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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  Lucky to be alive - 2013 Jaguar XJ
  By trish78 - December 23 - 7:19 pm

  Ive had since Dec 2003(s done 50,000 miles and has been one careful driver - me- and sevice and checked by Jag dealer regularly. On Wed 13th November 2013 I was driving on a dual carriageway at 60mph when the car suddenly accelerated. I thought the cruise control was on and braked to cancel it, but the car just kept going faster. I tried switching to manual and forcing it into lowest gear with no effect, pumping brake and engaging the hand brake , but the car just kept going faster and I was rapidly approaching other vehicles. So I moved into the fast lane, which was clear, but then two cars pulled out in front of me to overtake a lorry. At 90mph I hit themand am lucky to be alive

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  Simply the best. - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By frisko4me - October 11 - 9:31 pm

  I have have had the privlidge of owning many luxury cars. BMWs, Benz, and Jaguars. This car is superior in every way to its predecessors and to its competition. It sets the bar very high for the next generation of luxury performance autos.

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  Welcome to my gentlemans stage of life - 2013 Jaguar XJ
  By cbrandi - August 22 - 3:41 am

  Ive owned performance oriented cars of all stripes. This is my first tilt into the luxury side of the equation. Ive had two previous Jaguars and loved them, being fast, comfortable and beautiful. I like the fact that these cars stand apart from the German crowd. They offer color choices and interior choices unlike the German boredom. BTW Ive owned several German cars too.

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  I love it - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By Subhi - August 19 - 6:33 pm

  I bought my car only three days ago. I had owned a BMW 750iL in the past which was a great car. This Jaguar is however is "special". The interior is very beautiful and tasteful, very comfortable, too. The exterior is plain gorgeous, I have got so many "thumbs up" which keep me smiling all the time while I am driving it. That is obviously not why I bought it, but it does not hurt to get a positive feed back. It is too early for me to report on reliability, but so far so good. I highly recommend it.

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  Closest Yet - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By Rich58 - May 1 - 10:00 am

  The 2011 XJ rightfully takes its place as the finest car in the class. Without question, the XJ oozes elegance and sophistication with a warmth and personality not found in its Teutonic rivals. This is the first true 21st century luxury car. Prrr.

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  Where did the grace and style go? - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By JeffI30 - April 15 - 4:26 pm

  First let me say the only reason I bought this Jag was because of a particular business situation. Where has all the grace, style and beauty of the XJ series gone? Having a Jag always lent you a certain panache. Now with the new design, well to be blunt, I might as well have gotten a Chrysler. Well the back end of the Chrysler 300, with the front end of the Volvo S80. The XJ was an icon, not anymore. It looks like every other car on the road. Even the "leaping jaguar" is gone. What are they thinking? Are they aware of whats known as destroying a brand. Having a Jaguar meant you had reached a certain status in life, I guess they decided to become a any car brand.

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  This is my third XJ over 28 years - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By geezergourmet - November 28 - 3:19 am

  The 83 XJ6 was stately and stable, the 98 XJ8 had elegance with performance. This 2011 XJ, with the interior upgrade package, has all of the above attributes on steroids. Steering is very quick and precise. Acceleration and braking are awesome. Jaguar now has a car with all the bells and whistles expected at this price point, along with the beautiful styling and brilliant performance expected of Jaguars. This is a world class car.

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  Excitement All Over Again - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By Don West - November 23 - 11:36 am

  What a refreshing example of a brand! The old XJ was tired (but reliable) and needed an update. Just left the car wash and felt sorry for the Panamera next to me! An extra $30,000 for a four seater that doesnt know if it is a sedan or not. Havent seen a breakout car since the 2005 Chrysler 300 till this. Should be the luxury Car of the Year. Front row car at five star restaurants. Move over Audi, BMW & Mercedes.

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  My third Jaguar, but my first XJ - 2014 Jaguar XJ
  By cbrandi - November 8 - 7:37 pm

  I cross shopped all the major cars in the class, wanted a luxurious car with a definite performance edge. Decided Maserati Ghibli was too much an unknown and its interior wasnt up to snuff. The S Class was superb but too large and too expensive. The BMW 7 series needs updating, it looks and felt like a bloated 3 Series. Audis are boring. Ive been very happy with my decision. Its fast, but very comfortable on long road trips. Although large, it drives small. Quality is outstanding and attention to detail, make it one of the best interiors for any amount of money. Gas milage has been amazingly good for such a large car. This is where the all aluminum construction pays off.

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  The big cat of modern motoring - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By attorney88 - November 1 - 11:40 am

  I have a propensity of hating big cars. Therefore, with some reservation, I leased a XJ super charge last week after the lease expiration of XF Supercharge. (This is my forth Jaguar vehicle). The car is a wonder, it dissipates my dislike for big cars as it actually feels agile and precise in handling (you don’t feel the car is big when driving). The power is beyond any description and more than adequate at all levels. My car is in ultimate black with London tan as interior. Just a week, the car has totally won my admiration as well as a lot of compliments from pedestrians at stoplights and strangers at car washing place. This is cat befitting the image of Jaguar, elegance, power and luxury.