Overview & Reviews

Jaguar cars have a long history of elegant styling and sporting performance. The brand was born in the United Kingdom, and for years its vehicles were synonymous with the old-world luxury of the British upper classes. More recently, Jaguar has been under the ownership of other automakers, but Jaguar cars will always bear the unmistakable gleam of traditional English refinement.

The company traces its roots to the Swallow Sidecar Company, founded in 1922 by Bill Lyons and William Walmsley. Based in Blackpool, England, the company produced a popular line of aluminum motorcycle sidecars. Swallow eventually switched its focus to automobile production, changing its name to SS Cars Ltd. in 1933. The first vehicle to carry the Jaguar name was the SS Jaguar 100, released in 1935.

After World War II, SS Cars switched its moniker to Jaguar so as not to be associated with the Nazi paramilitary organization that bore the same initials. Its first postwar offering was 1948's Mark V. The luxury sedan was joined that year by the XK 120, a sports car that was the fastest production automobile of its day — its name indicating its top speed. The XK 120 proved quite popular, and helped Jaguar establish a strong presence in the sports car market.

By the 1950s, Jaguar had begun exporting luxury vehicles to the United States. Created just for the American market, the Mark VII Saloon was introduced in 1951 and was a hit with stateside motorists. In 1956, the car took the prize at the Monte Carlo Rally. Later in the decade, Jaguar added the Mark VIII and Mark IX to its lineup. Meanwhile, the XK became the XK 140 as performance increased. Then came the XK 150 which was obviously even faster, though not quite as curvaceously alluring as the 120/140 models.

The 1960s saw the launch of one of Jaguar's most well-known models. The E-Type (or XK-E as it was known in the U.S.) debuted for 1961. The new sports car, available as either a coupe or convertible, provided performance and refinement wrapped up in an undeniably sexy package. The success of groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and icons like Twiggy the fashion model made British culture a hot commodity during the '60s — a fact that likely had positive implications for Jaguar's popularity in the U.S.

A decade later, Jaguar introduced the XJ6C and XJ12C coupes to join the sedans. At one point, the XJ12 was the fastest production sedan of its day. By the mid-'70s the lovely E-Type was replaced by the relatively bland XJ-S. The 1980s saw Jaguar continuing to raise the bar in performance with the launch of the XJ-S HE and a true world supercar, the XJ220.
By this time, however, Jaguar's cars had also built up a reputation for questionable reliability, electrical problems being the chief source of owners' angst. Increased competition from German automakers and adverse exchange rates didn't help matters either. Without much capital to work with to improve matters, the company decided to pursue a partnership with another company. This decision ultimately led to a full buyout of Jaguar by Ford in 1990.

Ford's influence (and financial support) was evident with the 1997 launch of Jaguar's XK8 and supercharged XKR sports cars. Powering both was Jaguar's new AJ-V8, a compact yet powerful engine that was also used in certain Land Rover vehicles. A few years later, Jaguar made an effort to broaden its product line with the introduction of a lower-priced, entry-luxury compact sedan known as the X-Type. Unfortunately, this model sold poorly, as its modest European Ford sedan underpinnings proved to be a liability. Around this time, Jaguar's old-school traditional styling grew stale as competitors moved into the new millennium with cutting-edge, modern designs inside and out.

Sales plummeted, and Jaguar's financial problems caused further headaches for parent company Ford, which was also experiencing financial turmoil. Ford cut its losses and sold Jaguar (and fellow British premium brand Land Rover) to Indian manufacturer Tata in 2008. Though reliability still remains a concern, new models like the XF and redesigned icons XK and XJ seem to indicate a bright Jaguar future, as they feature modern designs sprinkled with a fair share of classic Britannic charm.

User Reviews:

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  2007 USED XKR COUPE NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By D Ingram - April 1 - 3:37 am

  I purchased by 2007 XKR Coupe with 77,000 miles in good condition Nov 2015. within the first month needed $500 in maintenance for supercharger pulleys and belts because they started to rattle... fine. Then in February after hitting multiple a potholes, the front suspension was leaking, busted both front tires and bent both rims. On a high performance coupe why did the put 20 inch low profile tires to only be fitted on this car? Suspension, bearings, 1 new rim 1 fixed rim, and 2 new tires, road force balancing, and alignment; TOTAL $6000 TO COMPLETE THE FRONT END AT A AUTHORIZED JAGUAR DEALER AND THE STEERING STILL WAS CRAP AND MAKING NOISES. I have taken the car back over 10 times to the dealer to try to find the problem as they continue to try new things. Their mechanics are obviously just as crap.it has been 8 months taking the car back and forth because the steering and drive has been horrible ever since. Th next issue was at 83000 THE ENGINE BLEW LEAVING ME ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY AND THEY HAVE NO EXPLANATION. OIL WAS CHANGED 6000 MILES AGO AND THEY ADVISED I WOULD ONLY NEED A OIL CHANGE EVERY 8000-10000 MILES.... TOTAL CRAP!!!!TOTAL PRICE OF A REPLACED ENGINE WAS $7000. The water reservoir also started to leak $450, the headliner on a 2007 car already has fallen $600. Front grill that is only snapped in pops out all the time and finally it came off on the highway $200. Rear axle snapped clean in half $400. Speaker system is crap, and the tweeter grilles have popped out. Bluetooth only recognizes certain frequencies and not all so my phone is not compatible, and when it can work its for calls only no audio or media sharing. As of today ALL 4 RIMS ARE BENT THEY ARE CRAP! Rear glass cover always falls down and then finally the clamps cracked and broke off. the heated seats stopped working. the seat adjustment makes you feel like your in a convertible because they dont go back far enough and Im only 5"10. On the good side the car looks absolutely stunning in profile it always has people stop and look. The drive and power and sound are exotic at its best. The sound can be heard a block away and is beautiful. But jaguar dealers are horrible in luxury standards in service and repairs are over the top for poor quality. This is a ford product with bells. the newer Jags owned by Tata will definitely be a better buy. I love what this car does... but i hate its quality and reliabilty. I would never recommend purchasing this model. save the headache and buy a CL Mercedes or the new Jaguar FType thats all new built if you have the $$$

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  Looks like Ford, smells like a Ford... - 2005 Jaguar X-Type
  By ntstambo2 - July 1 - 1:43 am

  This car is joke. I have this car for a rental and I might as well bring it back for a Ford Contour because thats what this is. Its cheap inside, the engine is weak, and it hogs down gas. The interior is cheap and the controls are a jumbled mess. How can they calls this a Jaguar? Anyone that buys this car and thinks they have a Jaguar is just kidding themselves. Im embarrased to drive this and have people look at me and think its actually my car. The only thing this car has going for it are the cool looking headlights.

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  04 jag x-type - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By oechsli - May 6 - 2:50 am

  Worst car I ever bought. Rides like a tin can. So many little problems- with lights, sunroof, stereo, wipers,etc. Passenger seat difficult to recline- not power. Wouldnt recommend this car to anyone!

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  Jaguar--Never again - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By ALEX - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I had to trade it in for a Lexus after it had spent almost a month out of 12 month in service department. (transmission failed, electronics, engine failed).

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  These cars are junk and Ford knows it! - 2000 Jaguar S-Type
  By Larry Chick - April 13 - 9:46 am

  The car falls apart a little more every day. Service actions overseas were prompt but not in USA. Motor problems at 50K, J-gate shifter with plasic piece that fails when stuck in Park, windows that will fail and fall inside the doors, over priced dealer repairs, service reps that deny what is all over the net and reported to NHTSA and Jag international that does not care at all!

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  Problems - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By babe jag - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Nothing but PROBLEMS. Had to have the gearshift replaced with only 8,000 miles. Had to have a new sunroof because of leaks at 12,000. Required complete transmission replacement at 20,000 miles. Needed four new tires at only 22,000 miles. Now at 25,000 miles I am told that I need a complete brake replacement. The locks freeze in cold weather and you could possibly be locked in or out. I will never buy another Jaguar X-type again.

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  Disappointed - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By X X-Type - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Trouble from the start. I have never taken a trip without visiting a Jaguar Dealer for repairs. My current dealer has tried to fix all the problems, but they seem to be totally overwhelmed with all the problems. They now refuse to even try to repair. The car is still under warrenty, but Jaguar has walked away.I talked to the dealer about other models, but they say they are even less reliable. Bad News!!!!

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  Never again will I buy another Jaguar - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By Hate It!!!! - July 5 - 11:10 pm

  I will never buy another Jaguar. I have owned my car for 3 years and have had it in the shop for countless things (in fact, it needs to be taken in again but I just dont care anymore). Thank God the dealership would not sell it to me without an extended warranty otherwise I would be in BIG trouble. I cant even begin to tell you about all the issues with it. And, to make matters worse, I am trying to trade it in for a newer, more reliable vehicle and I have been the laughing stock of every dealership I have been to. I am about $10,000 upside down in it which is making negotiations very difficult. I will never, ever recommend one of these cars. They are crap.

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  Lemon - 2004 Jaguar S-Type
  By Brad - April 15 - 6:46 pm

  This car is the worst luxury car that I have ever had. It has been in repair 8 times in two years. four for transmission problems and four for electronic/computer issues. Air conditioner continues to go on the blink as well as the entire dashboard. The only thing good is the car has a big engine and handles well.

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  0 For 2 - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By totallydissappointed - April 8 - 5:46 am

  Purchased the x-type with high expectations. Boy was I dissappointed! The car that I bought gave me a "Gear Box Fault" to which there was no explanation in the manual. Took the car to be serviced and was given another x-type as a loaner. That was over a month and a half ago! Oh yeah, did I mention that the loaner car just gave me a "Gear Box Fault". This was not to mention that my car had already been serviced twice for the moonroof and once for poor weather stripping.