When it comes to powerful, luxurious coupes, the Germans are hard to beat. They’ve given us models like the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, the BMW 8 Series, and the Audi S5, among several others in various size categories. But this particular type of vehicle has hailed from many nations. Japan gave us the Lexus LC and RC F, and the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 wasn’t half bad, either. The Brits have had a particular penchant for this; just look at Aston Martin. But if you want a true Mercedes-Benz SL rival at a bargain price, you may want to look in the direction of Jaguar.
Related
Now Is The Best Time To Buy This Supercharged V8-Powered British Sports Car
With the brand taking an entirely new direction, this is probably the last V8 sports car the company will ever produce.
No, not the new Jaguar, and none of the brand’s current models. An older one that still gives you the experience you’re after and can be had for relative peanuts.
The model in question is the Jaguar XK, Jag’s grand tourer that saw production from 1996 to 2014. However, our focus is the facelifted second-generation XKR variant, produced from 2011 to the end of the XK’s production run. It boasts plenty of luxurious amenities, loads of power, and a very agreeable price tag on the used market, all of which help put the equivalent Mercedes-Benz SL to shame.
MSRP
$97,500
Engine
5.0L Supercharged V8 Gas
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Transmission
6-Speed Automatic
Horsepower
510 hp
Torque
461 lb-ft @ 2500-5500 rpm
Expand
One Of The Last True Jags
2012 jaguar xkr front red in motionJaguar
Quick Facts About The Jaguar XKR X150
Currently, it boasts an average used price of $31,341
Produces 503 horsepower from a supercharged V8
Shares its platform with the Jaguar XJ X351
For some reason, despite the Jaguar XK being hard to miss in a crowd, it’s largely forgotten about when it comes to powerful grand tourers and luxury coupes. Of course, Jaguar’s unfortunate reputation stemming from a period of poor build quality plays a hand in that, but it still doesn’t fully explain the XK’s relative obscurity. Especially when you consider the XKR, a 500-something horsepower fire-breather that wears a two-piece suit.
2012 Jaguar XKR Black/Brown Interior Driver AreaJaguar
The second-gen XKR is a beautiful thing to look at, with a perfect blend of swooping curves and sharp lines. Its wide hips and E-Type-inspired front grille don’t hurt, either. Inside, the XKR X150 boasts an interior fully trimmed in leather, along with amenities like a touchscreen infotainment system and Jag’s JaguarDrive rotary gear selector that rises out of the center console for use. You could even have a headliner made out of something called Poltrona Frau leather.
Current Market Pricing
The facelifted Jaguar XKR X150 currently has an average used price of $31,341, based on CarBuzz Marketplace averages. Below, we’ll break down the XK-R’s used pricing by year and compare it to the Mercedes-Benz SL, specifically the SL 63 AMG:
Jaguar XKR
Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG
2011
$30,225
$33,325
2012
$35,430
$39,898
2013
$28,274
$51,000
2014
$31,435
$52,486
Cumulative Average
$31,341
$44,177
Specs And Features
Image of the Jaguar XKR engineJaguar
On top of its 503-horsepower, supercharged engine, the second-gen XKR had several other aces up its sleeve. Its power is handled by a ZF 6HP28 six-speed transmission, a slight upgrade over the normal XK’s ZF 6HP26. Like its sibling, the XJ, the XKR features an all-aluminum body. Thanks to this, it was approximately 200 pounds lighter than the previous XK generation, the X100. The X150 XKR received a fully independent suspension setup tuned for handling, along with a set of upgraded brakes.
Jaguar XKR Specs (2011–2014)
Engine
5.0-Liter Supercharged AJ133S V8
Horsepower
503 hp @ 6,000–6,500 rpm
Torque
461 lb-ft @ 2,500–5,500 rpm
0-60 MPH Time
4.5 Seconds
1/4 Mile Time @ MPH
13.0 Seconds @ 109.0 mph
Top Speed
155 mph (Limited)
Curb Weight
3,968/4,079 lbs (Coupe/Convertible)
One to look out for is a model offered with what Jag called the “Speed Pack”. The Speed Pack added an attractive and functional aero kit to the XKR’s exterior and raised the speed limiter from the standard 155 mph to 174 mph. A “Black Pack” was also offered, although it was solely an appearance package, replacing some chrome trim with black trim, and giving the XKR a set of black wheels.
Features
As a luxury car, Jaguar needed to offer enough standard kit to entice buyers who expected some refinement with their fire-breathing V8s. Things like heated seats and steering wheel were optional, along with rain-sensing wipers and navigation. Nearly all standard options are also shared with the normal Jaguar XK, save for a pair of adaptive headlights, which follow the path of the vehicle via steering input. But the standard specification was mighty generous, with the full list including:
Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Cruise Control
Remote Keyless Entry with Proximity Sensing Keyless Entry
Push-Button Engine Start
Touchscreen Navigation System
iPod Connector
Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Satellite Radio
Remote Control Liftgate/Trunk Release
Heated Mirrors
Heated Steering Wheel
Integrated Garage Door Opener
Leather Seats and Steering Wheel
Dual Power Front Seats
Power Windows
Adaptive Headlights
How It Stacks Up To Its Competition
As we alluded to at the beginning of this write-up, the Jaguar XKR was a bit of an underdog in its segment, not to mention it wasn’t as trusted as something like the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class or the BMW 6 Series. In essence, the XKR had an uphill battle to climb, and just based on the figures, it did a pretty good job at it.
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG
2009 mercedes-benz sl 63 amg front silver in motionMercedes-Benz
One of the most impressive luxury sports coupes during the early 2010s was the Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG, and it also happens to be the car we compare our XKR to in this write-up. The Merc takes advantage of a 6.2-liter V8 coupled with a seven-speed Multi-Clutch Technology automatic transmission. Its suspension was tuned, and owners could take advantage of the AMG Drive Unit, which offered a Race Start function, or launch control, as it’s more commonly known.
Model
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG
2011 Jaguar XKR
Engine
6.2-Liter V8
5.0-Liter Supercharged V8
Horsepower
518 hp
503 hp
Torque
465 lb-ft
461 lb-ft
0-60 MPH Time
4.3 Seconds
4.5 Seconds
Starting Price (2011)
$142,525
$96,000
$20,995
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
SL 550
Capital Auto Sales,Â
25280 Pleasant Valley Rd Ste 150, Chantilly, VA
285
miles away
$12,900
Great price
$6,189 below average
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
SL 550
Eagle Automotives Inc,Â
3700 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA
294
miles away
$14,999
Great price
$4,090 below average
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
SL 550
REGAL AUTOHAUS,Â
108 New South Rd, Hicksville, NY
314
miles away
$18,999
Great price
$90 below average
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
SL 550
Green Light Auto Sales,Â
9 Russell Rd, Bethany, CT
320
miles away
$18,999
Great price
$90 below average
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
SL550
Green Light Auto Sales,Â
9 Russell Rd, Bethany, CT
320
miles away
See more on
$16,995
Great price
$2,094 below average
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
SL550
InTouch Auto Outlet,Â
10421 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
327
miles away
$13,493
Great price
$5,596 below average
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
SL550
Automan Empire,Â
4802 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA
332
miles away
$14,995
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
SLK300
Mira Auto Sales,Â
10060 Princeton Glendale Rd, Cincinnati, OH
383
miles away
$25,995
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
SL 550
Panel Craft Auto Sales LLC,Â
10605 Deme Dr STE A, Indianapolis, IN
422
miles away
$14,999
Great price
$4,090 below average
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
SL550
ENE Motors,Â
9503 Washington Ave, Racine, WI
456
miles away
$24,999
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
SL 550
Euroline Motors INC,Â
2622 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL
458
miles away
$24,250
View full listing
2011 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
SL 550
Craige Motor Co.,Â
1102 S Duke St, Durham, NC
479
miles away
Why It’s Worth It
2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible & Coupe – front 3/4 angleJaguar
If you’re still not convinced, all you need to do is look at the thing. It’s, arguably, one of the prettiest cars to come out of Jaguar for decades, and it perfectly blends classical styling with plenty of modern flair. Its power numbers speak for themselves, and it can keep up with the Mercedes we looked at earlier, for a much smaller price tag. Not to mention, the Jag will turn heads, whereas the Merc won’t get nearly as many second glances.
Of course, we have to provide the caveat that this wasn’t Jag’s finest period for reliability and build quality, so a used example may have a few flaws that need looking after. But if you’re after an experience that differs from the mainstream alternatives of the time, the XKR is something that can’t be beaten.
Sources: Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz