I've found an old thread or two on this topic, but for someone considering a used purchase - something with at around 50k miles/80k km or more, I'm not sure this has been well addressed.

Here's what I've worked out so far.

On the one hand, the X250 has some advantages:

• Nicer interior
• I'm guessing a lot more were made (no?) which could mean more used and even new parts available, plus more experienced independent mechanics?
• And of course, they are a LOT cheaper. Or perhaps there's a reason for that ... ?

On the one hand, the X260 also has advantages:

• It's newer, so new parts may be easier to come by?
• At least with the engine I'm mainly looking at, the 3 liter diesel, the X260 is a bit more powerful, and a bit lighter too. And perhaps those bits add up - the one X260 I test drove felt like a genuinely fast car, despite my arriving and departing in something with a significantly higher power to weight ratio. Whereas the two X250s I drove did not make the same impression on me. Maybe the torque difference is even bigger? Or maybe my test drives were too short, and the roads too different, to get an accurate impression? (And if this is a real issue, does the 275 hp 3 liter in the X250 respond well to chip tuning?)

Then there's the key question for me: Which is more fun to drive - as a Sportbrake? The X260 is generally said to be more fun to drive, but the X250 sportbrake is generally said to be more fun to drive than the X250 sedan. So perhaps with Sportbrakes, the tables turn? (I'm only considering the 3 liter diesels and, just maybe, the V8s.)

Have I missed any important differences? For instance reliability? Or anything else? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. I started a similar thread in the X250 forum, so anyone interested in what members say about this topic may also want to look there.

 

Speaking as an owner of two X260 Sportbrakes over four years I can say that it is just about the best handling car I've ever driven - and as a former UK traffic cop I've driven a lot of different cars over the years.
It's a big car, but the mainly aluminium construction makes it very light and nimble to drive, its cornering is pin sharp and precise. It's rarely unsettled by road bumps etc. It's smooth, relaxed at speed and extremely comfortable. I cannot find a single bad thing to say about it.
I have had no reliability problems in over 30,000 miles other than a sticky VVT solenoid occasionally turning on the EM light, there was a TSB bulletin for this and it was quickly fixed. My previous X260 had the smaller 300mm brakes which had an annoying squeal, but my present one with 350mm brakes doesn't have this problem.
I absolutely love it.

 

I love this thread - I have an x260 SB (3.0L s/c) and a x250 XFRS sedan (5.0L s/c)

Obviously - the v8 s/c in the RS is levels above the 3.0L. I also prefer the interior quality and fit and finish. To me, the x250 is a nicer car inside, but the x260 is a nicer car outside. I prefer driving the x250 but that is because it is an all around awesome performer and I like cars to be a bit more firm. The x260 is very capable, but it feels less willing to do so. Meaning you have to really try hard to make that car fun, where in the x250 it is a bit more natural. Thats not to say the x260 Isn't fun, it just has to go through a bit of a personality change to get there (Dynamic, S mode, stronger inputs from driver). Where as my x250 just wants to go, carve, stop and handle like a champ from the get go. It is an RS, so its a bit of an unfair comparison.

Parts availability, and reliability have been about the same for me, and neither of them too annoying. Both cars are not common in the US so there's that part, but that's also the appeal for me.

One thing you haven't mentioned is creature comforts and tech. The x260 will have more modern amenities and a better gauge cluster/interface that is current. the x250 was faround since 2009ish and it shows, as it struggled to keep up with the times towards the end of its run. As it ages, support, and parts availability for the modules, radio, etc I have to imagine will decrease. I kind of laugh when I get in my x250 and look at the infotainment screen, its so old and block looking, where I get in my Sportbrake and I have a nice jpeg background, car-play, nav on the cluster, etc. Its not a huge deal for me, the x250 driving experience makes up for it and the audio is better in the x250 as well. But for daily driving and being the do everything car, the x260 is fantastic.

hope this helps from someone who owns both generations, albeit different spec.

 

what year is your x250 @DeviLSh ? I find my interior quite well from the comfort to the seats, the leather vinyling all around the car from the dash too the doors, plus the cool gimmick of the A/C poppin out the dash when activated, the space inside for leg comfort, and the infotainment center (although I don't use my infotainment center for anything other than BT music and showing off the jaguar logo displayed on it)

 

2015. And yes the vent opening is a nice event, hope it never breaks! I do the SAME THING, I get my music going then turn off the screen so it can display the RS logo instead of the menus.

 

oh man you got the beast of all BEAST the xfrs congrats on that! ive never seen one listed in the U.S but I can imagine the demand for it with the limited amount they had made.

 

Lots of interesting reading - thanks! Seems I can count on an X260 sportbrake being quite fun to drive, and probably an X250 XFR(S) sportbrake too. For me, that leaves the question of how the 6 cylinder X250 sportbrakes compare. Given how much less they cost than X260s, it's a very interesting question!