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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  I took a chance and won! - 2001 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Jag Believer - July 17 - 12:16 am

  I never considered the XK8 until my first up close look. Even with the top up, four can fit comfortably, yet snuggly, if you simply adjust the front seats to accommodate the legroom in the back. I got caught in a snowstorm and romped on it to see how it handled and I was quite impressed. You can’t get the wheels to spin unless you deselect traction control. I highly recommend forgetting the rest for anyone wanting a true world class rag top, particularly if a two seater just won’t do.

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  Gorgeous, true head-turner! - 2000 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Evan W. - July 16 - 12:03 am

  Ive owned 4 cars (3 Jaguars) and this XK8 has been my best one so far. It has 70k miles currently and runs very smoothly. The driving dynamics are very luxurious and the exterior and interior are nothing short of beautiful; the coupe gets a lot of looks and head-turns. The power is ample and the torque is nice and low RPM. The real power comes in once youre at about 40mph and slam on the gas, all the while it feels smooth, linear, and effortless. Had one problem with the cooling system (was a common problem) and cost me $500; I have had no problems since then aside from a malfunctioning CD changer. Beautiful car that, if well maintained, is absolutely timeless!

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  Vanden Plas - 2006 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By cg - July 12 - 2:10 am

  I absolutely love this car. I have always thought it one of the most beautiful avaialable cars, but with the redesigns and the increased head room, they are there. She is quiet, quick, incredibly nimble for a big car, and flat out nice to be in.

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  Baby Jag - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By mary Turner - July 1 - 3:16 pm

  The car is exceptional!! What I dont understand is why only the negative responses seem to be posted. This car is not the typical Jag. It is sporty and fun. All the safety features are very comforting. It is all that and then some.

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  Gotta Have it - 2005 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Dave - June 30 - 7:53 pm

  Have the Jaq Green. I have had numerous people come up to me and say what a beautiful car. Some are not aware of the reliablity yet and only recall the problems of the Jags of the 60s. This is a whole new machine. Our second one in 3 years. Very comfortable, drove straight through to Florida.

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  Nice car for the price - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By SouthCarolinaGuy - June 30 - 3:20 am

  Ive leased this car for the past 39 months. I love the styling, smooth ride. The AWD just hugs the road. Turning, parking,etc. all great. I feel safe driving this car. Great visibility all around. I have not been pleased with the workmanship. My dash vents have popped up, the cloth covering on the roof support along the windsheld is wrinkling, the lighted mirror on the passenger visor wont stay up - flops down when opened. The covering for the driver-side rear view mirror disappeared - assume it just fell off. The oil pan gasket had a leak that was repaired under warranty. Back seat is tight, but I rarely have passengers there.

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  GOOD LOOKING....NOT SO CLEVER! - 2004 Jaguar XK-Series
  By LEEji - June 18 - 10:00 am

  What a beautiful car to look at,inside and out! I outfitted mine with the 19 wheels and it looks amazing.Now,driving it on the other hand is a different story,or you could say sailing it,o.k. thats unfair,my other car is an Audi S4 (on tracks!) This car creeks, shudders,and wobbles.The build quality is very questionable,which is probably something to do with Ford,only the cost of the parts are not quite in line with Ford! The V8 is good but feels dated and sounds like a taxi.I always feel like selling this car,then when i get out and look back i realise why i dont.

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  Great Style & Substance - 2003 Jaguar X-Type
  By JaguarFan - June 18 - 10:00 am

  I spent six months researching entry level luxury vehicles. I narrowed the selection down to the Mercedes 240 and the Jaguar X-Type. On the criteria of style, features and driving, the Jaguar was my choice. I love it more each time I drive it!

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  Jaguar X 2.5 - 2003 Jaguar X-Type
  By Ron B - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding ride with firm and deliberate control at all times. Holds up well (too bad I found out) in a crash at 35 mph. Comfortable front seating, fun to drive. 2.5 engine peppy, but somewhat under powered. Good gas mileage. Outstanding comfort and stability even over large bumps or train tracks.

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  The Awesome Cat - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By great kitty - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Jaguar did it right. In a pool full of Mercedes and BMWs, Jaguar really stands out as one of most gorgeous cars on the road today. I have driven Mercedes and BMW and nothing feels like a Jaguar. I was never able to afford a Jaguar until now, and I Love it so much. The old rumor of Jaguars always being in the shop is not true now. The car rides great, handles wonderful and is simply a delight to look at the interior. the five speed transmission is also great.