XJ is Jaguar’s latest Luxury model. Can it compete with BMW and Mercedes?
Large Luxury cars tend to hold back a little on sporty flashiness. But, the Jaguar XJ breaks this mould. With its swooping lines and a snarling face, it gives a feel of sports and the comfort of Luxury.
I will list the various Pros and Cons, that make or break the reputation of this model.
Space in the XJ
Though Jaguar bills a luxury price for the model, people in the back won’t like the experience.
Legroom is acceptable enough. The LWB version adds a 125 mm to the model. But, six-footers will still have a hard time with headspace in the back. The shallow side windows also enhance the Claustrophobic aura.
You also sit low in the XJ, which makes it feel more like a sports car than a luxury saloon from the driver’s seat, although for many people that will be part of its appeal.
The boot has a large overall capacity, but space is long and narrow, rather than tall and deep, so it’s not especially easy to pack.
Comfort
As mentioned the lack of Headspace may become uncomfortable for taller people. The more Sports-like design focuses on speed more than Luxury. It is a departure from the standards set by the Mercedes S-Class.
What’s more, the diesel engine makes more of a noise than rivals’, meaning you notice its grumbling a little more than you would in other cars.
More positively, the XJ is good at shutting out wind and road noise, and its seats offer fantastic support, staving off a backache on even the longest of journeys.
The Steering and front seats are electrically adjustable adding to the comfort and ease of handling the Car. It also lets you save your preferred settings to be comfortable behind the Wheel.
The model also offers a premium package where you can replace the rear seats with Airplane style Recliners. These can be programmed to warm you, cool you, or give you a massage.
Dashboard Styling
Jaguar was among the first manufacturers to use a screen instead of conventional instruments to display your speed, revs and remaining fuel. This means extra information can be brought up when it’s needed, but it feels like an opportunity missed compared with Audi’s virtual cockpit, which offers a far greater choice of displays.
Happily, the rest of the interior is very attractive. You get large, chrome air vents that are a joy to operate and look at, while a puck-shaped gear selector that rises up when you press the starter button adds further to the sense of occasion.
The touchscreen that you use to control the car’s main entertainment functions is wide, clear, responsive and easy to use for the most part, though occasionally the satnav makes some strange decisions with regard to your route.
Ease of Driving
Jaguar offers 3.0-litre and 5.0-litre petrol models that are seriously rapid, but it’s the 3.0-litre diesel that makes the most sense.
It’s a responsive engine that delivers a real shove the instant you touch the throttle, which makes moving off or pulling out into fast-moving traffic a breeze.
Whichever engine you choose, you get a slick-shifting automatic gearbox that helps make the XJ effortless to drive. Indeed, the biggest stress as a driver is keeping it below the posted limit; the XJ is so stable at the national limit that it’s easy to accidentally let your speed creep higher if you don’t set the limiter.
Visibility is a problem, however; the rear screen is narrow and obscured by the rear headrests, and what’s worse, it distorts your view at its lower edge thanks to the shape of the glass. Combined with those narrow windows, it makes seeing out of the XJ a real chore.
Partially as a result of that poor visibility, and partially because it is such a long, low car, parking the XJ is tricky. The standard reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors help with this but don’t mitigate it entirely.
If you can, it’s worth adding the Parking Assist Pack, which is relatively reasonable and adds surround-view cameras that give you a birds-eye view of the car. These are ideal to help you judge where the corners of the car are and to help stop you kerbing an alloy wheel.
Enjoyability of Driving
The XJ is lighter than most cars of its size, and this combines with a suspension that’s tuned more for cornering fast than outright comfort to make it the most enjoyable luxury saloon you can buy.
Turn in quickly and the XJ responds beautifully, feeling like a car half its size. Not only is it nimble, but it also has plenty of grips and a balanced feel to the chassis.
Precise and well-weighted steering also helps, allowing the driver to place the XJ with confidence on winding roads.
Reliability of the XJ
Jaguar offers a 3-year unlimited mileage warranty. You do have to pay for Breakdown Assistance with Jaguar providing 4-year cover.