Jaguar XE S versus BMW 3 Series 340i Sport

Can the new Jaguar fend off the facelifted BMW?
Will the Jaguar or BMW come out on top?
12 October 2015

Munich’s new facelifted 3 Series has new engines and gearboxes, major overhauls to the suspension and a grander cabin among many other more minor improvements.

It is just slightly raining on the parade of the Jaguar XE S, which only came out some weeks ago and has had very little solo time in the sun. But which of them would prove the winner when pitted against the autobahn and the country road?

The new Series 3 range starts with the 318i which uses the superb 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine. Putting out 134bhp, and with low CO2 levels, it’s a great start to the range. But at the top, if we ignore the M3, is the 340i. It is the trailblazer in the BMW range for its new twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six petrol engine.

With 322bhp and 332lb ft, you also get major upgrades to the suspension which means that stiffer springs should not, in theory, make the ride any harsher. The twin tube dampers have computer-controlled adaptive damper as an option. This option, like the option of Active-ratio Variable Sports Steering, was fitted to our test 340i.

Jaguar XE S gets put through its paces

Against this newest contender is the new contender from Jaguar. In some ways there are similarities – for example they weigh within about 50kg of each other, and both have a 0-62mph time of 5.1sec. But the Jaguar has independent suspension all round and adaptive dampers are standard, although they’re optional on the BMW. The Jaguar also has a torque vectoring system and comes with an eight-speed ZF auto box as standard which is again an option, and one fitted on the 340i test vehicle.

The 3.0-litre supercharged V6 in the XE S delivers 335bhp, more than the 340i, but the surprises come in the torque figures. On the face of it, there’s nothing in it as both produce a maximum of 332lb ft. But look again: the Jaguar is revving at 4500rpm to get that figure whereas the BMW is doing an incredibly low 1380rpm.

Out on the autobahns the BMW has the edge both top and bottom. Moving along in traffic, the gutsy torque makes it feel more muscular but once you get above 5000rpm that free-revving, wailing straight-six is a joy. However, the supercharged V6 in the Jaguar has a tone and presence all of its own. Granted, it can’t quite match the outright performance of the BMW, but in the real world it’s certainly far from a slouch. And it has spirit, soul, a lovely growling power delivery that really gets into you, while the BMW remains more removed from spiritual engagement.

So, on über-fast roads the Jaguar may display more soul but it also loses out in ultimate performance a little to the BMW. What happens when the straight roads end and the corners begin? Will it be as close?

No. There’s a clear winner. It becomes clear as the corners tighten that one car has been designed more with fast, open roads in mind while the other was conceived against a background of B-roads, hedges and rolling country lanes.

BMW 3 Series 340i Sport in action

The first car is the BMW. It must be stated that we had a car in Sport trim, not the M Sport trim that the UK market will get, but the biggest problem was the steering, exacerbated we suspect by the Active-ratio Variable Sport Steering. It just doesn’t communicate which, combined with lower levels of front-end grip than you’d expect, leads to some understeer building up without any apparent notification to the driver.

The Jaguar, on the other hand, is simply brilliant when the roads get twisty. Perfectly balanced, fluid, communicative, and involving. It’s truly outstanding. Running on 20in rims, the ride is silky and sublime.

Clearly, we need to see a UK spec BMW 340i on UK roads to gain a proper comparison between these two mighty cars, but on the evidence presented to us, the Jaguar XE S comes out ahead of the BMW 340i Sport. It’s the sumptuous Jaguar cabin where you’d rather spend the time, in a car which is both dynamically superior to the BMW and also more soulful.

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