In the domestic market, "BBA" is the undisputed mainstream first-tier luxury brand, while others are likely to be classified as second- or third-tier luxury brands. But in my opinion, luxury is luxury, there is no hierarchy, more often than just people's vanity. With the turmoil of the auto market, many luxury brands have joined the "boom" of price reduction, especially some so-called second-tier luxury brands, and the terminal discount is indeed very powerful and the cost performance is quite high.
The four midsize cars selected this time are all from so-called second-tier luxury brands, and all of them have selected the top-of-the-line version of the 2024 model for comparison. The manufacturer's guide price is for reference only, after all, if you count the terminal discount, the actual transaction price will definitely have a lot of surprises. Among them, the Lincoln Z and Cadillac CT5 are representatives of American luxury, while the British gentlemanly style of the Jaguar XEL is also very attractive. As for the Volvo S60, its unique Nordic minimalist design is definitely an outlier among luxury brands that will make those who like it addictive.
1. Appearance
In terms of appearance, the design style of the four models is inseparable from the two keywords of "atmosphere" and "sport". In comparison, except for the Volvo S60, the other three models all have a bit of a "suit thug" flavor, and the visual effect is very aggressive. The design of the Lincoln Z and Cadillac CT5 is very consistent, exuding a relatively strong sporty atmosphere. The front face of the Jaguar XEL is very recognizable, but the center of gravity of the rear is high, and the small size of the bilateral total of two round exhausts makes the overall proportion not very coordinated. The design style of the Volvo S60 is relatively more crisp and simple, with a rather angular line and silhouette that is neat and shapely, and the characteristics are very distinct.
In terms of size, in addition to the Volvo S60, the wheelbase of the other three models has exceeded 2900mm. From this point of view alone, Volvo does show a little immaturity, of course, it may also be that it is more self-assertive. After all, for the domestic market, the wheelbase part must be "one inch long and one inch strong". Surprisingly, the Cadillac CT5 actually performs best in the wheelbase comparison, considering that it is a mid-size car with sportiness as the main selling point.
In terms of details, the Lincoln Z is equipped with hidden electric door handles, while the Cadillac CT5 is equipped with matrix LED headlights, both of which create a strong sense of sophistication. I have to say that as a representative of American luxury, these two models are indeed relatively similar in terms of overall aura. The highlight of the Jaguar XEL's exterior is the rims, and the R-DYNAMIC S uses a combination of black wheels and red brake calipers for a strong visual impact. Volvo S60 is still equipped with the family's classic "Thor's hammer" headlights, although the freshness has long been weakened, but the aesthetics and the visual effect after lighting up are really good.
In terms of external equipment, the overall difference between the four models is not obvious, in comparison, the Cadillac CT5 is a little more generous. It has exclusive matrix headlights and an induction trunk, both of which are not available in the other three models. In contrast, the Lincoln Z's keyless entry feature is only supported by the front row, while the Jaguar XEL and Volvo S60 are not equipped with multi-layer soundproof glass in the front, which is a bit regrettable for a luxury brand mid-size car.
Second, the interior
In terms of interior, there is Lincoln Z for a sense of technology, Cadillac CT5 for sports avant-garde, Jaguar XEL for solid and neat design, and Volvo S60 for minimalist design. Although the overall style is different, the four models are very mature in creating a sense of luxury and quality. Like appearance, the beauty and ugliness of design are different opinions, and every consumer has their own preferences.
In terms of interior equipment, the overall performance of the Jaguar XEL is really not excellent, for example, the seat configuration is not satisfactory. Imitation leather material is not to be talked about, and it does not require seat massage and ventilation functions, but it does not even have the most basic seat heating function, which is unreasonable. Of course, Volvo S60 is not much better, the configuration list is somewhat "clear soup and little water", for luxury brand models, the room for improvement is indeed relatively large. In contrast, the two American brand models cannot be said to be "winning" in this link, but at least they show enough sincerity, which is definitely a plus in the hearts of consumers.
3. Performance
In terms of power, the Lincoln Z is the only model in this comparison to be equipped with a gasoline-electric hybrid system, the Volvo S60 is equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system, and the other two models use a relatively pure gasoline engine. Although the displacement is 2.0T, the engine parameters of the Lincoln Z have obvious advantages, coupled with the assistance of the front single motor, its official acceleration time of 100 kilometers is 6.04s. In contrast, the power performance of the other three models is not much different, and they can basically meet the needs of daily use.
Fourth, security
In terms of safety equipment, after all, they are all mid-size cars of luxury brands, and they are all top-of-the-line versions, so there are no obvious flaws. Both U.S. models support passive pedestrian protection, showing a certain degree of humanistic care. The Jaguar XEL is equipped with run-flat tires and a reminder of unfastened seat belts throughout the car, which are very practical features. The Volvo brand has always been selling to "safety", and in comparison, the safety configuration performance of Volvo S60 is indeed remarkable.
5. Driving assistance and intelligence
In terms of hardware systems for driver assistance, the overall performance of the Lincoln Z is significantly better, not only equipped with a single front sensing camera, but also a relatively large number of other cameras and radars. The second best performance is the Cadillac CT5, which is mainly inferior to the front perception camera and the interior camera.
In terms of intelligent configuration, the Lincoln Z and Cadillac CT5 are both equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chips, and support voice wake-up words, OTA upgrades, Wi-Fi hotspots, and active noise cancellation. In addition, the former is equipped with multi-finger flyer control, continuous voice recognition, and V2X communication. In contrast, the Jaguar XEL and Volvo S60 do have a lot of room for improvement in this regard.
Summary:
The four luxury brand mid-size cars compared this time can be said to have their own characteristics, and the overall quality is also relatively good, and there is no obvious flaw. Finally, I would like to reiterate once again that there is no hierarchy of luxury, and worshipping high and low does not reflect superiority. In fact, whether it is a luxury brand or an ordinary brand model, there is a suitable position for itself, and consumers can choose within their ability to combine their needs and preferences.