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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  firstjaginfatuation - 2007 Jaguar XK-Series
  By firstjag - December 20 - 2:20 am

  Picked up my 07 XK Coupe 2 weeks ago - a black with tan model with several upgrades. Replaced Mercedes CLS 500. The looks, the ride, the handling, the sound, seats, paddle shifters, styling, performance and the right technology with push button start and blue tooth all sold me. Plenty of power and best shifting trans experienced - best paddle shifters on the market. Very respectable gas mileage and no guzzler tax. Could do without the old world antenna. Overall a great package of styling, performance and sizzle. Interior is well done with great seats and clean yet very functional dash design.

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  Special car - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By buckeyebrit - December 18 - 1:36 am

  This was my 1st Jaguar purchase in the States after having 2 UK models back in Blighty before emigrating to the US. I was dubious about buying a US specification car after enjoying a X- type & a S-type over the pond. My concerns were soon put to bed after I took the car for a test drive. I loved it, despite the steering wheel being on the wrong side. When you sit behind the wheel of a Jag, you know youre sat in a car that all the "others" aspire to match! My wife had been "Japanese cars only" until she drove the Jag. Now she wont even look at anything else. It handles like a sports car, the AWD is awesome, the quality and driving experience are unmatched from anything else out there!

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  Eye candy - 2004 Jaguar XK-Series
  By docdave - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Top notch car,,,great handling

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  THIS CAR ROCKS! - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By PowerstrokeGuy - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I feel the overall review of this car is excellent! It is a classy looking car but yet portrays the characteristics of a sports car. I feel the build quality is far superior to any American brand luxury car. Although the car is 7-10 thousand dollars cheaper than comparable sedans from Mercedes & BMW, I feel it still gives the customer a bang for his or her buck! I feel this car has a nicer interior compared to the German cars. Jaguar I feel has landed right on the spot when they introdused this car last year (2003).

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  First JAG - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By Mike Horton - December 17 - 10:00 am

  After being a Lincoln man for years Im snagged by the cat. Better ride than my Continental. Better fuel economy than expected!!! But the Premium Fuel Sucks. A real head turner.(a lot of the neighbors have 3 and 5 series) Fun to drive and manuver in the city. Had to have the dealer check the front alignment for some freathering on the front tires.(Wonderful dealer experience) The X wont be my last Jag.

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  More Fun Than Legally Permitted - 2001 Jaguar S-Type
  By Mike L - December 12 - 12:16 pm

  We bought our pampered car off lease. We did have a problem within a month or so of owning the car (transmission problems), but the dealership quickly resolved the problem and we continue to have a smile on our face each time we drive it. It is silk on wheels. It looks great, is quiet and solid inside and has excellent road manners. It is one of the best values in a luxury class. IÂ’m surprised there arenÂ’t more sold because this car is a better ride, with greater performance than most in its price range.

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  Good Choice - 2005 Jaguar S-Type
  By RGM - December 10 - 10:00 am

  Weve owned several luxury brands and are especially pleased with our type S.

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  Jaguar x type - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By MamaLisa - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I love my car. It handles beautifully and I get good gas milege. I have done many road trips and never had any problems. a very luxurious interior and most enjoyable for all passengers.The few things that did happen were immediately handled by the dealer with excellent communication and attention to needs. Its the best model to drive during the winter months and handled beautifully during snow storms up and down hills. This is the first leased car that I actually plan on replacing when the lease is up this coming spring. I highly reccomend this model.

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  Fantastic bang for the buck - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By chipster - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I opted for the 3.0 Sport Package. Excellent vehicle with a significant offering of luxury, for a very impressive price. The Sport package adds nice, tight handling. The interior is gorgeous, and the seats are extremely comfortable. The auto climate control is easy to operate, and keeps the cabin quite pleasant. The Engine could be a tad beefier. The 320-watt sound system, gets rather distorted at higher volumes, and the subwoofer lacks "punch". Shift pattern is very smooth, but the "sport" mode seems to offer little value, or shift change. Sport package affords an array of bigger, nicer wheels.

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  My bad cat - 2005 Jaguar S-Type
  By Royce Moss - December 7 - 4:30 am

  My platinum S type is a dream car. The ride is smooth and comfortable. The interior is beautiful and functional.The 3.0 engine has plenty power and is very responsive and nimble. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this car. I especially like the adoring comments and looks I get from everyone.