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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  Jaguar - A Class by Itself - 2006 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Carl A. Carreca - September 10 - 7:33 pm

  Jaguar has done it again. This car is by far the most elegant and at the same time sporty in the luxury car field. No other manufacturer offers a muscle luxury sedan with superb styling like Jaguar. I bought this car with Jaguar Racing Green exterior. It is really unique and the number of compliments I get on this car is amazing. It performs well at all speeds and handles like a dream even at well above the speed limit. It feels like a much smaller sports car as far as roadability is concerned but rides like a much larger car which it really is. So far only oil changes and tire rotations.

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  My S type - 2006 Jaguar S-Type
  By Linda S - September 10 - 12:23 am

  I wasnt sure which to purchase between MB, BMW and Jag but the interior impressed me the most. In a city where it appears everyone has one, I found the Jag S type makes a nicer statement. The ride is smooth and when accelerating the sports car comes to life unlike the others. I get several compliments on my Radient Red "S". The seats are most comfortable. There is more room and better quality all around compared to the competitors... or am I just prejudiced?

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  Great Mid Sized Sedan - 2004 Jaguar S-Type
  By rsalinger - August 30 - 3:10 pm

  Ive owned German cars for the past 20 years. This S-Type has given me 16 months of trouble free ownership. The power is outstanding. I love the DVD nav system, the adjustable pedals, and the great ride. Just a fun car to drive.

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  A fierce machine with civilized exterior - 2005 Jaguar S-Type
  By David Tan - August 30 - 10:13 am

  I have been driving S Type R. for about a year. The power from its 398 horse engine is ferocious and quick. You have to remind yourself to lighten the gas to avoid speeding. Its price is competitive in the range of performance sedans without sacrificing any amenities and style. Sleek design with 18" wheels and performance tires. The jewel of the crown is the grill, its like the chain mail of medieval knight, thus giving a hint of old British trait of lineage and class. I like it more than the BMW 5 Series.

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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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  Unbelievable Deal - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By Axiomlover - August 23 - 7:03 am

  At the year-end closing prices, this vehicle was impossible to pass. Interior is put together very, very well, just as any luxury vehicle should be. The 2.5 manual has a healthy accelaration and is very quiet. The road feel is typical of a European sedan and cornering is outstanding. The AWD makes you forget about snow, rain and gravel. The manual takes some getting used to, especially shifts from first to second. It is not a large car, especially in the back, but the trunk is larger than most competitors. I am looking forward to many months or years of fun every time I put the key in the ignition.

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  S-Type rules! - 2006 Jaguar S-Type
  By Salvatore Giunta - August 21 - 7:36 am

  When I saw the S-Type for the first time I fell in love with her. So I bought her simply because she looks marvelous and is a Jaguar. Then driving her I found that fantastic stylish was not all, power, ride and comfort are at the top. The best car in the world.

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  Love it - Hate it - Dont buy it! - 2000 Jaguar S-Type
  By Karl in Florida - August 19 - 7:36 pm

  I fell in love with the lines and appearance of the S-Type when they first came out, so I bought a used one several years ago with less than 40k miles on it. Thats where the love affair ended. This car (as are most S-Types) quickly became a mechanical nightmare (and I take care of my cars and am an easy driver). With less than 12k miles on it, I had issues with the brakes, coolant leak, gasket leak, radiator leak, failed headlights, issues with front brakes, failed cig lighter, failed O2Sensor, failed catalyst...the list never stops. Jag quality was bad, but Ford didnt help!

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  The Ultimate Sport Sedan - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Caliber35 - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Having driven and owned just about every make, the New XJ is simply the finest sedan on the road. It is fast, comfortable and luxurious transportation for four. The highway mileage is an unbelievable 30mpg cruising at 80mph. It is a big improvement over my previous S-Type, which I loved. Must be driven to be appreciated!

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  04 s r - 2004 Jaguar S-Type
  By jaguar74 - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Purrfect car that is much better than comparable high line high performance cars for the money.