2015 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 AWD vs. Jaguar XF 3.0 AWD

Mid-level luxury sedans are to working professionals what Toyota Camrys are to normal folks. They’re go-to vehicles and safe options for cash-laden customers who crave generous amenities, good performance, and the status of an upmarket brand. What does your child’s orthodontist drive?

2015 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 AWD vs. 2015 Jaguar XF 3.0 AWD

We bet Dr. Arslanbob owns something like a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6 or BMW 5 Series.These cars are plush and prestigious without straying into extravagance like range-topping models often do. No one wants to risk enflaming the serfs trapped in their clapped-out hoopties. Flagships can draw more undesirable attention than a ruptured bag of glitter. Keeping a step back from the top is a reasonably safe place to be, though that’s probably what Spiro Agnew thought …

Giving Type-A customers some welcome choice, the British and South Koreans both have legitimate alternatives to upscale German offerings. The Jaguar XF is a versatile four-door with more brand cachet than a membership at Pebble Beach. As for Hyundai, its Genesis sedan has morphed into a phenomenal all-around vehicle, though one that still offers a lot of bang for your buck. Either way, financial planners, junior executives and lawyers who haven’t made partner yet will like them both, though one is a much wiser choice.

Classic Rivals

Compared to one another, the Jaguar XF and Hyundai Genesis are almost classic rivals, something akin to the bad blood between Ford and Chevrolet, Coke and Pepsi or Courtney Love and sobriety. The big cat represents old-world class and traditional luxury, while the Korean brand stands for value and 21^st century ambition.

With identical mission statements, these vehicles share a lot in common and are similar in size. At 118.5 inches, the Genesis rides on a wheelbase that’s four inches longer than the XF’s hub-to-hub span. Not surprisingly, the Genesis’ body is 1.2 inches longer as well. As for width, Hyundai’s offering is also a couple inches broader than its British rival.

In the front and rear, the Genesis has more head room plus a wider cabin. However, the XF counters with an extra-spacious trunk and a lighter curb weight — its trunk hold can accommodate 17.7 cubic feet of goods while the Hyundai’s is only able to swallow 15.3.

Another laudable attribute of theJaguar is that it’s 150 pounds lighter, but don’t get too excited because both of these all-wheel-drive cars clock in at more than two tons. Miata rivals they are not.

The XF may have more storage space and a mass differential tipped in its favor, but the car’s real advantage is found ahead of the firewall. Its 3.0-liter supercharged V6 punches harder than the naturally aspirated unit found in the Genesis. Thanks to an Eaton twin-vortex blower and dual intercoolers, this six-shooter releases a stampede of 340 horses and 332 lb-ft of torque. At 3.8-liters, the Hyundai’s V6 does have a displacement advantage, but it’s no match for the Jag, delivering just 311 ponies and 293 units of twist.

Fortunately, it’s a level playing field aft of the bell housing, as both cars are equipped with eight-speed automatic transmissions that bolster performance and fuel efficiency. In the economy department, Jaguar’s offering stickers at 17 miles per gallon city, 27 highway and 20 combined. Hyundai manages a still-respectable average of 19 mpg, which is derived from its city score of 16 and its interstate rating of 25.

X to the F

But who cares about numbers?! They can’t convey the way a car feels, how comfortable its seats are or the manner in which a transmission responds at wide-open throttle. Putting these machines through their paces back to back on the same driving loop revealed a few intriguing differences.

Starting with the Jaguar, it feels a bit faster than the Korean in this comparison, though that should come as no surprise. Also, its transmission is smooth and prompt.

This car is also a delight to the ears, thanks to a touch of whine provided by its mechanical atmosphere multiplier. The supercharger’s siren song is enthralling and totally unexpected in a luxury vehicle. Unfortunately though, the Jaguar’s engine is not quite as well isolated as the powerplant its rival brandishes and a little extra vibration can be felt inside, which, coincidentally, is another one of this car’s downsides.

The cabin in the XF is disappointing; there’s simply no other way to describe it. It’s cramped and unacceptably flimsy, with various creaks and groans making their presence felt within the first block I drove it. This means one of two things, either the test car was infested with poltergeists or it was on the verge of falling apart. Not being a particularly superstitious person, I’d bet money on the latter.

Beyond this, the control stalks feel sloppy and frail, like they could divorce themselves from the steering column without notice, the lids on the center console that cover the cup holders and storage cubbies feel insubstantial to the touch, and even the gauges look like they belong in a budget hatchback, not a luxury sedan.

However, despite the stench of disappointment inside, the XF does have two noteworthy features. Its rotary shift knob rises from the console when its engine is fired up, which is a nifty touch. Additionally, this car’s air vents on the dashboard are motorized, opening when the climate control system is switched on and closing again when things are shut down. It’s a delightfully gratuitous feature.