Overview & Reviews

The British have a penchant for revering (and some say clinging to) things past -- old buildings and dentistry from the 16th century, warm beer, 50-year-old double-decker Routemasters, the royal family and the Jaguar XJ. For more than 40 years, the XJ's basic styling strayed very little through three generations and several midlife updates. About the wildest thing to happen was the addition of square headlamps in 1990 -- and they were generally met with a chorus of jeers and "cor blimeys!"

That all changed when Jag pulled the covers off its radical next-generation 2011 XJ. Gone was ye olde styling, and in came sexy modern duds unlike anything else on the road. The cabin ditched the stuffy fascia of wood, the ugly green lighting and crotchety old J-gate shifter in favor of a cabin so exquisitely detailed and dramatically designed that it may make a potential Bentley buyer think twice. Really, this would be like Susan Boyle walking into a pub and coming out looking like Keira Knightley. The XJ has truly gone from a forgotten player to a sought-after all-star.

Current Jaguar XJ
The Jaguar XJ is a large luxury sedan available in regular and long-wheelbase (L) body styles. The XJ comes in base, Supercharged and XJR trim levels, while the XJL has the Portfolio, Supercharged and XJR trim levels.

The base XJ and the XJL Portfolio are powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard and these trims are the only ones that offer optional all-wheel drive. This engine features automatic stop-start, which saves fuel by shutting off the engine when the car is stopped momentarily, such as at a traffic light or while in stop-and-go traffic. Upgrading to the XJ Supercharged model gets you a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 470 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque, while the XJR boasts a higher-output version of that engine with 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. All engines come matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Jaguar XJ's interior is exquisite. Not only does its aesthetic design appeal, but the craftsmanship and materials quality are a step beyond those of its impressive rivals. Supple leather, rich wood, tasteful applications of chrome and ice-blue lighting decorate a cabin fit for and literally enjoyed by royalty. In-car electronics are dominated by a large touchscreen, which works OK but doesn't react as quickly to screen-and-knob inputs as BMW's iDrive. The instrument panel is, in fact, a big LCD, and adapts to different driving scenarios and in-use vehicle functions (navigation, for instance).

On the road, few cars balance ride comfort and sporty handling as deftly as the XJ. Even with the big wheels, it glides down the road with sophisticated composure. And yet with its lightweight aluminum chassis, adaptive suspension and sharp steering, the XJ is also deceptively agile and feels considerably smaller when behind the wheel than its pricier flagship sedan competitors do. On the other hand, those rivals also have bigger, more limolike backseats.

Used Jaguar XJ Models
The current generation of the Jaguar XJ debuted for 2011. Both regular and long-wheelbase (L) versions of the rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan were offered. Initially, there were three trim levels: XJ, XJ Supercharged and XJ Supersport. The base XJ came with a 5.0-liter V8 (385 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque) while the XJ Supercharged had a supercharged version (470 hp and 424 lb-ft). The XJ Supersport had a higher-output version of the supercharged V8 (510 hp and 461 lb-ft), but wasn't as performance-focused as the current XJR. All had a six-speed automatic (with manual shift control) and rear-wheel drive and were very quick, with 0-60 mph times in the range of 4.4 to 5.4 seconds. The following year saw some equipment shuffling, such as new reclining and massaging features for the XJL Supersport's rear seat.

For 2013, a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 (340 hp and 332 lb-ft) became the new base engine and it featured automatic stop-start functionality to save fuel when the car was momentarily stopped. All-wheel drive was a new option but it was only available with the V6, while all XJs came with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. There were a couple of new trim levels for the long-wheelbase ("L") XJ: the Portfolio, which came with the 385-hp V8, and the limited-edition Ultimate. The latter was essentially a Supersport with an ultra-swank, two-passenger rear seat compartment. This year also saw updated electronics that included a faster infotainment touchscreen and a new audio system.

These latter XJs are essentially identical to the current lineup with the exception of the Supersport giving way to the more performance-oriented XJR, the XJL Portfolio still having a V8 (versus the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine) and the Ultimate trim level being available (discontinued for 2014).

Those interested in an older XJ may want to take a look at one of the previous-generation models covered in a separate Jaguar XJ Series review.

User Reviews:

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  Infotainment is outdated and unreliable - 2016 Jaguar XJ
  By Bob D. - May 9 - 11:08 pm

  I have now had my 2016 XJL Potfolio for 1 year. I love the looks of the car and it’s driving performance and luxury. However the infotainment system is years behind Merecedes, Audi, and BMW. I had an Audi A8L prior to this and this is a step backwards as far as the electronics. The worst part is that The Bluetooth and hands free system have never worked properly since day 1 and are completely unreliable and dealer had not been able to get it resolved. Also my ability to get it to play my music from my phone is equally unreliable. Just way too many electronic glitches with this car. Getting assistance from Jaguar and the dealer has also been a big hassle. I am going to take a hit and get ride of this car in the next few months, tired of the glitches and their inability to get it resolved. As a whole I have been very disappointed with my experience and the quality of the car and Jaguar’s service. I would not recommend getting this car unless you have lots of patience.

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  Rock Star - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By 1970L78 - March 3 - 11:30 am

  I must say Jaguar was not on my list of cars to consider. On the insistence of a friend, I begrudgingly agreed to take a quick look. My God is this the purist, most advanced car on the market today! I bought one the next day as I just wanted to review my thoughts. This car is the grandest and liveliest full size sedan the world has yet seen. I drove the Panamera and was almost angry when done. The 750 LI was a heavy driving complicated mess of a design gone wrong (and this car was 1st on my list). I tried so hard to like it. I did not. The Jaguar was breathtaking in both form and function. Everywhere I go, it turns heads. A saw a lady walk into a light pole the other day ogling the car.

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  Big Cat - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By ljosephus - February 3 - 2:10 pm

  We only have 3,000 miles on our SJL but, so far, we are really pleased. Performance is fine. Rear seat legroom is exceptional. With the exception of what appear to be overly wide gaps at fenders, hood, trunk lid, etc. the build quality seems excellent. Just a few minor niggles: The rear cup holders are positioned in a way that makes them virtually unusable. The wood grain on the front doors does not match that across the dash (under the windshield), there is no dead pedal and the electronic responses (start-stop button, for example) is way too slow. Ride is a little harsh. Standard radio is great! Both the transmission and engine are A-OK! And the value, overall, is outstanding.

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  WOW - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By Kirkari - June 21 - 9:56 pm

  I had a BMW 650 and wanted to get a larger car as my kids did not fit in the back any longer. So the natural choice was the 750Li. As I was negotiating with my dealer, I noticed with my preferred options, the pricing put the car over $102K. I stopped and thought I should shop around for other comparable cars such as the S550 and the Panamera S. Luckily the Jag XJL Supercharge caught my attention on edmunds.com. After test driving the Jag, I thought to myself, OMG, what a beast! I instantly fell in love with the workmanship and the power. First thing I thought, I’m going to be faster than the other 3 cars and save over $10K on the pricing. Goodbye BMW!

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  Jaguar XJL Supercharged - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By carsrgr8 - June 5 - 5:41 pm

  We bought a used jaguar xjl supercharged in march. We were looking at a range rover, porsche panamera or maserati quattroporte. We decided to test a jaguar xj and this was it. Stiched leather, glossy burl wood and chrome accents cover the cabin. The car is fully loaded and comes with ventilated seats front and rear and massaging seats. The engine is a monster supercharged 5.0L V-8 that makes 470 hp. The instrument cluster is digital and looks like a laptop screen. It is very well lit and is made to resemble real gauges but you can bring up navigation and radio on the screen. The exterior also has no radio sharkfin which contributes to its sexy roofline. Buy it and you wont be disappointed.

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  Amazing and beautiful - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By trojan - May 15 - 10:00 am

  My last several cars have been MB/Audi/MB/BMW. Ive always wanted a "Jag" since seeing them as a kid but expense plus reliability always gave me pause. As soon as I saw the new XJ I got goosebumps - loved the lines and modern styling. Interior makes the German cars look pathetic. Although I wouldnt have imagined getting a full size sedan, I got an Ultimate Black Supercharged SWB. The figured ebony trim is gorgeous. So comfortable. Feels very light - super smooth acceleration. Love it! My dealer (Rusnak in Pasadena) has exhibited personal attention to detail, the German dealers never showed. You will love the stares. Several folks have stopped me to compliment the beauty of the car.

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  the Jag finally makes the leap into 21st century - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By nsgy - March 12 - 9:43 am

  was in the market to replace my 06 Range Rover Sport with a new supercharged one when my wife stumbled across the Jag XJ. we both loved the look and decided to test drive it. Once I sat in it I was mesmerized, once I drove it I was Sold. had it for a week. I would have never considered the a Jag before ( old people car). but this new car puts the S550, 750Li, Audi A8 to shame with looks and performance. Car&Driver tested it at 4.4 sec 0-60 and lists its competitors as S63, Maserati Quatroporte, Porsche Panamera Turbo, all of which cost 40k more than the Jag. love the stares and compliments. very poorly advertised. out since 2010, did not know it existed. the Jag for the young.