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 Series. Introduced in 1968, the XJ's basic styling has strayed very little through three generations and several midlife redesigns. About the wildest thing to happen was the addition of square headlamps in 1990 -- and they were generally met with a smattering of jeers and "cor blimeys!"

Not since Prince Charles was in his 20s had the Jaguar XJ Series been considered the cutting edge of full-size luxury sedans, even when it introduced a lightweight aluminum frame, powerful V8 engines, active damping suspension and high-tech features like adaptive cruise control, navigation and Bluetooth. Indeed, Jaguar's insistence on maintaining "timeless" styling backfired, leading to disappointing sales at a time when it could ill afford any false starts (or whatever English rugby analogy would apply). Not only did the XJ's fortunes tank, but the entire Jaguar brand was threatened with financial ruin.

All of that changed for 2011 when Jag pulled the covers off its radical fourth-generation XJ. Gone was ye olde styling and in came sexy, modern duds inside and out unlike anything else on the road. That car, now without the "Series" nomenclature, is covered in a separate Jaguar XJ review.

Used Jaguar XJ Series Models
The previous, third-generation XJ was produced from 2004-'09. There was no 2010 XJ. This generation may have looked like the previous one, but it was in fact completely redesigned and featured an all-new aluminum chassis that was significantly stiffer and lighter than the previous steel structure.

This XJ was offered in two wheelbases and five trim levels. The XJ8 and supercharged XJR are short-wheelbase models, while the XJ8 L, Vanden Plas and supercharged Super V8 have long wheelbases. The latter two were introduced for 2005. The XJ8 and XJ8 L came with a respectable amount of equipment for a luxury sedan, while the Vanden Plas added more luxurious trappings. The XJR was equipped for enhanced performance and handling. The Super V8 was essentially a Vanden Plas with much of the XJR performance equipment, plus a few extra high-end features. Much of what is standard on the Vanden Plas and Super V8 was optional on the base XJ8 models.

The base engine was a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8, which originally produced 294 horsepower and then 300 hp for '06 and later. The XJR and Super V8 got a supercharged version of the same engine originally good for 390 hp, and 400 hp for '06 and later. The only transmission offered was a six-speed automatic attached to Jaguar's classic and controversial J-gate shifter.

The interior, much like the rest of the car, was a peculiar mix of current technology and heritage design. Burl walnut trim, chrome and supple leather were liberally strewn about, providing a coddling environment that would make the Fifth Duke of Wellington feel at home. Yet in reviews, we found this classic British style came at the expense of ergonomics and general usability. Controls and switchgear were laid out illogically and set low in the dashboard, while their craftsmanship was not up to par. Whether that was considered "charming" or just "irritating," we yearned for the XJ's cabin to join the 21st century even as it added such newfangled features as Bluetooth, cooled seats and satellite radio over the years.

Our road tests showed the Jaguar XJ8 to deliver an isolated ride that filtered out even the most punishing roads with little intrusion into the cabin. The soft suspension, though, tended to mask the car's stiffer body structure and good steering. On the other hand, the XJR (and to a lesser extent, the Super V8) made the most of its advanced aluminum chassis. Its quicker steering, more aggressively tuned air suspension and 400-hp supercharged V8 proved that Jaguar could produce a luxury sedan that pleased enthusiasts and luxury-minded buyers alike. In total, this Jag XJ drove like a thoroughly modern car -- it just didn't look like one.

Other than its modest power increase, few features additions and the for-2006-only Super V8 Portfolio, the only significant change you should note was for 2008, when the XJ was mildly restyled to adopt XK-style front fender vents and a more aggressive front fascia. You'd be hard-pressed to tell the differences at a glance, though.

The first Jaguar XJ debuted in 1968 and lasted through 1987, while the second generation was on the prowl from 1987 (yes, both generations were offered that year) to 2003. The second generation started out with round headlights, but for 1990 adopted ungainly rectangular units that were met with disdain by Jaguar enthusiasts. On the whole, this era of the XJ (which ran to '94) was seen as one of the darkest, as it was plagued with various problems, many of which were electrical in nature.

For 1995's midcycle makeover, the round headlights returned, along with a sleeker, lower grille. The interior was also significantly revised to bring it into the 1990s, with improved materials and more up-to-date electronics. The traditional look remained, however, with radio and HVAC controls contained in a pod under a large swath of wood.

There were a number of different engines offered during the second generation's lifespan. The square-headlamp version came with a choice of either an inline-6 (3.6 liters and later 4.0) or a 6.0-liter V12. These models were referred to as the XJ6 and XJ12, respectively. The engines carried through the 1995 overhaul, with a supercharged, 310-hp version of the six-cylinder engine first appearing in the new XJR in '95. The V12-powered XJ12 was dropped in 1997.

For '98, Jaguar replaced the inline-6 engines with all-new V8s. A 4.0-liter V8 (290 hp) was found in the XJ8 (the "8" in the name signifying V8 power), while a supercharged version (370 hp) powered the XJR. A few years into this generation, the supercharged V8 became available in other XJs as well, namely the Vanden Plas Supercharged and Super V8 models.

Performance of the 1995-2003 Jaguar XJs ranged from swift for the six-cylinder cars to thrilling for the supercharged V8 versions. Our road test of a 2000 Vanden Plas had that long-wheelbase luxury sedan sprinting to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. Ride and handling are composed but (except on the XJR) biased toward plush comfort, as one might expect of a vehicle whose cabin resembles an Edwardian parlor.

User Reviews:

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  2005 XJ8L Review - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Jaguar lover - January 24 - 5:30 am

  This is my third Jaguar and by far the best. The quality of this car is outstanding. Owning a Jag always meant you had to have a back up auto to drive when your Jag was in the shop. But, not anymore. Class, comfort, reliability and prestige you cant get from a German or Japanese mark. Four good sized adults can fit easily in this car and everyone is happy. The aluminum body, V8 and six speed transmission are light years ahead of the previous design. I love this car. If youre looking for the whole luxury package in a full sized car, check it out.

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  new car - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By alton - December 29 - 10:00 am

  The ride is very rough,I feel every bump in steering wheel and seat. The road noise is very loud, it appears to come from the wheels and floor,on some bumps the suspension system feels like it is bottoming out.This is my third jaguar and I believe it is the worst one. The front seats are very uncomfortable especially when getting out of the car due to the high edge of the seat.If I had purchased this car instead of leasing I would be trading the car.

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  Sweet!! - 2002 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By DAMSr - November 26 - 8:40 am

  Very smooth car. I have it in Zircon Blue with Oatmeal leather. Good gas mileage. Good ergonomics. Great sound system. Superb handling. I have owned BMW, Lexus and MERCEDES. Love the Jags.

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  2004 Jaguar 2004 Vanden Plas - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Louis Daily - November 14 - 2:10 pm

  Best built car that I have driven in over 60 years. It is comfortable, has excellent performance, and is quiet. It lacks rear seating sufficient leg room, and lacks the elegant interior and exterior appearance of previous Vanden Plas models. Rear seating tray tables were omitted from this years Vanden Plas. My wife and I each have one. The rear seats are occupied rarely, and so we are very happy with ours.

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  In Love With A Car? - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Ward - November 8 - 4:36 am

  How do you say youre in love with your car, without being considered a bit unusual. When I was a kid in my teens I loved cars, and Ive had 9 new Cads and a whole series of other autos. But, as an adult -- I LOVE THIS CAR! From the performance to the feel of the car on the road, to the admiring glances from everyone it is the best.And the carpark valets park it in front of the restaurant!

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  Be careful with what you are expecting here - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By mr_dearborn - November 5 - 1:49 pm

  The car is pretty to look at, has a fantastic engine, and rides like a dream. These were the things I was looking for in a car. I was hoping that Fords $3 billion investment several years before this car would resolve reliability issues. Nope. This car had a number of advancements that didnt quite work and are expensive to fix: 1) electric parking break, 2) air suspension, 3) aluminum unibody (rust), 4) transmission leaks. Ive dropped $11K on my $18K car thus far. It has 50K miles. Also, the handling isnt quite on par with the German cars; it doest love curves and corners. In short, be careful with your expectations on this one.

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  A Premier Product - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By F. R. Eliason - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Jaguar and I am totally impressed. Unlike prior models this is superb with respect to interior leg room and head room and the quality is readily apparent. The six speed automatic transmission is seamless. At lower speeds the engine does its task with no apparent effort-- and very quietly. When acceleration is required it is awesome--most likely a consequence of having much less body weight. The exterior and interior color choices are much better than other luxury sedans. In the overall the XJ is a great leap forward for Jaguar.

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  Great Car - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By JagLovR - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Use this car as both a weekend car and my driver takes me to work in it during the week. Great features, lovely woodwork. SUPER FAST SuperV8! SATNav EASY TO USE! Comftorable Ride! After owning XKRs I know Jags to be well built machines. I have no doubt my SuperV8 will be!

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  3 time owner - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Vivian Whitehead - September 22 - 2:00 am

  This is our third Jaq. and it is by far the best.

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  Just perfect - 2008 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By mike - September 9 - 5:46 pm

  The car is beautiful, comfortable, reliable, fast, sporty and classy. The gas mileage is probably the best in this luxury segment.