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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  This Jaguar ROARS - 2001 Jaguar S-Type
  By Jim Cossack - August 9 - 11:36 am

  This is by far and away the most fun Ive ever had getting from point A to point B and back again!! There are too many great features I love about this car to mention. The only negative about my 4.0 S-Type is the transmission does lag a bit when down shifting into the passing gear. But Whoa...it makes up for lost time!! The reliability has been excellent. This car has performed above my expectations both inside and out.

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  Great Car for the Money! - 2005 Jaguar X-Type
  By DonS2 - August 7 - 5:40 am

  I purchased a 2004 leftover for $22.8k. It was a base car w/ a five speed manual. A lot of bang for the buck. It would be hard to find something in the same price range w/ all wheel dive, V6, leather and full power even if it wasnt a Jaguar. Power is okay, especially for a small displacement V6. Mated w/the five speed its more than adequate. Overall I think its a well thought out car w/a lot of nice touches (adjustable armrest, rear fog lights. etc.). I would strongly recommend the car.

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  Nice Car - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By Steve C - August 6 - 4:03 am

  I dont see how anyone could really complain about this little Jaguar. The engine has good power. The all wheel drive makes the car handle well. It has every feature you would reasonably use or need in a car. It has its own personality which makes it feel different from other cars. I like the wood shift knob and lack of a button you have to push down to get the shift out of park. I even like the hand break between the seats. I read a review that said the engine lacks torque. The cars goes 0 to 60 in 7 seconds and has a top speed of near 140 miles an hour. The engine cant be that weak.

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  Love it! Tons of fun!! - 2002 Jaguar S-Type
  By Jag Man - July 30 - 11:16 am

  I have the 4.0L and it is awesome. It has a beautiful black interior and a captivating silver exterior. It turns heads everywhere and people think we are rich. With the right gas it gets 28 mpg with its nearly 300 hp. The quality is incredible and it feels like an extension of your body.

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  Unbelievable! - 2003 Jaguar S-Type
  By Midwest STR - July 29 - 7:40 pm

  This car is nothing short of incredible! Be prepared for massive stares of envy wherever you go. Its nice to have a vehicle that has enough speed to leave, even those hemi powered vehicles gasping for breath. The passing power is world class. It leaves all but the worlds fastest cars on the highway. Plain and simple. This car will stop, corner and then speed with the same authority as any performance car costing over a hundred thousand dollars. I just love this car.

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  Stunning - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By Paul OMara - July 25 - 1:50 am

  Ive only had this car for a week, but I just dont want to get out of it. Gorgeous, gorgeous styling - a real head turner. Amazing performance (Im used to driving R Jags - but you just dont need to R in this model) and responsiveness. Really smooth acceleration - and that growl when you floor it! Wow! I love this car.

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  Absolute BEST car in its class - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By #1 Luxury Sedan - July 22 - 3:00 pm

  I recently bought this car after test driving a BMW 750Li, Lexus LS, and a Mercedes S500. Let me tell you, when I test drove my car (05 Vanden Plas) for the first time, it was a great feeling. The V8 is smooth yet very fast.. sounds like a cat growling when accelerating which I love! I think, if youre going to buy an XJ, you simply MUST buy the Vanden Plas. The wood and leather piping alone add SO much to the cars appearance. People do not give Jaguar enough love. This car beats out every other car in its class by far. The steering and suspension are absolutely wonderful. If feels like your floating on air. The GPS Navigation System is the easiest one Ive used.

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  X-Type is pure class and a solid value - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By JagOwner - July 21 - 10:00 am

  Purchased my 2003 X-Type 2.5 5spd and it is an incredible car. Very solid build quality, no defects found yet (and Im very picky), and wonderful design features. It really stands out in a crowded market segment, and is not a "Me too" kind of car. I compared this car to many others, but none could compare in terms of functionality (AWD), style, standard equipment (connolly leather, maple wood trim), and price. Dealer treatment has been absolutely 1st rate. You would think I had paid $100K for the vehicle. Concerned about what youve heard about past Jaguars? Dont be. This new X is a force to be reckoned with. A lot of bang for the buck.

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  jagluver - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By jagluver - July 20 - 10:40 am

  I bought this car when it first arrived in the US. I have had more than 10 service visits in 3 months. The gas door would not open and had to be modified. The check engine light has come on 4 times with no real reason. The power seat failed, the windows do not move down a little everytime when you open the door and then up to seal when the door is closed, therefore, door will not shut normally. The radio antenna causes a wind noise at high speeds. There was a funny noise like a creak in the brakes when the car tilted and came to a stop. Overall, I love the looks of the car but am frustrated with the little problems that keep recurring.

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  The best Jaguar ever! - 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Eric - July 11 - 1:13 pm

  My first Jaguar was a 1997 XJ6L, bought certified pre-owned. It went to 140,000 miles before any repair problems. This new XJ8 is a better automobile in every way. It retains classic British feng shui with state-of-the art technology. I also own a Mercedes and Cadillac. The Jaguar is simply a superior automobile.