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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  Love My Jaguar - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By choose2run - April 14 - 3:40 pm

  X-Type, 3.0, X1 Premium, Alpine Stereo. I have had my Jaguar for two weeks now and have had nothing but great experiences. Initially I was reluctant to purchase the X-Type because of the negative comments but I am glad I did. It accelerates well, corners tightly, and definately catches everyones attention. I was considering the Audi A6, Volvo S60, and Saab 9-5 which were all very nice, but had to go with the Jaguar for its individuality.

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  Not The 80s Jag Nightmare - 2002 Jaguar S-Type
  By Nice Little Cat - April 5 - 2:53 pm

  I just bought this car pre-owned for my fiance and despite my objections being a previous Jag owner (1995 XJ8) that was junk, the S-type seems to be a much needed improvement. Nicely laid out inside & out, runs well, but compared to my BMW 528i, the gas mileage on the Jag for a V6 is horrible. Handles well for such a heavy car and picks up nice on the highway. Currently has 85000 miles and looks brand new inside and out! Compliments have been incredible and common. Certainly a car for somebody looking for something different. Im hoping the Ford influence pays off on this higher mileage Jag. Looks like we paid 3 times more then what we did, the neighbors are very jealous!

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  Good car, Horrible buying experience - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By L.A. Buyer - April 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Jaguar. I like them because they are the most beautiful cars on the road. This model seems to be very good. Handles well and a lot of thought has gone into the interior design. The good things with this new car has been overshadowed by the HORRIBLE buying and delivery experience with GALPIN Jaguar, including but not limited to being treated poorly, car sold and delivered by someone who didnt know how to operate the car, the navigational system or program the radio, car not detailed properly, calls not returned in a timely fashion. Ruined the experience of enjoying a brand new car.

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  The big cat, built to cruise, sips gas - 2005 Jaguar S-Type
  By spinlocker - March 25 - 12:43 pm

  30 mpg at 60 mph no a/c. Tires were gone at 50K. Dealer says wear on inside is design so it will handle well, no way to correct. Small leak in coolant system, dealer has tried to correct 3 times, no avail. Passenger window has mind of its own, sometimes wont go up fully, pain in the rain. Dealer has tried to correct twice. Think it will stick this time. Driver seat puts my skinny backside (6, 140#) to sleep after 2 hours, not as comfortable as my Dodge Ram seats, but very smooth quiet ride. Extended warranty has saved my billfold bigtime.

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  Diamond in the Rough - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By freedog - March 18 - 1:56 am

  I purchased this vehicle in May of 2007 as a CPO with 100k warranty and immediately took it cross country. I compare this vehicle to Audi 3.0. 1. Biggest Surprise - handling! This car handles amazingly well and has better overall feel then the Audi because of its 60% rear wheel drive, though steering wheel feedback is not as precise. 2. Biggest Disappointment - a few squeaks in the steering column and a noisy window at certain speeds. 3. Overall - with a 100k warranty, fantastic handling, Jag interior and ample horsepower, this is a perfect vehicle for those looking for a spirited car but with an eye more on luxury. Bonus is the mystical status that comes with the Jag name.

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  Bitter sweet - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By eye candy - March 1 - 3:20 pm

  Unfortunately I have fallen in love with this car! It is a beauty to look at and I get lots of compliments. Always asked do I want to sell it. However, I am always nervous. The reliability is a big question mark. It has been repaired twice since purchase (9 months ago) and the check engine light is on as I type. Im afraid I will have to part with her, if I have any more problems.

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  Jaguar S Type - 2004 Jaguar S-Type
  By Bev - February 28 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2000 S Type (my last car was a Lexus GS300) It has alot of similar features and compares in comfort to the Lexus. I was completely disappointed in the Jag sport package on the X type which I considered first. (not designed for those looking for the feel of luxury). The S type drives and feels like a luxury car.

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  Fun Car but has some problems - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By jgwebwoman - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I love driving this car! However, when we purchased our car (used) the check engine light came on in the first few days. Over the course of 6 weeks the light went on and off and the service station didnt know why and could only reset it. Also, the driver side door handle is poorly designed. If you dont lift up on it just right it wont release the latch so you can open the door. It is very frustrating. Also the boot open indicator occasionally comes on when driving down the highway, but goes back off shortly. Overall though Im extremely pleased with the car and still feel happy every time I get in to start her up!

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  Excellent buy as a Used Car - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By David - February 4 - 7:10 am

  I am generally happy with this car. I bought it for its appearance and I have not been disappointed. I am, however, disappointed with four things: Poor gas mileage, approximately 20 MPG, even in Highway driving. This vehicle (the 2.5) is severly underpowered, with poor pickup and hill climbing ability. The leg room in the back seat is very poor. It is impossible to tighten the rear view mirror and it moves when you hit a bump. An excellent buy if you dont mind getting poor mileage from special gas and never have anyone sitting in back.

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  BMW nut is converted. - 2001 Jaguar S-Type
  By one1bmwnut - January 26 - 2:00 am

  After almost twenty BMWs in the last fifteen years, I purchased my first Jaguar. Wow! What a car! First of all, it IS beautiful. It is an absolute head-turner. Nothing, except my MINI Cooper S, turns heads as consistently as the Jag S-Type. Only complaint. Rattles - air vents in front dash appear cheap and are prone to rattle. A little bit of a squeak in the rear somewhere. Will bring both issue to Jags attention at next service. Otherwise, I love it. My wife loves it! Unless BMW starts building beautiful cars (and not butt ugly ones!), Im here to stay! Thanks Jag for being Jag!