Review: Jaguar XJ
Jaguar brought its latest big cat up to Scotland last week. The new XJ has been causing shockwaves in the luxury car market, not least for its radical departure from the tried and tested lines of yesteryear's flagship Jaguar saloon.
- By Jack McKeown, motoring editor
- Published in the Courier : 01.09.10
- Published online : 02.09.10 @ 06.46pm
Hugely modernised, it's very clearly part of the new breed of Jaguar that started a couple of years ago with the very excellent XF.
Sharing many design cues with the XF, it has a low, aggressive silhouette and lots of coupe-like touches that make it much less stuffy and more sporting than the outgoing model.
Given that buyers of big Jaguar saloons tend to be over 50, wealthy, and conservative with a small c — and often, a big C as well — it's a bold move on Jaguar's behalf.
I like it. As Nick Cave sang, the game is never won by standing in any one place for too long.
The range starts at £53,900 for the 3.0 litre diesel in 'basic' Luxury trim, rising to £91,000 for the 5.0 litre supercharged long wheelbase version.
I drove the standard wheelbase 5.0 litre version — just for the thrills, you understand — then settled into the 3.0 litre V6 diesel in Portfolio trim, which is likely to be one of the biggest sellers.
The diesel unit that is so good in the XF makes a successful transition into the bigger car. Nought to 62mph comes up in a snappy 6.4 seconds and top speed is limited to 155mph. Fuel economy, quite remarkably given the car's size and turn of speed, breaks the 40mpg mark, while emissions aren't bad either.
As you'd expect, the ride beats anything up to a magic carpet or Lexus 600, absorbing bumps, potholes, cats eyes and pretty much anything else in its path.
Unlike the Lexus, which is built almost solely for comfort, the Jag also handles with a delicate surefootedness that belies its size. The supercharged version offers near supercar performance (0-62mph takes 4.9 seconds) but even the diesel version is very entertaining.
The inside is plush enough for the well-heeled banker to clench his teeth around his cigar in smug satisfaction, although there isn't much room for him to wave his silver-topped cane around.
Cars with 'Luxury' trim get lots of nice ambient lighting, American walnut veneer, and seats clad in soft leather. Go for Portfolio, and the wood becomes ebony, while the top Supersport version gives you oak. Long wheelbase XJs get fold-out wood and chrome tables in the rear that are beautiful pieces of craftsmanship.
Delightful touches like the rotating chrome air vents and the automatic gearbox dial that rises from the central console are carried over from the XF, and make the switchgear in upmarket German rivals look boring and unimaginative.
The only possible criticisms are its price and the lack of room in the rear.
Jaguar has been riding high ever since it snaffled Scottish design guru Ian Callum from Aston Martin, and I expect the XJ to continue the company's renaissance.
Price (for 3.0 litre V6 diesel in Portfolio): £64,400.
0-62mph: 6.4seconds.
Top speed: 155mph.
Economy: 40.1mpg.
CO2 emissions: 184g/km.
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