Jaguar X-Type vs Cadillac CTS - Comparison

Jaguar X-Type

The 2008 Jaguar X-Type is a vehicle built on Ford's Monaco platform, but besides that it is 100% Jaguar.  For 2008 this sedan gets more standard luxury features for the new model year and keeps its streamlined naming convention from 2007. The engine, drivetrain and many of the mechanical features remain unchanged from the previous year.

X-Type Design

Jaguar engineers had no choice but to scavenge the Ford parts bin for the entire Mondeo platform and then graft on various British bits to adapt it to a hazy Jaguar heritage.  Doing this effectively made the X-Type a more affordable vehicle.  Proportion and balance are important in the X-Type's design. Designers substituted a high tail for the traditional low tail of the past. The X-Type's styling themes are familiar to Jaguar aficionados and include a forward-leaning grille augmented by some sporty modern touches. Elliptical quad halogen headlights are installed, and fog lights are integrated into the lower front face. The X-Type rides on 16-inch alloy wheels, and 17-inch wheels are optional.

Jaguar X-Type Cabin

The interior of the X-Type lives up to its British heritage and is nicely appointed Jaguar style.  However, space is a bit cramped and although it is technically a five-passenger sedan, it would be hard to fit that many adults.  The cockpit features Connolly leather and traditional wood veneer or carbon-fiber trim, depending on the model.   New standard equipment includes 10-way powered driver and passenger seats, memory settings for the driver's seat and side mirror, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Jaguar's Dynamic Stability Control electronic stability system is standard.  The luxury package includes a unique 17-inch wheel design, chrome door mirror caps and automatic on/off headlamps, leather-trimmed seats and burl walnut interior trim.

Jag Power

Each X-Type is powered by a 227-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 that teams with a five-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive which is standard on all models.

X-Type Drive

The X-type does offer predictable steering and laudable stability under most conditions, yet performance is expected from the drivetrain, considering its on-paper ratings and Jaguar heritage.  Overall, the X-Type is an eager-performing, competent-handling sedan that's able to carry on the company's illustrious heritage. On wet, twisty pavement, the X-Type demonstrates its handling skills at every curve. Responding quickly and surely to steering inputs, the sedan is confident and surefooted at all speeds. Even on moderately imperfect surfaces, the ride is sheer pleasure. Rougher patches can produce some jostling, but the car corrects itself crisply without excessive rebounding. Acceleration with the 3.0-liter V-6 is vigorous, supremely confident and helped by crisp automatic-transmission operation. Exceptionally quiet, the X-Type exhibits evidence of solid, careful construction. The seats are comfortable and supportive.

Safety Features

Standard features include dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants, and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. An electronic stability system is also standard.

 

Cadillac CTS

The Cadillac CTS was redesigned for 2008.  More-refined exterior styling, greatly improved interior design and quality, more power and optional all-wheel drive mean the CTS is poised to give the Infiniti G35 and other entry-level sport sedans some tough competition. As Cadillac is in the hunt to rank with the best of the best performance vehicles, the CTS is so far its best shot.

CTS Design

The styling of the CTS is a love-it-or-leave-it design.  Yet, the new model is a much more unified design that may improve its popularity.  One controversial element is the tall grille, which plunges down low on the bumper similar to new designs from the likes of Audi and Volkswagen. If you don't like those, you probably won't like this. The CTS hasn't given up the edges, but it now has more curves in the right places. The wheels are 2 inches farther apart, which together with the lowered front bumper gives the car a ground-hugging, sturdy look. The bizarre tail has been replaced by a more sensible shape, with a lip spoiler that incorporates the center brake light. The small vents high on the front fenders, right in front of the doors are functional: They're an outlet for cooling air that's routed past the front disc brakes from inlets in the wheel wells.  Seventeen-inch wheels are standard and 18s are optional.

Cabin Features

Since it was introduced in 2002, the interior of the CTS has shown great improvement.   The new interior design is more conventional, yet modern, with vastly improved materials that look and feel high-quality. The "satin metallic" center control panel bezel is borderline, but real wood trim can be substituted as an option.  The heated and ventilated seats use what Cadillac calls thin-seat technology to provide the same comfort in a chair that's thin enough to increase legroom. Some of the CTS' notable standard and optional features include remote start, Easy Key keyless access and ignition and a 5.1-channel digital surround-sound stereo. In addition to an analog auxiliary input jack for an MP3 player, the CTS lets you attach a player that uses a USB cord and control it through the stereo and steering-wheel controls. The playlist appears on the optional navigation screen.

Cadillac CTS Power

For 2008, a new version of the 3.6-liter V-6 engine generates 300 horsepower and 270 pounds-feet of torque, partly through the use of direct fuel injection. The original 258-hp, 3.6-liter engine is the base powerplant.  The standard manual transmission is a six speed, as is the optional automatic, which also provides a manual-shift mode. Also new is optional all-wheel drive, which mates with either V-6, but only with the automatic transmission.   The CTS offers two suspensions: standard and performance.

Driving the CTS

The best part about the CTS is probably its handling, thanks to a stiff platform, independent suspension front and rear, and of course rear drive. Caddy engineers spent much time searching for a perfect suspension formula, and they came pretty close. For what is a large car by any measurement (3675 pounds and 190.1 inches long), the Cadillac is extremely agile and controllable.  Although it's overall performance numbers are midpack, the sophistication of the Caddy's suspension is impressive, and body roll is almost imperceptible.  However, with the CTS steering is too heavy but also the wheel's tilt adjustments are too coarse.

Safety Features

Standard safety equipment includes four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and an electronic stability system with traction control. In addition to the required frontal pair, there are side-impact airbags for the front occupants and side curtains that protect all occupants. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes

Summary

The 2008 X-Type is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sedan, or luxury wagon, available in two trims, the 3.0 and the Sportwagon. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2008 X-Type is a carryover from 2007. For more details, read another review of the 2008 Jaguar X-Type.  The 2008 CTS is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sedan, available in two trims, the 3.6L SFI and the 3.6L SIDI. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard.  Cadillac CTS does have some advantages such as standard theft-tracking system, traction control, and navigation system, along with slightly better mileage. To read more about the CTS's performance, read a CTS Road Test.  The 2008 Jaguar X-Type, on the other hand, ranks higher in the way of standard leather seats, 4WD/AWD, and sunroof/moonroof, and most of all, the X-Type cost about $900 less.