ROADTEST JAGUAR XJ 3.00 PORTFOLIO:JAGUAR IS revolting and it's fantastic news for car fans. They say it takes time for a real classic to make its mark and it's certainly too early to cast the new XJ in that light because it's a look that takes time to garner your affections.
We had our first sighting of the car nearly two years ago at a design briefing and our response was rather muted, largely because of the rear styling. The meaty presence of the front of the car belied the slightly hatchback appearance of the rear pillars. It just didn’t look regal enough for an XJ.
Jaguar lit the touchpaper for the revolution with the XF. This was a radical departure from the retro world of the S-Type and X-Type. Here was a car that really could appeal to devotees of the German brands. Its sales success to date proves it was a popular uprising.
Now comes the biggest leap of all for the big cat: dumping a design template for its flagship model that seemed to have been around since Britain had an empire.
Even after a host of previews we still couldn’t quite get our heads around the new styling at the car’s official launch. It was only on local Irish roads – stuck in traffic or parked among the muddied motoring masses in multi-storey car parks – that we had a Paulian change of heart and it was biblical in proportion.
Perhaps it’s because the “new” models from its rivals are so hard to differentiate from their predecessors that this car seems so bold. Whatever the psychological reasons for our fondness for the XJ’s new look, there’s no question it turns heads in ways its rivals just can’t manage.
Im sure I will be forced to eat these words in the near future, but for our money the XJ is the best-looking luxury car on the market. Potential buyers will make up their own minds, but in a market where car firms seem to run scared of change, Jaguar has been admirably adventurous.
The interior is as plush as you would expect from a luxury car these days, with great swathes of beautiful walnut veneer and perfectly stitched leather. The British brand has managed to mix tradition and modernity in ways that others simply cannot match. The sweeping wood line that runs down the doors and around the top of the dash is more reminiscent of a yacht than a mass-produced motor.
One new feature that impresses friends is the dual function of the front dash-mounted HD touch screen. Now the passenger can watch a DVD while the driver can work away with the Sat-Nav and other controls on the same screen. It’s a bit of a gimmick but it does get top marks as the gadget of the moment.
Jaguar has been offering touch screen systems for several years now and the software has improved in both operation and appearance over that time and in the XJ the system is more intuitive than the turn-and-click controls on rivals.
However, we did find that in an effort to offer more control options per screen view, the icons have become smaller and more difficult to click on unless you look down at the screen. We’ve also had occasions during our week in the car when the software seemed to freeze. The problem with fingerprint marks on the screen also remains an issue.
As with the XF, there are touches of pure bling in the XJ’s cabin. The shining chrome rotating transmission dial that rises up when the engine is turned on remains a top party trick.
Aside from the toys and decor, the XJ is a much more enjoyable drive than its predecessor. The steering is a lot more focussed and precise, while this diesel engine is, arguably, as good as its German rivals.
It pumps out a respectable 275bhp, but it’s the 600Nm of torque on tap that really gives it a kick when you want to overtake. After several minutes in heavy traffic the XJ needs only the slightest window of opportunity to break free and leave the rest as little more than minor reflections in the rearview mirror.
On more challenging roads the ride is also firmer than you’d expect, giving the driver more feedback and belying the car’s five-metre wheelbase. Its a sportier ride than we’ve encountered in a big Jag that wasn’t from its R version performance fleet.
The price is a few more shudders on the bumps. The ride quality is firm, so the XJ is not the wafting pleasure cruiser some might expect.
The undulations of Irish roads can be felt in the cabin, but if you are behind the wheel you won’t mind that much. Overall it’s the one area where its German rivals have an edge on the XJ.
Another gripe we would have with the car is tyre noise. Running on 20” alloys, the rumble from the road at motorway speeds was louder than we would have expected from such a car, but that’s partly down to the fact that the engine is so quiet. The diesel powertrain is but a distant rumble unless you put your foot to the floor.
NO DOUBTJaguar will explain these as being the result of making the XJ a far more driver-focussed offering, but I'm not sure everyone in the passenger seats will concur that it's a price worth paying.
While a long wheelbase version is available for €4,985 extra, the regular model offers plenty of legroom for those in the back. Yet we were disappointed with the legroom for an adult front seat passenger who will have to push the seat back to fully access the glovebox.
The boot is as spacious as you’d expect from one of these cars, if not quite the cavern on offer with the likes of the Mercedes S-Class.
So how does it stack up against the opposition? In terms of luxury, sumptuous interiors and high-tech gizmos are a given in this segment. Yet there are some stylish touches on the XJ that give it the premium edge over rivals.
As well built as its German rivals are, they do instil the notion of mass production, whereas the Jaguar seems a little closer to the bespoke. It’s utterly ill-conceived, for it’s as much a product of the factory line as the rest, but with great swathes of wood and leather giving it a more crafted cabin feel. It’s fitting for a British luxury car.
Jaguar made a massive leap forward with the XF and it landed in the winner’s enclosure. The likelihood is that the same success awaits them with the new XJ, provided people don’t find the ride too firm.
In terms of pricing, Jaguar is right in the mix, starting at €87,090 for the relatively well-equipped entry version.
The XF has been a sure-fire hit and after a week in the XJ we’ve been won over to its new look.
Viva la revolution.
Factfile
Engine: 2,993cc turbodiesel engine putting out 275bhp @ 2,000 rpm and 600Nm of torque from 2,000rpm with six-speed auto transmission;
Specification: Standard luxury model comes with: dynamic stability control; 19 alloys; bi-xenon headlights; panoramic glass sunroof; reverse park assist; heated windscreen; leather upholstered seats; dualzone air-con; sat-nav with 8 full colour touch screen system; virtual instrumentation display; 400-watt sound system with 12 speakers.
L/100km: urban - 9.6 (29.6); extra-urban:5.7 (50); combined: 7.0 (40.1)
CO2: 184g/km (Band E - €630 motor tax)
Bootspace: 520 litres
Price: €104,060 (starts at €87,090 for Luxury)
THE RIVALS
Audi A8 3.0 TDI
Power: 350 bhp
0-100km/h: 5.5 secs
L/100km (mpg): 7.6 (37.2)
CO2 (tax): 199 g/km
Motor tax: €1,050
Bootspace: 510 litres
Price: €110,170
BMW 740d
Power: 306 bhp
0-100km/h: 6.3 secs
L/100km (mpg): 6.9 (40.9)
CO2 (tax): 181 g/km
Motor tax: €630
Bootspace: 500 litres
Price: €103,160
Mercedes S350 CDI
Power: 232 bhp
0-100km/h: 7.8 secs
L/100km (mpg): 7.6 (37.2)
CO2 (tax): 199 g/km
Motor tax: €1,050
Bootspace: 560 litres
Price: €98,600
Lexus LS600h
Power: 440 bhp
0-100km/h: 6.3 secs
L/100km (mpg): 9.3 (30.4)
CO2 (tax): 219 g/km
Motor tax:€1,050
Bootspace: 420 litres
Price: €133,315