Luxury by any other name… still as sweet?

Our readers already know how diverse the automotive landscape is, especially for someone who has to buy a new (or new to them) vehicle. The diversity gap among luxury offerings widens constantly. Case in point: 2014 Kia Cadenza, 2013 Jaguar XJL All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and 2013 Lexus LS460 AWD.

What do they have in common? Luxury. What sets them apart from each other is a long list — yet they all provide a luxury- and technology-rich experience. The Kia Cadenza is all new and fresh to the luxury sedan market. It is trying to do for Kia what the Genesis (and now Equus) has done for Hyundai. The big gotcha: price. The Cadenza outfitted with a laundry list of options including adaptive cruise control, panoramic roof, heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats and Nappa leather seating trim tips the scales at an as-tested price of $42K. It is also the most economical of this group at 19/28/22 mpg city/hwy/combined. Why do you buy the 2014 Kia Cadenza? You want a forward-looking vehicle design (check out the ice-like LED positioning lights front and rear) and a lot of value for your money. It says smart luxury for the money conscious buyer — in fact it is as close to the original LS400 formula as you can get.

The Jaguar XJL and the Lexus LS460 AWD? They will lighten your wallet to the tune of about $86K and $82K respectively. I understand if you are rolling your eyes. I get that for most people the Jaguar is way outside the box compared to the
Cadenza and the flagship Lexus LS460. However, the irony is that even the Lexus and the Jaguar are very different from each other. The Lexus is understated, tasteful, with seats you sink into for a soft and very quiet ride. The performance is similar to the Jaguar and Cadenza with a 0-60 time of just six seconds, but it is the least fuel efficient at 16/23/18 mpg city/hwy/combined. Why would you choose the Lexus? You want brand recognition, yet you don’t want to be flashy. You value a smooth ride that still has the confidence of AWD with an edge of performance. This is a vehicle we would have called a sleeper in the late ‘60s/70s.

The Jaguar XJL is the flash vehicle. It is also one that tugs at my heartstrings. Miles of chrome accents inside and out, with contrast piping on the Truffle and Cashew leather interior. These seats are firm, yet comfortable with bolsters front and rear that tell you that this cat can move when unleashed on the road. Where the Lexus is all about ride and noise suppression, the Jaguar has a growl coming from the new for 2013 340-hp 3.0L V6 supercharged engine. It drives like a sports sedan yet has the confidence and control of AWD. The V6 is the only engine option available in the AWD, but it won’t disappoint with a 0-60 time of just 6.1 seconds. Why do you buy the Jaguar? You want quality and interior appointments akin to a Rolls Royce. It is fine English craftsmanship made in the heart of the UK. Moreover, you want to make a statement and still get a thrill out of opening the panoramic sunroof and listening to the sound of the Jaguar growl.