Posted inAutomotive

Volvo S90 vs Jaguar XE

The Volvo S90 was introduced in 2016 and since then, it has been termed as a well-suited reply to the popular Mercedes E-Class. The Volvo S90 is the second car from the Swedish car maker to be built on the modern SPA (scalable platform architecture) platform. The S90 is a much evolved car compared to its predecessors. It is sporty on the outside, as the series suggests, and more luxurious than the other siblings inside.
The Jaguar XE is the car that Jaguar has been working on closely. The company does not have a long line-up of saloons and sedans to show and hence, the XE means a lot. It is easily the most advanced, most efficient and the most sporty sedan from the house of Jaguar.
The Volvo S90 and the Jaguar XE are relatively newer sedans to have hit the automobile world. They share a lot in common and turn out to be the most advanced models from their respective companies. Hence, a comparison between will do a world of good to the auto-enthusiast world.
Exteriors
Volvo has built the S90 to be more of a luxurious car. But yet, it has not compromised on the sporty nature of the car’s exterior. The S90 is extremely sporty on the outside, and that is evident. The headlamps are horizontally stretched and are sleek. A big grille, with vertical slats, is thrown up at the front, which accentuates the long hood to perfection. On the lower side skirts, there is a strip of chrome that runs horizontally from the front wheel to the rear one. The rear section is highlighted by a boomerang-shaped split tail lights and the moniker of VOLVO is placed proudly on the centre of the bootlid.
The Jaguar XE is quite similar to what the S90 looks like in the front. However, the XE is not as edgy as the S90 and is more rounded on the edges. The headlamps are sleek but is curvier than its counterpart. Similar to the S90, the front grille on the XE is big but has honeycomb radiator vents rather than vertical slats. However, the rear section is what differentiates the two cars the most. The Jaguar XE is much more sedate and classy. It has the same split tail lights but they are not so modernly designed. Instead, they are simply wrap-around.
Interiors
The Volvo S90 is big and spacious from inside, particularly because it has the same wheelbase as the XC90 SUV. Once you enter the car, you will simply love the overall feel. The interior is given some high quality Nappa leather upholstery and a touch of elegance in the way everything is presented. The front dashboard is the house of a high-resolution 9-inch infotainment system. The AC vents are beautifully placed on the either sides of the display. Luxury and comfort is not compromised with and the front passenger and driver seats are specifically designed to offer just that.
On the other hand, even though Jaguar XE is as spacious as the S90, the interior layout and especially the dashboard is not as funky. It is rather plain and sober. The inside carries dual tone scheme of black and brown. The seats are wrapped in leather upholstery. But yet, you will feel that it lacks the attractiveness of the S90 due to the better detailing and real wood finish of the competitor. The centre AC vents are placed on top of the touchscreen infotainment display. The 3-spoke steering wheel is filled with switches. The seats are well cushioned and are comfortable. The deck and the seat height is low to compensate for the low roofline. However, there is one big factor that probably means a lot for the people who thrive on cars like these. The XE does not have a rear parking camera that the S90 offers as standard.
Engine
The Volvo S90 is not that sporty in terms of its mechanism. Even though there is a 2.0-litre turbocharged, 4-cylinder diesel engine supplying power, the front wheel drive technology makes the ride smooth and is not so fun to drive. The engine makes a maximum power of 187 bhp at 4,250 revs per minute and a highest torque of 400 Nm at 1,750-2,500 revs per minute. Coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission gearbox, the car can hit an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds.
The Jaguar XE, on the other hand, is a sportier of the two. The 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine makes a maximum power of 197 bhp at 5,500 revs per minute and a peak torque of 320 Nm at just 1,750 revs per minute. It is, however, the lower kerb weight that makes the XE feel even more powerful. Moreover, the RWD drivetrain makes the drive more fun, even though the torque is relatively lesser than the S90. An automatic transmission gearbox makes sure that speeding on the expressway is not fussy and is convenient.
Verdict
The Volvo S90 and Jaguar XE are driven by luxury and are big names in the segments. But then, they fulfil different duties. The Volvo car is more biased to offer comfort as the Indian customers love living life in extravaganza just as much as they love sitting at the back and enjoy the ride rather than handling the steering themselves.
The Jaguar XE, on the other hand, is more young-ish and is undoubtedly sportier. Despite being modest on the interiors, it is more powerful on the road and the engine response is brilliant. The rear wheel drive is what will encourage the drivers to consider hitting the full throttle acceleration at the highest engine revs and enjoy the power it tells.
Having said that, if you are probably looking to buy a luxury saloon for the first time, you definitely cannot miss one major factor. The Volvo S90 is a good Rs. 20 lakhs more expensive than its counterpart which gives the Jaguar XE the upper hand in this head-to-head battle.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *