Overview
- Great to drive
- Well crafted interior
- Plenty of tech as standard
- Most powertrains are thirsty
- On the pricier side
- Could be more spacious in the rear
What's the Jaguar XJ like?
The luxury saloon market is dominated by the Germans, but none of them can match the superlative bespoke ambience and cabin simplicity of the wonderful Jaguar XJ.
Nor can they match such large car agility, which comes thanks to a lightweight aluminium body and excellent suspension system.
The interior electronic gadgetry of the opposition can be really intimidating, and many owners will tell you they never use half of it.
But the simpler and driver-focused cabin of the luxurious XJ is much more relaxing, and just sitting into the sumptuous interior is a delight.
The most recent model, built from 2010, only went out of production in 2019, and that was because of fairly small sales and that the development of its pure electric successor.
Engines
Of course, performance is absolutely superb - just as you would expect from a Jaguar - with the most powerful 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged models covering the 0 to 60mph sprint in well under 5.0 seconds. These produce a whopping 502bhp and yet can still manage economy in the low 20mpg range.
Other petrol engines include a naturally aspirated V8 with 379bhp and a supercharged V6 with 335bhp, but by far the largest seller was the 3.0-litre diesel turbo.
The 379bhp V8 covers the 60mph sprint in 5.5 seconds and will do 24mpg at best, while the V6 could manage 31mpg and does the benchmark sprint in 5.7 seconds.
With around 300bhp under that sleek bonnet, the turbodiesels can achieve 36mpg and yet can still get to 60mph in 6.0 seconds and have far lower emissions.
Driving Experience and Interior
All have the most marvellous if subdued soundtrack - even the silky smooth diesel - just as any truly sporting saloon should, but at cruising speeds, the interior is as quiet as a library reading room.
The cabin is a wonderful piece of design, with unique touches over its luxury rivals and as I said above, the kind of ambience they can only dream of.
Peter Hayward
The all-leather upholstery was available in a wide range of colours, but this is a car that many thought looks its best in tan or light brown.
And anyone who would like maximum rear seat legroom should be able to find a long-wheelbase model, which gives an extra 12cm over the standard car.
Equipment
There are five main trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Portfolio, Autobiography, and R-Sport. And at the very pinnacle of XJ ownership comes the XJR575, which is a very rare spectacle.
The Autobiography comes in long-wheelbase only, and the R-Sport and XJR are all standard length.
As well as the wonderful leather with electric seat adjustment, all have climate control, cruise, sat nav, loads of airbags and electronic safety devices, CD and DVD player, audio remote, and a sunroof.
They also have headlight washers, heated seats, lumbar support, parking sensors and of course, traction control to help keep all those horses in check.
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Find your Jaguar XJ your way with CarStore
The XJ is a large executive car that offers the usual levels of refinement and luxury that you'd expect from a Jaguar, but many may be surprised to learn just how agile it feels on the road. While its German rivals may be more common, there's something to admire about the XJ's plush interior and sophisticated design, making it a good choice on the used market.
Here at CarStore, you're able to buy your car your way. Whether that be online, in-person, or a mix of both, the choice is yours. With an extensive variety of used cars available, we're sure to have a car that suits your lifestyle.
