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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  Driving Xcellence - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By Sammit - March 14 - 3:13 pm

  This Jag is the perfect blend of luxury, sport, and family practicality. It is art on wheels and you dont see one around every corner like a BMW or MB. Dont listen to the reviews that complain about its relationship to Ford. This car is pure Jaguar. It looks and feels like a $50,000 car, but lay off the options and it wont cost you any more than the SUVs and minivans your friends are buying!

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  Beautiful Cat - 2003 Jaguar X-Type
  By Jagged edge - March 8 - 2:06 pm

  Ive owned my Jag a little over a year now, its power and handling is impressive. This Jag is as beautiful inside as it is on the outside. The 3.0 handles my heavy foot. At first I did not like the AWD till driving through a heavy snow and I was then glad to have it. People who see it look then look again, and I cant help but smile and say "yes its a Jag".

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  Wheres The Traction!!!??? - 2006 Jaguar S-Type
  By John Craten - March 7 - 7:50 pm

  I live in the east. Occasionally we have dicey weather. This is undoubtedly the best looking car on the market - however, it needs all-wheel drive! Traction in bad weather is abysmal.

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  Life Cycle of the S Type - 2003 Jaguar S-Type
  By Lean Consultant - March 5 - 10:23 am

  I purchased this car from a private party that fell on hard times after only putting 4100 miles on it. I love the styling of the vehicle and wanted the 4.2 liter V8. This car was to be my dream car. After seven years, I have to admit that it has lived up to most of my expectations. The original warranty, and then the extended warranty I purchased later, covered just about everything I could have requested. I get approximately 22 MPG with about 80% of my driving on the freeways of Southern California. By using Michelin touring tires I find that the ride cushion and quietness are better than I had expected. I compare the acceleration with what I had as a kid with my 64 Olds 442.

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  Rave for Jag S - 2000 Jaguar S-Type
  By picklepep - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I have had a excellent experience with both this dealer and with the vehicle itself. This jag makes you want to drive everywhere! Even young people give me thimbs up when they walk past me at a stop light! Ive had only a few minor problems with this pre-owned beauty, all covered under warranty,and no hassles about it at all. Ill definitely buy another one.

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  Jacks Jag - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Jack - March 1 - 10:56 am

  My 2004 Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas is the finest motorcar that I have ever owned. The quality of the fit and finish is superb. The performance of the vehicle on all types of road surfaces is excellent, and it is fun to drive. The seats are very supportive and serve to enhance the driving experience. Fuel economy is exceptional, with over 30 miles per gallon on the highway. The cabin is quiet and comfortable at cruising speed. I only wish that I had purchased such a fine vehicle sooner.

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  Devilish Style - 2002 Jaguar S-Type
  By Design - February 28 - 11:30 am

  This car looks great and handles even better. It seems like I get a compliment a day on this exciting vehicle.

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  New XJ8 Perfect - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Newjaguar - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I cannot quite believe that I am getting a Jaguar. My last 3 cars were BMWs. I do not like the design of the new BMW. The quality of the new Mercedes was inferior. The new XJ8 design, quality, performance, and value are clearly superior to BMW and Mercedes. My new XJ8 is extraordinarily comfortable. The performance is terrific. This is not your fathers Jaguar. The new aluminum body is a leap ahead of the competion.

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  Dream Coach - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Allan Baker - February 22 - 10:40 pm

  Well, its been a couple of months since I picked up this motor coach -- thats right, it is not just a car, but a true motor coach. Power, speed, quick feet and sure footing! I had a 2002 Mercedes S500, Sport Sedan - - no comparison! That was a mere car! This is something more! The heads turn and they stare when this motor coach is in their presence. This model is not for the shy and certainly not for the small ego! You have to have driving passion and pride to get in and out this joy!

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  Great car-as long as its under warranty - 2003 Jaguar X-Type
  By cleveJag - February 22 - 12:40 am

  Purchased my 03 X-Type 3.0 as a Select Edition certified car. It is truly a wonderful vehicle despite its poor reputation. The drive is very smooth, the engine quiet and refined. The leather and wood wraps you in luxury that feels much more expensive than what the car actually costs. Prepare to get to know your service advisor if you purchase one of these cars, however. In the 5 months that Ive had mine, its been in the shop for about a month. No major problems have been encountered, just replacing parts that had rattles, whines, vibrations, etc. As long as its under warranty, I want as smooth a ride as I can get