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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  The Cat is on the prowl - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By ALPHA JAG XJL - October 11 - 10:00 am

  The car is amazing. Interior is well crafted. Drove on the highway for 8 hours this week-end. No fatigue, body aches, etc. Excellent ride. Gas mileage on the highway is outstanding. One word to describe the engine, POWERFUL.

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  You will need to win the lottery to trade this car - 2016 Jaguar XJ
  By Marge - October 2 - 11:43 pm

  Our XJ is horrible in rain our snow. Yes it is AWD. If you wear eyeglasses and get the heated windshield you may not be able to drive at night. Google Jaguar glare. Tried to get a different car after three months and 2400 miles and was told the car was worth $30,000 less than what we paid. Glad its a lease, cant wait to get out of it.

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  One of a kind - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By JOE - June 11 - 1:03 am

  I leased this car because I found that there is not a car on the road like this. Im coming out of a xk. All you see on the road is BMW 7 MB 550 and they really dont stand out, this car is an animal, fast, quiet, handles great. Luxury and state of the art. Simple solution: go see it and drive one

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  SuperSport: Just something extra - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By fastrunner13 - June 9 - 8:45 am

  As is custom built and I ordered my 2011 SJL SS in March 2010 and wait to end of August 2010 for delivery the wait was worth every moment. I had driven the Supercharged 470hp with all the extra add ons that are standard on the Superport and just had to have the ultimate with 40Hp more. Long wheel base is great, hadles like a sports car (almost) and goes like the new Ferrari 1/2 second slower in 1/mile at 112mph. Eats up miles with on long trips of 12hrs without driver fatigue. Maybe the best car ever and at a bargin price. In metalic silver looks like a block of machined aircraft aluminun. Sound system is better than any I have heard from expensive stereo/theater systems.

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  Dreaming - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By Dean - April 23 - 10:00 am

  The very best car I have ever owned. Cars I have owned,MB-SL, Lexus, BMW, Nissan Z, many great cars. This car is the funnest, fastest machine I have owned. And this is the wife"s car. If you can afford one you will buy after a test drive.

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  Love this car - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By FormerBmwfan - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I just wanted to echo the sentiments of all the other reviews I have read about this car, its simply the most incredible machine on the road. I have owned flagship German cars and I promise you, if you drive this car you will be hard pressed to purchase an S class, 7 series, or an A8. The supercharged version is brutally quick. The interior of this car shames all of its German competitors. I have always been a fan of Jaguar but for reliability reasons was never comfortable enough to buy one, until now. This car is a game changer for Jaguar.

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  11 XJ is a Winner - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By BCKOLENA - January 12 - 4:20 pm

  This is an all-around outstanding vehicle. Beautiful design inside and out. Rocket fast for its size. Its unique from all other cars on the road today. While the XJ is a very expensive vehicle, it is a relatively good value compared to other super premium sedans.

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  Thrilled - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By Carolyn - August 23 - 10:00 am

  What a car! Ive been a Jaguar fan most of my life having owned 7 over 45 years. Ive also owned a BMW & MB. The first time I saw this new Jag was while passing it on an interstate, and I had the immediate reaction of missing the old XJ look. Then I started looking at photos and reading about it. My old XJL has over 212,000 miles on it so started driving & comparing several new luxury sedans. I saved the Jag for last. The beauty & performance of the car were stunning! After a week of testing the speed & cornering limits (mine, not the cars), Ive settled down to enjoying its stately side around town, like a grandmother should. I love the car!

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  Best value for $$$ - 2013 Jaguar XJ
  By carlspackler1 - June 28 - 9:46 am

  Simply the best car Ive owned. After many Mercedes, I grew tired of their mundane interiors, and lately their Rube Goldberg exterior styling. The interior is measureably more luxurious and inviting than any Mercedes weve owned. The doors close with a solid "thunk" reflecting the quality. Instrumentation is straightforward, and the audio quality is far beyond anything weve heard from Mercedes. Despite the negative reviews of the audio/navigation system, weve found this system much more user friendly, and programs easier than Mercedes clunky system.

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  Love the change - 2011 Jaguar XJ
  By Robert - June 22 - 8:06 am

  I have been a Jaguar owner previously (2), as well as Mercedes and BMW (2). I am thrilled with the design change with the XJ. I wish they had a better ad campaign, I believe more people would buy this car instead of Mercedes or BMW if they new of the change.