L/100km. Two things to note here. The official claim is frugal. And secondly, our real world return is impressive, given we didn't try at all to hypermile at any time during our testing period.
We knocked over a decent highway run, but the real world return is a decent one, in a segment where contenders with similar performance can often be a fair bit thirstier. Once again, modern turbocharging and engineering comes to the fore.
Lexus ES250
If you're after a traditional 'large' sedan – now somewhat of a grey area due to the dynamic nature of vehicle shapes and sizes – the Lexus ES250 is probably the last of its kind.
Costing around $68,000 drive-away before options, it still represents fair buying. The Audi A4 35 TFSI is a couple of grand cheaper at $65,000 on the road, but does lack both equipment and space compared to the Lexus. The cheapest all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is well over $80,000 on the road, meaning it's a different ballgame all together.
The closest match right now is the BMW 3 Series, which starts from $69,900-drive in entry-level 320i Sport trim for a limited time. A 'regular' 320i Luxury or M Sport is closer to $77,000 drive-away.
As of January 2022 the Lexus range comes standard with a five year, unlimited kilometre warranty. That puts Lexus on par with the bulk of brands in Australia when it comes to aftersales care.
Under the Lexus Encore program, servicing a 2022 Lexus ES250 costs $495 for the first three services expected to be conducted 15,000km or yearly, whichever comes first. That means the first three years cost $1305, or around $500 less than one of the competitors mentioned above. The prices for years four and five depend on the dealership, so we're unable to quote the exact cost.
In terms of fuel usage, we saw 8.0L/100km over a busy and metro-skewed road loop. The official combined figure is 6.6L/100km, but given the lack of power, you'll find yourself using lots of the throttle pedal to keep-up with peak-hour traffic.
At a glance | 2022 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black P300 AWD | 2022 Lexus ES250 LuxuryV2 |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 16,000km | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1950 (5 years) | $1305 (3 years) |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.8L/100km | 6.6L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.2L/100km | 8.0L/100km |
Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded | 95-octane premium unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 63L | 60L |
Driving
Jaguar XE
We get behind the wheel of any Jaguar and expect it to feel sporty – whether that is fair or not – and the good news is the XE doesn't disappoint.
The four-cylinder turbo petrol engine and gearbox are an excellent pairing, once again displaying the quality of the eight-speed automatic. There's all-wheel drive beneath the skin, too, but the XE behaves predominantly like a rear-wheel drive car, sending drive to the front wheels when it detects it needs to.
A punchy 221kW and 400Nm are more than adequate for this segment and to get the 1690kg XE moving either off the mark or when you want to add some speed on the move. Peak torque is on offer from just 1500rpm, once again illustrating just how effective the modern, small capacity turbocharged engine can be in the real world.
You can of course access faster, more powerful sedans in this segment, but you don't need that extra pace. 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds is more than swift enough to feel like you're moving rapidly.
The eight-speed automatic is smooth, decisive and precise no matter how easily, or how enthusiastically, you're driving. It finds the gear it wants and stays there, never hunting up and down through the ratios and never feeling choppy or slow to react.
A relaxed commute is as enjoyable as a rapid weekend country run along a twisty back road. The Jaguar XE is always a fun platform to drive.
Ride quality is another strong point. Direct steering means you can pick your line and fire through it, but if you do encounter mid corner ruts and bumps the XE is rarely unsettled. If it does take a hit, it settles quickly and gets back to the job of heading where you're sending it.
The whole experience is smooth and composed, encouraging you to have some fun on the right road, without breaking the speed limit. Just like a good sporty sedan should.
The Jaguar XE is sharper through corners than you might expect, aided no doubt by the AWD system at the limit, but largely a result of the quality of the platform itself. This is a well sorted sedan, that handles the power on offer easily and with composure, and is both balanced and solid on the road.
Lexus ES250
If you have fond memories of smooth-riding sedans of the 2000s – many of which are Australian – then you're in the right place.
The Lexus ES250 channels all that was good about that era. Its suspension is tuned wonderfully soft and supple, meaning it turns broken Sydney roads into just regular roads. It's a benefit you use everyday, as I found the age-old path of my daily routine a far more pleasant experience in the Lexus.
Some of the illusion cast stems from the lack of noise heard in the cabin, as it's bloody well insulated and quiet. Even bombing over coarser-chip freeways – the ones that made a 2022 Subaru BRZ unbearable the week before – didn't result in interruption.
As a result, it's not the most-dynamic sedan Lexus has produced, which could be a problem for you. If you liked the harder-edged ride and poise found in the outgoing rear-wheel drive Lexus IS, then I'll wager that the Lexus ES250 Luxury is not the car for you.
Sadly, your logical answer would have been the Lexus GS, which was discontinued last year. However, if you appreciate the way either your Lexus IS or GS conducts itself on the day-to-day, then you'll find plenty of merit here.
You could argue that the Lexus ES does more of the 'everyday' stuff better than both the IS and GS, which were beholden to maintaining pace with Europe's more sporty vehicles. It's the more comfortable car, that's also quieter, more efficient, and in-turn better to live with, especially if you care for fuss-free luxury car ownership.
Something else that'll align to that philosophy is the powertrain, too. Powering the 2022 Lexus ES250 is a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, with 152kW/243Nm. It sends power through an eight-speed torque converter transmission then on to the front-wheels.
Given it weighs nearly 1700kg means the performance isn't brisk. As the fuel usage figure revealed earlier (8.0L on-test versus 6.6L claimed), I found myself flexing the powertrain uneconomically to get the job done at times, especially in Sydney's mad peak-hour traffic.
Some of that comes down to the engine's torque figure; which is both low overall and occurs too high in the rev range to be beneficial around town. It's those quick moments of on-roll acceleration from 50km/h onward where the Lexus gets caught out, and feels just a touch underpowered.
Still, there's a lot to be said about not rushing, taking a little longer, and using less fuel in the process, but the rest in this class have moved on to forced-induction or hybridisation for a reason.
Key details | 2022 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black P300 AWD | 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury |
Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol | 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol |
Power | 221kW @ 5500rpm | 152kW @ 6600rpm |
Torque | 400Nm @ 1500-4500rpm | 243Nm @ 4000-5000rpm |
Drive type | All-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 130.8kW/t | 90.5kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 1690kg | 1680kg |
Conclusion
Let’s start with price. The Lexus ES250 is cheaper in its un-optioned form than the Jaguar XE, but the $4K difference is a difficult one to quantify because these two vehicles are so fundamentally different.
Now for that other expense: servicing. Lexus charges an average of $435 per year for the first three years, whereas Jaguar charges $390 per year for the first five. Are you as surprised as we are that the Jaguar is the more affordable service plan?
Fuel consumption is close enough to a draw, so no matter which way you go here you’ll be up for a similar petrol bill. But that needs to be scored against performance, because the Jaguar makes a lot more mumbo from every litre… but we’ll get to that.
Size next. The Lexus is quite a bit bigger - almost 30cm longer - which translates into more room in the back seat and the boot. So, if big is better the Lexus wins.
But wait, if big power is better then the Jaguar wins, and by some margin. Jaguar’s fruity new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine produces loads more power and torque than the non-turbo 2.5-litre unit in the Lexus, and the Jag’s all-wheel drive makes sure you’ll benefit from every kiloWatt.
As for safety, that looks like a tie on the surface, with both vehicles ticking the important active safety boxes and both cars rated five stars for crash safety by ANCAP – although the Jaguar’s result was earned in 2015, and the testing protocol has evolved since then.
Lastly, interior technology. This is one area where the Lexus falls behind, largely because of its mouse pad arrangement that makes using the tech more difficult. We’re expecting this system to be replaced by the more intuitive touchscreen system debuted on the 2022 Lexus NX in time, but until then the Jaguar’s system is better looking, works better and is better to use.
That may seem like a knockout blow, but it’s not, and that’s largely because this is not a fair fight.
We can’t split the two on financials or safety, so we’ll look for other ways to help you decide. If space for passengers and luggage is your overriding goal, go the Lexus. If you care more about pampering you the driver, then go the Jaguar. It goes harder, handles better, and has a much nicer and more intuitive cabin.
How selfish do you want to be?