Wheels Australia — June 2017

46 wheelsmag.com.au

Headtoohead

A FAST ’N’ FURIOUS FACE-OFF

V

VERDICT

In our April issue sports sedan double-header, the new B9-series

Audi S4 stacked up as the everyman’s ‘sports sedan lite’ alongside

Alfa Romeo’s liveable M3/C63-beater, the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

However, Jaguar’s XE S didn’t figure in those fights. Before the

Giulia arrived, at least, it was the left-field pick of the premium

medium sedans. And, while experience suggests that some

The new Audi S4 narrowly edged out the Benz-AMG C43 in a

recent sub-muscle sedan stand-off (April issue) and returns

to fend off Jaguar’s ultimate mid-size performance sedan,

the XE S. It ticks most boxes, often with greater flair than

the Jag, boasts extensive active safety and the superb virtual

cockpit, but misses a power-adjust steering column.15/20

The S4’s adoption of the turbocharger, replacing the prior

model’s snarly supercharged 3.0-litre V6,results in an

objectively better engine that uses less fuel and produces

more grunt, at 260kW and 500Nm. With an eight-speed

auto and AWD, it’s a slick, all-weather powertrain, but

without the old donk’s – or its rival’s – top-end lust.17/20

Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive gives the S4 a substantially

different dynamic flavour – and an edgeif the road is

slippery or wet. So, while the S4’s steering is lighter, and

not as connected or fluid as the XE’s, its point ’n’ shoot

personality and grip on the road make it immensely rapid

and almost foolproof over a challenging back road.16/20

We’ll change the record when a rival brand upstages

Audi’s interiors. But for now the S4 appliessporty leather,

suede/Alcantara and aluminium to a classier cabin with a

fundamentally sharper focus on finish and tactility. A 480-

litre boot is plenty big – about 25L larger than the XE; a

space-saver costs extra.17/20

The Audi A4 is a lovely, pliant and quiet medium sedan
and, elevated into the second-tier sports sedanrealm on
19s and firmer suspension – with help from adaptive
dampers – it remains so as an S4. Sure, this is no base A4
on chubby sidewalls, but given the extra performance and
handling ability, the modest compromise is justified.17/20

Among the kit the $105K Brit shares with its $100K Deutsch

rivalare a tyre-pressure monitor system, rain-sensing

wipers and dusk-sensing headlights, LED DRLs (with

bi-xenon rather than LED headlights), 19-inch alloys,

powered, memory front seats, climate control – dual zone

here, tri-zone in the Audi – and six airbags.15/20

Like the S4, the XE S is less flamboyant about its

performance than some of its contemporaries – such as the

AMG C43 – and far tamer than a full-on sports sedan. In the

Jaguar’s case especially, that’s a shame because the 250kW

blown 3.0-litre V6 is wild in the F-Type. If it was as angry in

the hi-po XE, it’d give the Jag a malevolent edge.17/20

The Jaguar XE doesn’t hide its sporty streak, even in the

base20t. But while adding grunt in the S should be a

surefire way to make a better, quicker sports-sedan version,

the extra weight over the nose removes some of the lovely

balance found elsewhere. Yet there’s still plenty to like

about a talented rear-drive chassis packing 450Nm.16/20

The XE takes the clean, minimalist approach established by

theoriginal XF, which still appeals. But in details such as

the odd trim gap and switch or trim piece, the XE feels less

rich inside than the S4. There’s less rear legroom too,

though like the Audi, the seatback folds 40/20/40, which is

great for maximising occupant/cargo possibilities.15/20

The XE, like the A4, is a fabulously fine-riding mid-size

premiumsedan. You gain the brand’s adaptive dynamics

system as a standard feature in the flagship, which helps

offset uprated springs and bigger wheels – 19s, like the S4.

The result is the Jaguar makes the high-performance

transition without significant ride trade-off.16/20

PRICE &

EQUIPMENT

20 POINTS

INTERIOR &

VERSATILITY

20 POINTS

PERFORMANCE

& ECONOMY

20 POINTS

RIDE &

REFINEMENT

20 POINTS

STEERING

& HANDLING

20 POINTS

82/100 POINTS SCORE 79/100

WORDS JAMES WHITBOURN

HANGIN’

TOUGH

FELINE

FINE

AUDI S4

dynamic purity is lost as you scale the XE range, surely a 250kW

supercharged rear-driver with such fine fundamentals deserves a

shot at greatness. Here, the Audi S4 has a nicer cabin, with more

space in the back and a refinement and ride advantage. It wins.

But the Jaguar XE S has nicer steering, a snarlier top-end, and

individuality on its side. We’d certainly be tempted.