BMW X5 3.0i a better deal than Jaguar sedan.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ At first glance, the BMW X5 3.0i and the Jaguar S-Type 3.0L have little in common except for the size of their engines.

The X5 is a luxury sport-utility from a German automaker. The S-Type is a luxury sedan from a venerable name in British auto making that's now owned by Ford Motor.

In fact, each even employs a different engine configuration, with the BMW getting the expected in-line version of its cylinders while the Jaguar employs a V-6.

Yet each represents an attempt by its maker to stretch the availability of a new model. In this case, the six-cylinder versions of these vehicles makes them not only less powerful but also much cheaper than their V-8-bearing siblings.

The X5 4.4i with its 282-horsepower V-8 sells for $50,045 with destination charge. The X5 3.0i that we drove with its 225-horsepower in-line six sells for $39,545.

The S-Type 4.0L with its 281-horsepower V-8 sells for $49,950 with destination charge. The S-Type 3.0L that we drove with its 240-horsepower V-6 sells for $44,250.

In these troubled economic times, even luxury car buyers think twice when making $5,000 or $10,000 decisions. Let's see what they get for their money.