Overview & Reviews

Jaguar coupes and convertibles have a long history, starting with the iconic E-Type or XKE. It has been lusted after since its introduction in 1961, appearing on teenage boys' bedroom walls, grown men's garages and in movies like the Austin Powers series, where it served as the international man of mystery's Shaguar.

After 22 years of the unloved XJS coupe, Jaguar revived the XK name and spirit in the late 1990s with the stunning XK8 coupe and convertible. Powered by an all-new 290-horsepower V8, it was quick and capable of keeping up with the best of the sub-$100,000 luxury coupe rivals of the time.

Note that this review only covers the period of time (1997-2006) when Jaguar officially referred to its first-generation XK as the "XK-Series." For full coverage of its successor, please see our Jaguar XK review..

Used Jaguar XK-Series Models
They say cats have nine lives and quite appropriately, it takes a long time for Jaguar coupes and convertibles to die. The XKE survived from 1961-'74 before being replaced by the very different XJS, which languished in mediocrity for 22 years before being mercifully put out of its misery.

The Jaguar XK-Series didn't live quite as long, but 10 years is still a long time for an automobile. The 1997 Jaguar XK8 debuted in coupe and convertible body styles, with the XKR arriving in 2000. The standard 290-hp 4.0-liter engine was Jaguar's first-ever V8 and only the fourth all-new engine in its history. We were impressed with its low-end torque and found that it accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. We also thought it was "a hoot to drive" with effortless acceleration, precise steering and a supple suspension.

Inside, the XK8 featured a classic Jaguar look with lots of Connolly leather and walnut trim. Although it began to look antiquated later in life with unintuitive controls and subpar materials, in the retro-crazed late '90s, it was certifiably chic. The car's cramped interior dimensions and small trunk were never in style, however.

In 2003, the Jaguar XK-Series engine was upgraded to 294 hp and 303 pound-feet of torque (from 284 lb-ft), sending the coupe from zero to 60 in 6.1 seconds. That year also saw a new six-speed automatic and more than 900 other mostly minor changes, none of which touched the still-attractive sheet metal. After that, the XK8 prowled about through 2006 without any significant updates.

The high-performance XKR featured a supercharged version of the 4.0-liter V8, making 370 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque. Zero to 60 mph in the coupe was accomplished in 5.1 seconds. The 2003 revisions also applied to the XKR, including a power boost to 390 hp and 399 lb-ft of torque.

Prior to the XK8, Jaguar offered the XJS coupe and convertible. The latter appeared in 1989, replacing the odd "Cabriolet" model, which featured a Jeep Wrangler-esque retractable roof that maintained the window frames. By 1990, a 262-hp 5.3-liter V12 was the standard engine. It was briefly replaced in 1993 by a 4.0-liter inline-6 making only 219 hp, but a new 278-hp 6.0-liter V12 emerged in 1994 to complement the standard six-cylinder. A four-speed automatic replaced the ancient GM TH400 three-speed auto in 1993. In 1992, a new head- and taillight design debuted.

User Reviews:

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  Elegance & beauty - 2003 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Sonni - September 26 - 12:36 pm

  Beautiful sleek profile--I love the look and style. Gorgeous wood dash. Fabulous power--gotta watch the speed. Strangers stop and stare and comment that they love my car--me too. Even the 25-26 mpg was a pleasant surprise.

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  Dream Car - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Professor Don - July 31 - 4:00 am

  I saved for a 911 but after driving the XK convertible, bought it. We live in the Texas hill country and throughly enjoy letting the top down and driving...phantastically comfortable, does everything well, and a real head turner.

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  Super Jag - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Ed - July 19 - 6:06 pm

  Mileage on a long trip. Fantastic. Exceeded 29 mpg at high speed. Yes over 80 mph for most of trip. In town low speed exceeded 19.5 mpg. Much better than ratings. At end of 16 hours on road, still comfortable!! Boot small, but that comes with territory. Back seat used to hold a small brief or camera bag. Touch screen much easier than BMW 750i I had previously. Nav system much more user friendly. Love it!

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  XKR The Only Way to go! - 2006 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Dan Geib - July 12 - 3:46 am

  I purchased this vehicle used from a private individual with low miles. I have enjoyed driving the car every time I get behind the wheel. This car is fast and tight and holds the road at any speed!

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  Awesome - 2003 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Klooser - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Has sweet acceleration and every thing you can think of.

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  $85,000 piece of crap - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By jagmanjimi - June 17 - 10:48 pm

  * Serviced Mar 2012 - electrical 36,558 miles * Serviced Jan 2012 - shift lever replacement 36,456 miles * Serviced Dec 2011 - battery 36,263 miles * Serviced Jun 2011 - battery 34176 miles In addition to the above service dates, within this mileage period the vehicle was serviced 3 other times for electrical and once for "top vacuum". While the dealer has been great for handling service issues under warranty up to this point, I am out of warranty now 1 month. With 37969 miles the top wont open or close. We will see how they will handle. Bottom line, within a 4K mile period the vehicle had to be serviced no less then 8 times. What more can be said!

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  stay away - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Patrick Garrigan - May 20 - 10:33 pm

  List convertible top - cables replaced rear motor Windows replaced. 10 days in shop navigation system not functioning 4 days upload hardware electrical issues, constantly, battery replaced 2 times. Beautiful disaster. I am at home and have to wait two days until the car can be towed back. If the car was not under warranty I would hate to see what the costs are. Wow. Never again.

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  Excellent Experience everyday - 2001 Jaguar XK-Series
  By purrrfecttq - May 11 - 9:07 pm

  This was my first used car purchase, so I was hesitant. But I got a good deal on a 5 year old jag XK convertible. It was gorgeous!!! I have now owned it for many years and put about 40k miles on it. It has been such a fun car to drive and own, it converted us to be loyal Jag owners. We now have just purchased our 4th jag (2012 XF) and have loved every one of them. The scare tactics that other dealers told us were all lies. We have had nothing but wonderful experiences with our Jags. In fact, I have been more satisfied with our 4 Jags than any of our Toyotas or Hondas or Lexus vehicles (which we still own as utility vehicles). These have been the best car buying purchases weve ever made!

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  My Blue Jag - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By J Egan - April 20 - 2:53 am

  I have yet to take my XK out of my garage without someone making a highly favorable compliment about it. It turns heads. The car is very comfortable and fun to drive. Equipped with the 20" Senta wheels I believe makes the XK comparable to riding on a cloud without losing the driving experience. The front end is longer and the road clearance is lower as with most performance cars so one needs to be careful not to scrape the bottom of the front end in driveways as well as judging front parking distance. The rear parking is a cinch with the radar assistance. Based upon performance, appearance, and personal satisfaction, this XK is the best and finest car Iv ever owned or driven.

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  Great Car!! Miss it and think about it often. - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By K Taylor - April 14 - 6:28 am

  The base engine is a little light on power compared to other cars in this segment. If you are looking for super performance look at the XKR. I am more of a Grand Tourer driver than an all out performance driver. I think it has something to do with my age now. The base model had plenty of power for me and from 40mph to 120mph there was never a situation where I needed any more. In fact I was, ticketed while test driving on a desolate NV highway. I was going 100+ and the cop was nice enough to write the ticket for only 10 over. I have owned numerous high end and luxury cars over the years but none compares to the reactions this car received, especially when the top was down. BMW 6 series and MB SL are very common but you dont see many XKs which was something I enjoyed about the car. I bought the car used with 25,000 miles on it when it was 5 yrs old. The technology was on par and up to date with the newest cars of that time. Bluetooth and touchscreen navigation, adaptive cruise control and headlamps as examples. I purchased an extended warranty since the car was 5 years old and there was only one issue with a window that was moving slowly. I did have to replace the battery which when it was going bad messed with the drivers seat controls and the convertible top which may stop working even if the car has no troubles starting. The battery was expensive as were oil changes. I replaced the original tires with Michelin Super Sport that had plenty of tread after 3 years. Fantastic Car that gets tons of compliments, is quiet and very comfortable. The car handles great and has a great exhaust note which makes it fun to drive. It is pretty much maintenance and repair free although it is thirsty when it comes to fuel around town. 16-18 mpg city, 26-28 mpg highway