Edmunds Inside Line - Mercedes E550 Sport vs. BMW 550i Sport vs. Jaguar XF Premium

[HighestOfHigh]

Congrats E-class!!!

Wow...I am so pleased with the results. Yes, I'm not a big fan of the e-class "rear" design (based on photos alone), but I'm glad to see it win. It's just as thrilling to see the Jag over the BMW 5 as well.

The Jag looks good from the outside but the interior is extremely boring!!!

This looks like something from a 1970s office with the airvents hooked up to the outside windows, very bland!
I`m not a huge fan of the 5ers interior either but it`s better than this by a long shot.

Well it's not as "exciting" interior wise as the German, but it is very elegant and classy as a british car should be.

Wow a test in which a Bimmer came last and especially the mini M5, 550i. What is this world coming to?

What a Blessing! What a Blessing! Seems like the world is being less biased and using a lot more common sense.

Now that was a very good unbiased review!
The journalist said these cars are ment for everyday use. Thay should deliver comfort and power plus the added advantage of having the best fuel economy.. The E-Class delivers here without excuses. It`s the best everyday German car.

I like the sport-package with the double foggers. Thay add a nice touch imo.

What a Blessing! What a Blessing! It is sooo nice not to a biased review again. This is truly a miracle!

The Jaguar is the best looking car of the group.

Yes, I agree it looks outstanding on the road.

 

[Sunny]

^lol, another victim of the Munich exhaust pipe sodomizer?

 

[Potential]

My absolute favourite. THe other might be newer, less controversial, a little more comfortable and have better cabin technology but they are simply not a 5 series. I still think this car looks great even compared to the new E Class. If BMW nail the F10 5 series the E Class is going to look real old, real soon.

 

[siko]

The E seems to impress is all aspects, which is good... but it's still too hideous for my taste. I'd take the other two way before it.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

^lol, another victim of the Munich exhaust pipe sodomizer?

Huh?

If BMW nail the F10 5 series the E Class is going to look real old, real soon.

Well assuming the next 5 will look good, it should have good numbers. I still doubt that the E-class will look OLD any time soon.

 

[Mr Robert]

What a Blessing! What a Blessing! It is sooo nice not to a biased review again. This is truly a miracle!

How can something written by a human be unbiased?

 

[fortuner]

Wow the E looks stunning both inside and out...looks absouloutly amazing cant wait to see one in real..that interior is superb and like the colours..

Great car the more i see this car the more i like it just like when the new C was launched..

Well done MB

 

[HighestOfHigh]

How can something written by a human be unbiased?

I'm glad you asked.

Yes, believe it or not a human can be unbiased.

Ok, let’s talk about Edmunds in general. They have tested hundreds of cars since they started out. They have also done several midsize luxury car comparisons. A lot of times BMW has won, but in some cases it hasn’t. I believe the same author of this comparison actually did a comparison a few years back when the BMW had one. Of course this time he picked the e-class and jag over it. My thing is that he didn’t stick with the same car year after year like our friends over at Car and Driver. He literally looks at the car from all stand points and sees what the car offers and how it measures up to the rest. He didn’t see that BMW badge like so many are blinded by in other comparisons when it comes to midsize and entry level luxury cars.

Ok, let’s talk about the cars in General. Out of the three Mercedes-Benz is the newest model, which means it’s probably the most technological and advance model. I am sure that Mercedes-Benz looked a t cars from their competitor and saw how the e-class could improve and be more advanced then the rest. Not always, but in most cases the newest car “should” be number 1. It has had a chance to improve every aspect of the vehicle. The BMW is outdated and will be soon taken in the backyard and will be shot. When the new 5 series comes then it probably will be the number 1 spot because it will have time to improve upon possible things that Mercedes-Benz might have missed with the E-class. Then there is the Jaguar in the number 2 spot. It has had time to learn from the 5 series and the previous E-class and it is one heck of a car. I truly believe it should be in the top 2 spot. Thankfully the guy didn’t care about badges and picked what was best at the time.

Now what is considered biased…Just so you don’t think I’m picking on BMW. There was a recent thread where the pre-facelift S-class beat the brand new 7 series. In that case I do believe it was probably biased. Considering all the new features that the 7 series has and especially with the new engine. Then again they really couldn’t see pass the S-class. Same goes for the 3 series. I have seen plenty of articles where the 3 series was outdtated, less power, less features and yet it still won. There was no definitive reasoning on why it should have won just some bogus statement about handling. Yes, Handling is good, but that is not all there is to a car. I still thank MotorTrend today for having the BALLS to stand up an recognize other cars like the Infiniti G35.

My point is when you see someone constantly picking the same car over and over again even when it’s lacking in critical areas…IT IS BIASED. There is no if ands or buts about it. When you see someone who is looking at the overall picture and doesn’t pick the same car all the time and doesn’t look at brands…They are UNBIASED.

As much as we love our precious Germans they are NOT always the best. I know it’s hard to believe, but they aren’t. Yes, there are plenty of times when they should be and they meet all qualifications and should win. But under NO circumstances should a 6 year old(formula) Bimmer beat a brand new Mercedes-Benz or 1 year old Jaguar. Same goes for old Benz. It is absolutely ridiculous and biased to do such a thing IMO.

 

[Mr Robert]

Thanks HoH, great answer and in many respects I agree.

It is still, however, impossible for a human to be unbiased. An unbiased human is one without any experience and values, there is no such thing. A review can be based on pure comparison of hard facts from the data sheet, that could be regarded as almost unbiased... but I don't know how fun that would be to read.

Bias is needed to make a review interesting and worth the read. Because it is all about getting to know you reviewer, learn who has the same values that you do, what they like and what they dislike. Then the review is meaningfull, but only to you.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Then the review is meaningfull, but only to you.

The article is meaningful to the following:

1. Mercedes-Benz as a company. Good reviews can lead to additional sales.

2. Those possible buyers looking to purchase one of the following cars in the next few months.

3. Mercedes-Benz Loyalist other then myself because it allows them to see how the model has actually improved.

4. BMW because they know exactly what they need to do for the next 5 series.

5. BMW fans because provides them with a better understanding of what is expected and what their 5 series lacks.

6. Other Automotive Journalist because they may plan similar test that could involve using more midsize sedans to differ from Edmunds.

7. Mercedes-Benz Engineering because it allows them to know how their sedan measures up against their competitors and what they may need to improve for face-lift or next generation models.

 

[Mr Robert]

The article is meaningful to the following:

That it was only meaningfull to yourself when you are reading a review bu someone whose values you share, was of course meant as a grave generalisation.

But this is also interesting regarding who you say could be interested. If your values differ from those of the person who wrote the article then you still would not know if you agree with what is the shortcommings of each brand. You might even love some aspect of a cars behaviour while the reviewer finds that part annoying.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

That it was only meaningfull to yourself when you are reading a review bu someone whose values you share, was of course meant as a grave generalisation.

But this is also interesting regarding who you say could be interested. If your values differ from those of the person who wrote the article then you still would not know if you agree with what is the shortcommings of each brand. You might even love some aspect of a cars behaviour while the reviewer finds that part annoying.

See that what "some" think it's all about. Just like the people who get exciting about Jeremy Clarkson articles. I could care less about their "emotions","values" and "subjective thinking". I am completely not interested in that. I am interested in how the car performs, the actual value of the car in terms of standard features vs. options, the benefits of ownership. Tell me about breaking, 0-60 times, safety features observed, room space...The only time it should get somewhat personal is with interior quality and design.

Questions that should be answered...Was the Jaguar faster, How did the e-class break...Was the car considered user friendly in terms of operational functions...etc.

Yes, they will have to put "some" personal opinion in it, but that foolishness with some 3 series articles "Oh I love everything about the engineering, performance, standard features of the G37, but the 3 series moves me" is what annoys me.

 

[Zafiro]

- E-class has a very nice interior but the exterior remind me of a japanese car. Best allround car in the bunch.
- 5-series is old, still a good car but its showing age when compared to newer cars.

- Jaguar has a beatiful exterior and the drive seem to be good and it gets my vote here.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

- E-class has a very nice interior but the exterior remind me of a japanese car.

Probably because of the sharp angles. It actually looks more american to me. Like the CTS.

 

[Mr Robert]

Probably because of the sharp angles. It actually looks more american to me. Like the CTS.

I think it has very little recemblance with the CTS. The new E-class looks old school Mercedes to me.

 

[Mr Robert]

See that what "some" think it's all about. Just like the people who get exciting about Jeremy Clarkson articles. I could care less about their "emotions","values" and "subjective thinking". I am completely not interested in that. I am interested in how the car performs, the actual value of the car in terms of standard features vs. options, the benefits of ownership. Tell me about breaking, 0-60 times, safety features observed, room space...The only time it should get somewhat personal is with interior quality and design.

Questions that should be answered...Was the Jaguar faster, How did the e-class break...Was the car considered user friendly in terms of operational functions...etc.

Yes, they will have to put "some" personal opinion in it, but that foolishness with some 3 series articles "Oh I love everything about the engineering, performance, standard features of the G37, but the 3 series moves me" is what annoys me.

I think we are on the same page here.

I would never look to EVO for a review of a E-class or something from, say, Citroën. I know they don't like the type of focus and, threfore, I will not get a review that tells me anything if I'm into comfort. They would not know what to look for, they would not understand it and they would certainly not make it a front page story.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Well I haven't see it in person to fully judge it, but the shape angles really seem CTS to me. The old MB's like the W140 didn't have as sharp of angles like this one.

The C-class pulls off the design much better then the E-class IMO.

 

[Mr Robert]

The new E-class has the shape of the W120/W121 with a lot of elements, including the angular styling, from the W124.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

The new E-class has the shape of the W120/W121 with a lot of elements, including the angular styling, from the W124.

Yea...Mercedes-Benz would make it like the one E-class I actually hate. Hopefully this one will look better in person. The photos GBOY posted in the E-class thread look promising.

 

[Zafiro]

The C-class pulls off the design much better then the E-class IMO.

Absolutly! the new E is a mess, the C.class in avantgarde trim is sex on wheels.