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:
Showing 81 through 90 of 325.00-
Galpin not up to the level to do the job - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
By royce - August 28 - 10:00 ami am tire of getting my car not fixed and the job not getting done correct and most of all dirty and oil in the interior i have spent alot of money over the years and Galpin does not respent the car owner and i will not buy a car from them again i have to drive to LA to have my 3 jaguars fixed when i talked to the owner they said well we are makeing money so we are doing something right they never seem to call me about the service when i have a problem ???? so Jaguar does not know
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A beautiful car - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
By Doug Andresen - August 15 - 2:00 amI bought the car because Ive always loved the looks. The fact that they retooled it in aluminum and modernized the body but kept the "Jaguar" look really sold me. It is a very quiet ride and handles well. I thought it wouldnt be a big deal to upgrade the sound system outside the dealership but no one wants to mess with it. All in all, I love the car and look forward to enjoying it for many years.
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Underrated - 2007 Jaguar XJ-Series
By Underrated - August 12 - 2:10 amAfter owning almost every other premium import sedan over the last 20 years, I finally bought the XJ8L Jag. What a surprise. It may be sold as a luxury sedan, but it performs like a sports sedan. Quick reflexes without the hard ride. Comfortable seats, tons of room and excellent mileage. Plus its straightforward interior controls and ergonomics beat BMW and MB to death. Its sad that this car is not considered by more enthusiasts drivers wanting luxury as icing.
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OMG - What a car !! - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
By callum2 - August 3 - 5:25 pmWell, I have had my 2004 XJ8 for a week now and I cannot believe how awesome this car is. Full disclosure - I an 49 and waited a long time to drive the perfect car, I found it in the XJ8 I could not afford a new one and this 2004 is a close second best. I have a mercedes C320 ($58k new) wagon sports which I like, but the jag has it beat Anyone in the market for a 2004 with some low-med miles can expect a truley great car John beat Good news for those of us looking for a used Jag is there aint a lot of folks looking so proices are lower that Merc or BMW wagon sports with all bells and whistles and sports package 20 2002 and I like it
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LUV THIS CAT - 2003 Jaguar XJ-Series
By SALVATORE ATANASIO - July 27 - 2:00 amWE SHOPPED MERCEDES, BMW, LEXUS AND JAGUAR. BOUGHT A SILVER XJR AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY. THE INTERIOR IS BEAUTIFUL, WE ESPECIALLY LIKE THE WOOD, THE ENGINE IS VERY QUIET, AND THE RIDE IS SMOOTHER THAN THE OTHER THREE CARS WE COMPARED. HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR BACK TO DEALER FOR ANY PROBLEMS YET. WE REALLY LOVE THIS CAR AND ARE VERY HAPPY WE PURCHASED IT.
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Great Car. - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
By Patrick McLaughlin - July 10 - 10:00 amGreat Car, Proforance Great,handling better than my new corvette,and the ride is the best i,ve even driven.
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My XJ-8 - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
By Sumner - June 12 - 5:20 pmgreat car to drive... lots of gadgets, can be confusing. Bucket seats could be more comfortable. Excellent fuel mileage, up tp 32 mpg. Superior exterior finsh. Very steady at high rates of speed and difficult to stay within speed limit.
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My XJ-8 - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
By Sumner - June 12 - 4:46 pmGreat car to drive... lots of gadgets, can be confusing. Bucket seats could be more comfortable. Excellent fuel mileage, up tp 32 mpg. Superior exterior finish. Very steady at high rates of speed and difficult to stay within speed limit.
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My XJ-8 - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
By Sumner - June 12 - 4:46 pmgreat car to drive... lots of gadgets, can be confusing. Bucket seats could be more comfortable. Excellent fuel mileage, up tp 32 mpg. Superior exterior finsh. Very steady at high rates of speed and difficult to stay within speed limit.
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I LIKE the car - 2001 Jaguar XJ-Series
By Dean Waddle - June 6 - 5:03 pmI LIKE the car a lot. Great stereo, great comfort, great accelleration when you want to pass, and you can pass anyone doing less than 150 mph. Whats not to like.
